China Ends U.S. Dynasty, Captures Women’s Team Gold at Gymnastics Worlds

China finished 0.233 points ahead of the United States, denying the Americans an eighth consecutive team title.

China denied the United States an eighth consecutive women’s team title at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, with Qiu Qiyuan clinching a dramatic victory on the final routine of the competition.

Entering the anchor floor routine, Qiu needed a score above 12.600 to secure gold and delivered a 12.833 on Wednesday to seal the triumph.

The United States had not lost a world team final since Russia topped the podium in 2010, but costly errors on the balance beam in Rotterdam proved decisive.

China, which also led qualifying, posted a total of 165.764 points to edge the Americans by a razor-thin 0.233 margin.

Japan claimed bronze, finishing 1.468 points adrift, while France settled for fourth place.

U.S. superstar Simone Biles, a 23-time world champion with five team titles, is on hiatus from the sport and has not competed since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she captured three gold medals.

The reigning champions built a comfortable lead at the halfway mark, fueled by strong vault and uneven bars performances from Skye Blakely, the lone holdover from the squad that secured a seventh straight title in 2023.

However, 18-year-old Caylor Dulcy faltered on the beam, scoring only 12.333, as the U.S. was outscored by more than four points on the apparatus by their Chinese rivals.

Zhang Qingying, the beam qualifying leader, capitalized with a brilliant routine worth 15.066 points.

Despite the pressure on the final rotation, Qiu held her nerve to deliver China’s first women’s team world championship since 2006.

The championships continue in the Netherlands on Thursday, with Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto defending his men’s all-around title against a formidable challenge from compatriot and Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka.

Japan captured the men’s team title on Tuesday, edging out Russia and China.

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