This week in gymnastics: Simone returns to camp, rhythmic junior worlds, trampoline world cup
This week in gymnastics covers the latest happenings in the Olympic gymnastics disciplines, including artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline.
Artistic
It’s like summer camp… but better
USA Gymnastics national team camps are happening near and far this week – literally.
The Men’s Junior National Team has gone international, following in the senior’s footsteps and jetting off to an exotic location – Funabashi, Japan!
The guys got a special treat on Monday, meeting reigning Olympic all-around and high bar champion Hashimoto Daiki.
Stateside, the Women’s National Team is having its last camp before the fall elite season kicks into high gear. In attendance? None other than Simone Biles, who is making her first appearance at camp since before the Tokyo Games.
In a comedic moment, Biles revealed that for the first time, possibly ever, she was not the shortest/last in the lineup. Since her World Champions Centre teammate Joscelyn Roberson is the same height as her, she pulled the age card and Roberson ended up being last.
“We’re the exact same height, but my argument was that I’m older,” Biles said on Twitter. “So I get to stand there, haha.”
Other notables at camp include Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, and Kayla DiCello, who competed at the American Classic on Sunday, showing routines on vault and beam.
Notably missing from the lineup are Sunisa Lee and Konnor McClain, with the former two set to compete at the Core Hydration Classic in three weeks. McClain recently returned to training after dealing with back and hand injuries for much of the past year. While she is not in the field for the Classic, it is not yet clear whether she will attempt to defend her U.S. all-around title in late August.
Lee shared some insight into her training and feelings about returning to competition in an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, saying, “Definitely a lil nerv, past couple of months have been… A LOT. Still in and out of gym due to my kidneys but so excited to get back out there!”
The reigning Olympic all-around champion also shared that she isn’t sure whether she’ll do all-around this quad or not: “I haven’t been able to get back fully. Just taking it day by day.”
The 2022 women’s world team also received their world champion rings at camp. Check out their new bling!
July 2023 USAG Women’s National Team camp attendees
| Simone Biles | Madray Johnson | Ella Murphy |
| Skye Blakely | Shilese Jones | Hezly Rivera |
| Jade Carey | Katelyn Jong | Joscelyn Roberson |
| Dulcy Caylor | Levi Jung-Ruivivar | Simone Rose |
| Jordan Chiles | Myli Lew | Tiana Sumanasekera |
| Kayla DiCello | Nola Matthews | Tyler Turner |
| Addison Fatta | Zoe Miller | Leanne Wong |
| Kieryn Finnell | Zoey Molomo | Lexi Zeiss |
| Jayla Hang | Elle Mueller | Alicia Zhou |
LSU gymnast and TikTok star Olivia Dunne announces The Livvy Fund
LSU gymnast and TikTok star Olivia Dunne has been paving the way for female college athletes since the name, image and likeness (NIL) era began in July 2021 since, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.
The 20-year-old, who is entering her senior year at LSU, is now taking a huge step forward to ensure women in the NCAA have the equitable opportunities as their male counterparts in the world of
NIL.
On July 6, Dunne announced a partnership with Bayou Traditions in a story with SI Swim to start a fund that will connect female athletes to NIL endorsement deals.
“The Livvy Fund” will help create more opportunities for female athletes with top tier brands, following in its namesake’s footsteps. Dunne currently has the second-highest NIL valuation of any college athlete, according to On3, at $3.4 million.
According to research done by the Opendorse in 2023, most female athletes are not earning NIL funds from collectives (funds coming from fans and boosters). Instead, most of their earnings come directly from the brands themselves. This is something Dunne told SI Swim she is hoping to change with The Livvy Fund.
“The collectives mostly go to the men’s sports here at LSU, and I just want to fight for equal NIL opportunities,” Dunne said. “It’s very important to help educate other student athletes here at LSU on how to be a savvy businesswoman and how to partner with brands. Over the past two years, I’ve learned so much from these brands, so I just want to help educate others and help give equal opportunities.”
The fund works by taking contributions from brands as well as fans and supporters who can donate any amount either one-time, monthly, or annually. Dunne said support doesn’t have to just come in the form of monetary funds; fans can share The Livvy Fund on social media and spread the word that way.
Dunne is hopeful this fund will have a lasting impact for her peers and will spread beyond LSU’s campus, continuing to create more opportunities for female athletes.
Leanne Wong planning to compete in NCAA next season
In an On3 feature centered around her business, Leanne’s Bowtique, 2021 world all-around silver medalist and Olympic alternate Leanne Wong said she plans to compete for Florida in 2024 instead of deferring to solely train for the Olympics – the route almost all of her elite counterparts have chosen. She’s not alone, though, as Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey, announced a couple months ago that she would also be attempting the balancing act.
“I’ve always dreamed of becoming a medical doctor,” Wong said. “So, I really feel like my education is really important. But as a collegiate and elite gymnast, I also have goals set in the elite world. Before college, I was an Olympic alternate and two-time world medalist. But I feel like I just want to achieve more in elite gymnastics and to make the Olympic team for Paris 2024 and then earn some more world medals and international meet medals for Team USA…
“Right now, I’m training in the summer for this elite season and then my plan is to compete for Florida again this coming school season. But I guess I’ll just kind of have to go day by day and see how I feel and what I want to do months before the Olympics.”
Wong also revealed she’s sold roughly 10,000 bows since December 2021, plus nearly 900 of signature leotards with GK Elite. Safe to say, she’s on her way to becoming a bow-llionaire!
Brody Malone, Curran Phillips make cross-country move to EVO Gymnastics
Former Stanford gymnasts and current Men’s Senior National Team members Brody Malone and Curran Phillips have changed gyms, moving from Stanford to EVO Gymnastics in Sarasota, Florida. There, they join Alex Diab, Stephen Nedoroscik, Colin Van Wicklen, Shane Wiskus, and David Shamah (junior) as funded athletes of MAG Foundation USA.
The foundation is a nonprofit focused on getting the U.S. men back on the podium at the Paris 2024 Games and to the top of the podium at the LA 2028 Games.
Wiskus told Gym Now earlier this year that the men are provided a housing stipend and paid a salary that allows them to make gymnastics their full-time job.
The coaching staff is star-studded, too, and includes three-time Olympian and six-time U.S. all-around champion Sam Mikulak, Olympian Syque Caesar, Jason Furr, and Sergei Pakanich.
New professional gymnastics league launches with first virtual competition
The World Gymnastics Association (WGA), billed as the “first-ever professional gymnastics league”, launched this past week while simultaneously announcing its first virtual competition.
While there have been other paid gymnastics tours in the past, they are usually for a temporary period or have failed to establish themselves before petering out.
The WGA currently supports men’s artistic gymnastics with plans to introduce women’s competitions soon. The association is launching with a focus on online competitions but plans to host in-person events in the “near future.”
“As the league grows, so will the prize pools, providing an even greater incentive for gymnasts to participate,” a press release sent to Gym Now said. “The WGA aims to help gymnasts earn money while pursuing their passion. Additionally, the WGA introduces a new rulebook with fewer restrictions and more skills, allowing for more unique routines.”
The WGA’s first virtual competition is scheduled from July 9-25, with the prize pool totaling $10,000 CAD. For the first competition, the WGA is offering free registration. The competition is open to any male gymnast. You can sign up now at WGAgymnastics.com and submit your routines on your own schedule. The routines will be judged and broadcast on their YouTube channel @WGAgymnastics on July 28.
ICYMI: Myli Lew, Kieryn Finnell win American Classic and an opinion piece draws reaction from the GOAT
The American Classic place over the weekend, with Kieryn Finnell winning the junior women’s division and Myli Lew winning the senior women’s division. You can read recaps from both meets below and see the full results below, including who qualified to next month’s championships.
- Myli Lew tops senior field at American Classic as Melanie de Jesus dos Santos shines in exhibition
- Kieryn Finnell wins American Classic as nine junior elites qualify to U.S. championships
Biles responded to a Gym Now opinion piece last week, saying, “I never read articles about myself, but I read this one & it’s so sweet. 🫶🏾 thank you 🤍🤍🤍🤍 much love!!!!!!!” If you haven’t already, read it here.
Rhythmic
Rhythmic junior worlds produces historic results with promise for the future
Cluj-Napoca, Romania, played host to the second Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships from July 6-9, with Bulgaria (4), Israel (3), and Poland (2) claiming the nine titles available.
The biggest takeaway from the results in Cluj-Napoca might be that the future of rhythmic is international, not just dominated by Europe.
