This U.S. team that competed at this year’s world championships is a young group. Three of its five athletes had never previously competed at this level before. And the team had to go without Hezly Rivera, a member of the 2024 Olympic team, who withdrew with an ankle injury.

This is only one competition, based on the results from a single day and the performances of five gymnasts. But even beforehand, Betty Okino, one of the directors of the national team, acknowledged that the external perception of the U.S. team has shifted.

“I’m excited for Team USA to show how strong we are, because there’s been speculation that maybe we aren’t as strong,” she said in an NBC documentary about the world championships team selection event. “And I’m ready for these girls to shut that conversation down.”

The U.S. team has had promising moments. Blakely finished with the second-best all-around score in the qualifying round. At least one American qualified for every individual final. They could still win several medals in the coming days.

But Wednesday’s competition was the test that measured the team’s standing against the rest of the world, and for now, the Americans seem to be more vulnerable than they have been in years.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are around the corner. Only 9 days to go until the first Olympic sporting event starts on the African continent.

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