Previewing the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Athletes, storylines, and more

ANTWERP, Belgium – The 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships begin Saturday, September 30, with many of the world’s best gymnasts set to compete at Antwerp’s Sportpaleis through October 8.

Competition will start with qualifying from September 30 to October 2 – when the bulk of Olympic berths will be awarded – followed by finals from October 3-8.

See the full field, schedule, how to watch, and a breakdown of the Olympic berths up for grabs in our World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 411 story. You can also listen to our preview podcast with GN founder Patricia Duffy and contributor Heath Thorpe here.

Keep reading for some of the names to watch for and key storylines surrounding the global event.

The Defenders

Some, but not all, of the 2022 world champions will attempt to defend their titles in Antwerp.

In the team competition, the U.S. women are eyeing their seventh-straight title, which would break the consecutive record it currently shares with the China men. With many other teams dealing with significant injuries, the U.S. is the favorite once more.

The men’s competition is expected to give way once again to a battle between defending champion China and reigning silver medalist Japan. China sent its “A-team” to the 2023 Asian Games since it already earned a team berth to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but the country has a deep pool of talent that can certainly still contend for the podium.

Last year’s women’s all-around champion Rebeca Andrade (BRA), as well as silver medalist Shilese Jones (USA) and bronze medalist Jessica Gadirova (GBR), will be in the mix in Antwerp, but the women’s all-around is Simone Biles‘ to lose (more on that below).

Defending Olympic and world champion Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) is in a promising position to repeat as world champion, especially with China’s star and 2021 world all-around champion Zhang Boheng absent in Antwerp (he’s competing at the aforementioned Asian Games).

Here’s the status of the reigning apparatus champions:

The Comebacks

The lead-up to this worlds has been plagued with injuries and withdrawals, including Belgium’s own Olympic champion Nina Derwael, who dislocated her shoulder in early September and underwent surgery just last week.

That being said, there are quite a few comebacks gymnastics fans can look forward to. Here are just a few:

• Simone Biles (USA) – It’s Biles’ first international meet since taking a two-year break following the Tokyo Games. In her two domestic appearances since her return, Biles has earned three all-around scores above 59, including a 59.3 – the highest women’s all-around score this quad. What would be her sixth world all-around title would be serendipitous since she won her first 10 years ago in the same arena. She’s also the favorite on vault – where she hopes to get the Yurchenko double pike (provisionally valued at a 6.4 difficulty score!) named after her – and floor exercise. A beam medal is also likely if she hits, although she’ll face stiff competition in 2021 world champion Ashikawa Urara (JPN), Qiu Qiyuan (CHN), and others for gold.
• Reigning Olympic pommel horse champion Max Whitlock (GBR) is primed for his first major international meet since the Tokyo Games. Less than two weeks ago, Whitlock warmed up at the Paris World Challenge Cup and walked away with gold, besting reigning world champion Rhys McClenaghan (IRL) – 15.450 to 15.100. Another electric showdown is in the works if both can advance through qualifying.
• 2018 world vault bronze medalist Alexa Moreno (MEX) will continue her comeback in Antwerp two years after narrowly missing out on an Olympic bronze medal on vault. Moreno announced her return in March and went on to win gold at the Pan American Gymnastics Championships in May. She backed that up with a gold at the Paris World Challenge Cup just weeks ago and tacked on a bronze on floor for good measure, setting herself up for an exciting worlds – her first since 2019.
• Reigning Olympic still rings bronze medalist Eleftherios Petrounias (GRE) is set to make his first appearance at a world championships since 2019. Last year, Petrounias, who is also the 2016 Olympic champion, won the European title on his specialty event but did not qualify to worlds.
• 2016 Olympic balance beam champion and reigning European champion Sanne Wevers (NED) returns to the world championships a little more than a year after leaving the Dutch national team due to a dispute between her and teammate Vera van Pol. The two will compete together for the Netherlands in Antwerp.
• Spain’s Joel Plata will make a commendable return to the world stage after being injured in a severe car crash in March. Plata was a passenger in a van that’s wheels exploded, flipping several times and during which his seatbelt broke. He was thrown through the front glass and ended up “about 15-20 meters” (50-65 feet) from the vehicle. He suffered a femur fracture and other injuries to his body and face, receiving staples in his elbow and stitches in his eyebrow and lips.
• Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev, the 2016 Olympic parallel bars champion, will make his return to major international competition after his doping suspension was cut in half in March, clearing him to return. Verniaiev tested positive for the banned substance meldonium in August 2020 and was originally banned for four years from that November. Verniaiev was unable to participate in the postponed Tokyo Games and the following two world championships as a result of the ban. Verniaiev comepted at the Mersin and Szombathely world challenge cups in the lead-up to Antwerp, winning gold on parallel bars and silver on pommel horse at both meets.