Liliana Lewinska (POL) was the only individual to win more than one gold, taking both the clubs and ribbon titles, while also becoming the first Polish gymnast ever to capture world medal.
Six other gymnasts — Rin Keys (USA), Amalia Lica (ROU), Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR), Lada Pusch (GER), Mishel Nesterova (UZB) and Anastasiya Sarantseva (UZB) — put their nations on the podium for the first time at a rhythmic junior worlds.
Keys, 14, won a particularly historic bronze medal for her clubs performance, becoming the first rhythmic gymnast from the Americas to win a medal at a junior or senior world championships. Keys is the reigning U.S. junior champion in the all-around, clubs, ball, and hoop.
Results: 2023 Rhythmic Gymnastics Junior World Championships
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Competition | |||
| Team All-Around |  Bulgaria |  Israel |  Romania |
| Individual Finals | |||
| Hoop | Alona Tal Franco (ISR) | Amalia Lică (ROU) |  Anastasiya Sarantseva (UZB) |
| Ball | Elvira Krasnobaeva (BUL) |  Lada Pusch (GER) | Regina Polischuk (ISR) |
| Clubs |  Liliana Lewińska (POL) |  Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR) |  Rin Keys (USA) |
| Ribbon | Liliana Lewińska (POL) | Nikol Todorova (BUL) | Mishel Nesterova (UZB) |
| Groups Finals | |||
| All-Around | Bulgaria | Israel |  Azerbaijan |
| 5 Ropes | Israel | Bulgaria | Azerbaijan |
| 5 Balls | Israel | Bulgaria | Azerbaijan |
Next up: Cluj-Napoca World Challenge Cup
Junior worlds might be over, but world-class rhythmic competition will continue in Cluj-Napoca this week with the Cluj-Napoca World Challenge Cup set for July 14-16.
The senior competition will take place at BT Arena, the same arena as junior worlds, with just under six weeks to go until the senior world championships in Valencia, Spain.
This is the second and final world challenge cup of the year. The competition has drawn some of the world’s best, including European all-around champion Boryana Kaleyn (BUL) and 2022 world champion Sofia Raffaeli (ITA), who finished second to Kaleyn at May’s European championships. Raffaeli has been dominate on the world cup circuit this year.
The U.S. will be represented by Alexandria Kautzman, Lili Mizuno, and the senior national group – Izzy Connor, Gergana Petkova, Katrine Sakhnov, Karolina Saverino, and Hana Starkman
Qualifications will take place Friday and Saturday, July 14-15, followed by finals on Sunday, July 16. Live scoring will be available on ksis.eu.
Trampoline
Team USA soars at Coimbra World Cup as Olympic qualifying continues
Team USA snagged six medals, three gold, at the Coimbra World Cup in Portugal over the weekend, with Ruben Padilla leading the way with two.
Padilla won the men’s individual double mini trampoline and men’s synchronized trampoline with partner and Olympian Aliaksei Shostak. Miah Bruns stood atop the podium in women’s tumbling.
Rounding out the U.S. medal effort were Kaden Brown (silver – men’s tumbling), Jackie Kent (bronze – women’s double mini trampoline), and partners Nicole Ahsinger and Sarah Webster (silver – women’s synchronized trampoline).
Meanwhile, both the men’s and women’s trampoline competitions proved exciting as the qualifying period for the Paris Games continued.
Double world champion Mori Hikaru (JPN) didn’t make the final, but reigning Olympic champion Zhu Xueying (CHN) and double Olympic medalist Bryony Page (GBR) did, battling once more for gold. Ultimately, Page’s opening 56.930 couldn’t be topped, thanks to the best horizontal displacement of the field (9.70). Zhu had the best execution score (17.0) to win the silver with a 56.820. Brazil’s Camilla Gomes was third with a 55.780.
“I’m really happy, very tired and also very relieved,” Page said. “It was a really difficult competition, being the first one of the Olympic qualifiers. The nerves were really high for me. It was really important to progress through each round and try to accumulate as many World Cup and Olympic Qualifying ranking points.”
The top two qualifiers in the men’s competition hailed from China – 2021 world champion Yan Langyu (CHN) and newcomer Wang Zisai (CHN).
While Yan won the last showdown, Wang rode the highest difficulty score of the final (18.0) to the gold in this outing with a 61.640. Yan won the silver with a 61.350, and France’s Allan Morante was third with a 60.030.
