Blakely and Pease share US Gymnastics Championships lead after Phoenix opener
Defending champion Hezly Rivera sits fourth after uneven bars error, while top two secure world championships selection camp spots
Skye Blakely has reclaimed a position at the summit of American gymnastics, tying with Claire Pease at 55.6 points following the first day of the US Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix. The result marks Blakely’s first elite-level all-around competition in two years, concluding a deliberate rehabilitation process following an Achilles injury sustained at the Olympic trials.
The 2024 junior champion Pease matched Blakely’s score, with the pair sitting 0.20 points ahead of Charleigh Bullock. Bullock, who finished second at the Winter Cup in February and is viewed as a contender for the LA28 Olympics, held a lead entering the final rotation but could not maintain pace on floor exercise, her weaker apparatus.
Defending national champion Hezly Rivera occupies fourth place, trailing the leaders by 0.60 points. Rivera’s position shifted after a fall on her final release move on the uneven bars, which cost her 1.5 points. She rebounded to post the highest score of the night, 14.3 points, on floor exercise.
Blakely’s performance was characterised by precision on the uneven bars and vault, with her only notable error occurring on the final pass of floor exercise, where she stumbled forward. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey currently sits in fifth place.
The combined scores from Friday’s opening day and Sunday’s second day will determine the final standings. The top two finishers are guaranteed spots at the world championships selection camp, scheduled for 29 September to 1 October, with at least 10 other gymnasts to be selected for the event. The competition is being broadcast on Peacock and NBCSN.
