5 storylines to follow at the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
A busy season in Artistic Gymnastics culminates with the World Championships that begin 17 October in the Netherlands. The competition will provide an early look at several of the gymnasts and teams expected to be main contenders for Olympic medals in Los Angeles in just under two years’ time.
If you haven’t been paying attention to Gymnastics this year, here are five storylines that will bring you up to speed for the event.
1. A potential first for Africa, and maybe a fourth for Hashimoto.
Kaylia Nemour (ALG) could become the first African gymnast to win an All-Around medal following her fourth-place finish in Jakarta last year, while reigning men’s champion Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) will be going after his fourth consecutive win. Nemour’s All-Around total – 57.750 points — as she won the Mediterranean Games in August is the single highest of the year in international competition. Hashimoto, meanwhile, just finished third All-Around at the Asian Games behind continental rivals Zhang Boheng (CHN) and Oka Shinnosuke (JPN). Zhang won’t be in Rotterdam, but Oka will, and after a difficult World Championships turn in 2025 the Paris Olympic gold medallist could be a thorn in Hashimoto’s side as he strives for the four-peat.
2. Two new World champions guaranteed. Injury and hiatus will keep 2025 World champions
Donnell Whittenburg (USA) andBrody Malone (USA) out of the championships this year, providing opportunity for specialists like Lan Xingyu (CHN), Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE), Tang Chia-Hung (TPE), and Angel Barajas (COL). The latter two could be the first from their nation to win World gold. For all that, the most competitive single event may be Pommel Horse, where at least a dozen contenders, including World champion Hong Yanming (CHN) — will be vying just to get into the apparatus final.
3. Exciting debuts — and big returns, too
Rotterdam marks the return of 2022 World champion Rebeca Andrade (BRA), who is likely to compete on Vault, Balance Beam and maybe Uneven Bars. Manila Esposito (ITA), the reigning European champion on Floor Exercise, is also back after skipping the 2025 Worlds. Plus, Olympic medalist Alice Kinsella (GBR) is back a year after giving birth to her son. In terms of debutants, Olympic team champion Hezly Rivera (USA), Elena Colas (FRA), and Asian All-Around champion Ke Qinqin (CHN) are all set to compete at their first Worlds after covering themselves in honours at domestic and continental competitions this summer. On the men’s side, Illia Kovtun (CRO) is back too after winning the European title in August.
4. A women’s team final too close to call
The USA has won every women’s team title at the World Championships since the last edition held in Rotterdam in 2010. That win streak is unparalleled in Gymnastics, yet the 2026 team only boasts one member who has competed at Worlds before. Rivera and newcomer Claire Pease are likely to lead the young team, with Brazil, Italy, China, and Japan all mounting strong challenges.
5. An open race for the men’s team title
China or Japan or someone else? Only one other men’s team has captured the World title since Belarus back in 2001, and that was Russia seven years ago. Zhang’s absence might make it easier for the Japanese, but if there is one thing China has demonstrated over the years, it’s the ability to be at its very best when gold is on the line. They’ll by no means be alone in the race — expect Great Britain, the USA,Switzerland, and a handful of others to make it interesting.
