China claimed their first women’s team world title since 2006 at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, halting the United States’ quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal. Qiu Qiyuan secured the victory in dramatic fashion during Wednesday’s final floor routine, earning a score of 12.833 when she needed at least 12.600 to push her nation to the top step of the podium. Qiu needed to score more than 12.600 points in the closing floor routine to give her country gold and did just enough with 12.833 on Wednesday. But were left to count the cost of several errors on the balance beam in Rotterdam, the USA last failed to win gold when they were beaten by Russia at the 2010 championships.
Having previously paced the field in qualifying, China ended the competition with a winning total of 165.764 points to edge the Americans by a narrow 0.233-point margin. Japan captured the bronze medal, trailing the silver medalists by 1.468 points, while France ended the event in fourth position.
The American squad had built a solid halfway advantage thanks to strong vault and uneven bars performances from Skye Blakely, who was the sole returning member from the 2023 championship squad. However, the team suffered a setback on the balance beam when 18-year-old Caylor Dulcy stumbled to score 12.333. China capitalized heavily on the apparatus, outscoring the US by over four points, highlighted by top qualifier Zhang Qingying’s standout performance of 15.066 points. Helped by strong vault and uneven bars routines by Skye Blakely, the only gymnast on the team who was part of the quintet that won their seventh consecutiv, the reigning champions took a healthy lead at the halfway stage.
The defeat marks the first time the American women have missed out on world team gold since losing to Russia in 2010. The squad competed without 23-time world champion Simone Biles, a five-time team gold medalist who is currently taking a break from gymnastics following her three-gold performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Although put under pressure during the final floor rotation, China held on for the gold. Action at the championships continues Thursday in the Netherlands with the men’s all-around final, where Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto aims to defend his crown against a stiff test from teammate and Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka. On Tuesday, Japan captured the men’s team title ahead of Russia and China.
