Rivera Edges Field to Secure Second Consecutive U.S. Gymnastics Title

Hezly Rivera successfully defended her national crown on Sunday, overcoming a fourth-place start to win the all-around title at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix. The 18-year-old Olympic gold medalist posted a two-day combined score of 111.950 to win by a margin of more than a point. This victory makes her the first gymnast to repeat as champion since Jordyn Wieber achieved the feat in 2011.

Rivera’s performance on the final day of competition was decisive, recording a 56.950 to vault past the competition. She entered the finale trailing by more than a point but narrowed the deficit to half a point following the first two rotations. A 14.300 on her floor exercise ultimately secured the lead. In addition to the all-around title, Rivera also successfully defended her balance beam championship.

The competition also saw strong performances from other top American gymnasts. Claire Pease finished second overall with a total of 110.800, adding a uneven bars title to her resume. Sixteen-year-old Charleigh Bullock took third place at 110.550. Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey finished fifth but claimed her third national title on the vault.

Rivera’s win comes nearly a year after she contributed to the United States’ team gold medal at the Paris Games. However, the roster for the upcoming world championships remains undecided. The U.S. women’s world team will not be finalized until a selection camp concludes in September. Notably, several high-profile athletes, including Simone Biles and Suni Lee, remain on a break from competition.

The championships were broadcast across NBCUniversal platforms, including Comcast Corporation. Shares of Comcast are currently trading at $25.36, reflecting a positive session for the media and technology conglomerate. As the gymnastics season progresses toward world team selection, viewership engagement for elite events remains a key metric for the company’s media segment.

What to watch

• The U.S. women’s world team announcement following the conclusion of the selection camp in September.
• Potential return to competition decisions from established stars like Simone Biles and Suni Lee.

Source: original release