The Potential

There are plenty of stars in attendance who haven’t yet reached the fullest of their potential, whether it be a relative newcomer right on the cusp or a seasoned veteran who’s been plagued by mistakes at the wrong time, injuries, or any number and mix of the many roadblocks gymnastics will throw at you when you least expect it.

These athletes have medal potential and could rise to the occasion in Antwerp:

• Asher Hong (USA): Reigning U.S. all-around champion Hong might be appearing in only his second world championships, but he’s primed to step into the spotlight on the world stage. Hong could make the vault final with his Ri Se Gwang if he competes a second vault (Kas 1.5/2). He also finished sixth all-around in Liverpool last year. A clean performance in Antwerp could see him contend for the podium.
• Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA): De Jesus dos Santos has all the makings of a world and Olympic medalist but has yet to put it all together at the right moment. MDJDS moved to Houston, Texas in 2022 to train with French coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi and alongside Simone Biles and Co. She looked to be in top form at the Paris World Challenge Cup earlier this month, winning floor and bars. She’ll be one to watch on bars and in the all-around, especially.
• Jake Jarman (GBR): Teammate and reigning world floor champion Giarnni Regini-Moran won’t be in Antwerp, but Jarman just got the three-and-a-half twisting double layout named after him at the Paris World Challenge Cup. It’s up in the air whether he’ll compete it in Antwerp, but his routine is plenty powerful, clean, and difficult to contend for a second-straight gold for Great Britain on floor.
• Skye Blakely (USA): Blakely was on the cusp of a world title on beam last year before her hair ribbon came undone partway through her routine and she got ahead of herself, ultimately falling. She’s once again a contender on beam and has been laying down floaty sets on bars as well.
• Shi Cong (CHN): The 2021 world parallel bars medalist is back on the world stage and could make multiple finals. With his teammate, Zhang Boheng, at the Asian Games, Cong could contend for the all-around podium after winning silver at the World University Games in August.

The Newcomers

• Kaylia Nemour (ALG): Just months ago, it was unclear whether Nemour would be able to compete at worlds despite having a world-competitive bars set. But Nemour is in Antwerp and primed for an individual berth to the Paris Games, as well as a potential bars podium if all goes according to plan. Gold is certainly within reach if she hits her set.
• Joscelyn Roberson (USA): Roberson was successful in the U.S. junior ranks, but she’s burst onto the scene in her second senior season, amassing eight international individual medals (four gold). The 17-year-old can contend for a medal on vault and has a competitive floor as well.
• The Rubys: Ruby Pass (AUS) (beat Godwin at nationals on Day 2 – 54.832) and Ruby Evans (GBR) don’t represent the same country, but they’ve both made a splash as first year seniors and will be key contributors for each of their teams. Pass beat teammate Georgia Godwin on Day 2 of Australian nationals with a 54.832 in the all-around and won four medals, three gold, at the Oceania Championships earlier this year. Evans already has two World Challenge Cup medals to her name, with silver on vault and bronze on floor at the Cottbus edition of the series.
• Sabrina Voinea ROMANIA
• Fred Richard (USA): The TikTok sensation has had a huge breakout year. Successes at DTB Pokal Cup, World Universiade, NCAA Championships, and most recently his U.S national title on high bar have seen him thrown into a final favorite position. If all goes well, expect an all-around final as well as a possible high bar final.
• Harry Hepworth (GBR): Hepworth easily won the vault title at the Paris World Challenge Cup earlier this month with two 5.6 difficulty score skills. The powerful tumbler
• Vedant Sawant (AUS): Sawant went from a local level gymnast to a world championships debut in the span of two years. Capable of a 6.4 difficulty and 14.6+ final score, be sure to keep him in mind when planning your dream pommel horse final. 
• Kevin Penev (BUL): Penev, brother to Eddie, recently switched federations to Bulgaria – and the change has rewarded him well. Amongst qualifying to worlds through Europeans, it has been a year of firsts for him. With him making multiple World Challenge Cup finals this year alone, Kevin is looking in-form for some great floor and vault performances.

Heath Thorpe contributed to this story.