China Edges Out US to Win Women's World Gymnastics Team Title
A decisive floor routine by Qiu Qiyuan ended the United States' bid for an eighth consecutive world championship team gold in Rotterdam.
At a glance
- China won the women's team gold at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, beating the US by 0.233 points.
- The victory marks China's first women's team world title since 2006 and ended a run of seven straight titles for the US.
- American balance beam errors and strong Chinese routines, including Qiu Qiyuan's final floor performance, decided the contest.
China's women's gymnastics team secured gold at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam on Wednesday, edging out the United States by 0.233 points to halt the Americans' bid for an eighth consecutive world title.
Qiu Qiyuan delivered the championship-clinching floor routine, earning 12.833 points when she needed more than 12.600 to push China past the US. China finished with a total score of 165.764, capturing its first women's team world championship since 2006. Japan took the bronze medal, trailing the US by 1.468 points, while France finished fourth.
Beam Errors Cost Americans
The American squad had won every world team title since 2011, having last missed out on gold against Russia in 2010. Competing without Simone Biles, who is taking time away from the sport following the 2024 Paris Olympics, the US built an early advantage. Skye Blakely, the lone returning member from the 2023 championship roster, posted strong marks on vault and uneven bars to help establish a comfortable lead at the competition's midpoint.
However, mistakes on the balance beam erased the American advantage. Eighteen-year-old Caylor Dulcy recorded a 12.333 after a stumble, contributing to a beam deficit of more than four points against China. Zhang Qingying, who topped qualifying on the apparatus, anchored the Chinese surge on beam with a routine that scored 15.066.
Despite mounting pressure in the closing floor exercise, Qiu maintained her composure to deliver the required score and seal the victory for China, which had also led during qualifying rounds.
The competition in the Netherlands shifts to individual events on Thursday, when Japan's Daiki Hashimoto defends his men's all-around championship against Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka. Japan won the men's team gold on Tuesday ahead of Russia and China.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- How close was China's victory over the United States?
- China finished with 165.764 points, beating the United States by a narrow margin of 0.233 points.
- When did the US women's gymnastics team last fail to win world team gold?
- The US last missed out on the world team gold medal in 2010, when they were defeated by Russia.
- Did Simone Biles compete at the championships?
- No, Simone Biles is taking a break from gymnastics and has not competed since winning three gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
