PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 28: Hezly Rivera of the United States performs her balance beam routine during … [+]
A new era of American gymnastics begins on Feb. 22 in Louisville, Ky. The nation’s top gymnasts will meet at the 2025 Winter Cup, the annual competition kicking off the elite gymnastics season. While the competition primarily functions as a qualifying meet for the U.S. National Championships, in a year following an Olympic Games, it also serves as a debut for the future of USA Gymnastics.
Though new faces will be numerous, there will also be familiar names in Louisville. Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the gold medal-winning 2024 Olympic team, is slated to compete. USA Gymnastics confirmed Rivera’s registration in an official release on Monday. The organization vows to provide weekly updates to the registration list, so the tally is expected to grow.
Though Rivera was an Olympic rookie and the youngest U.S. athlete in any sport, she returns to the national stage with newfound fame and experience. With a gold medal in tow and a recent commitment to compete for the LSU Tigers women’s gymnastics team, the 16-year-old vaults into 2025 after nothing short of a career year.
In February’s competition, Rivera will look to get another Olympic cycle off to a strong start. The Olympian has fared well at Winter Cup in the past. In 2024, Rivera claimed gold on beam and bronze in the all-around to kickstart her bid for the 2024 Olympic team. This time around, she’ll take to the stage looking to begin her push for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Though Rivera is currently the most prominent name in the women’s field, she is far from alone. In Monday’s release, USA Gymnastics confirmed the registration of 28 female athletes, 14 senior and 14 junior. Among those names were 2024 Olympic Trials participant Simone Rose and 2024 U.S. Junior National Champion Claire Pease.
Who’s Missing?
In addition to notable inclusions, there were also noteworthy absences. 2024 Olympic alternate Tiana Sumanasekera was missing from Monday’s release. The breakout star is expected to be a major factor for Team USA in 2025 and beyond. While currently omitted from the list, the 2023 Pan American Champion still has time to register.
Another missing name? Six-time World medalist Shilese Jones. Considered a lock for the 2024 Olympic Team, Jones fell victim to a heartbreaking ACL tear during the U.S. Olympic Trials. Despite the devastating setback, the veteran vows to return to elite competition. Though unlikely to appear at the Winter Cup due to her injury, Jones was pictured training with the U.S. National team in early February.
While Jones continues to chase her Olympic dream, an Olympic Champion remains a question mark for Winter Cup and beyond. 2012 Olympic All-Around Champion Gabby Douglas’ name did not appear on Monday’s release. Since abruptly ending her bid for the 2024 Olympic team, Douglas has expressed the desire to continue competing. Though Douglas has not been pictured at U.S. National Team training, she recently posted a video compilation of her 2024 training. While Douglas’ status remains uncertain, fans hope to see the Olympic Champion in action once again.
US gymnast Gabby Douglas warms up ahead of the Core Hydration Classic at XL Center in Hartford, … [+]
What’s At Stake:
While the LA 2028 Olympics loom on the horizon, another meet sits at the forefront of athletes’ minds: the World Championships. The 2025 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will take place in October in Jakarta, Indonesia. Often coined the “individual” World Championships, the World Championships following an Olympic year historically do not field team competitions. 2025 is no different – the athletes will compete for individual medals only.
In Paris, the United States and competing nations fielded five-person teams. In Jakarta, delegations are permitted just three individual athletes. For the nation’s top contenders, securing one of these coveted spots is the year’s primary goal. However, the road to Jakarta – and Los Angeles – begins in Kentucky.
To get to Jakarta and beyond, athletes must first qualify for the U.S. National Championships. As 2024 Olympians or alternates, Hezly Rivera and Tiana Sumanasekera receive automatic U.S. Championships qualification. The remaining athletes can qualify for ‘nationals’ in one of three ways:
Option 1: Achieve an all-around score of 52.00 or higher.
Option 2: Achieve a three-event score of 39.60 or higher.
Option 3: Achieve a two-event score of 26.80 or higher.
Thankfully, Winter Cup is not the only opportunity for the registered athletes to qualify to August’s U.S. Championships. The same benchmarks listed above apply to certain National Team training camps, international competitions, and more. Altogether, Winter Cup won’t break an athlete’s chances. Rather, it serves as a low-stakes opportunity to hit the ground running towards LA 2028.
Winter Cup Schedule:
As of 2/4, streaming and live results have not been provided.
Senior Men Day 1: Friday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. ET
Senior Women: Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m ET
Junior Women: Sunday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. ET
Junior Men & Senior Men Day 2: Sunday, Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET
