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China have ended the United States’ dominance in women’s team artistic gymnastics, winning gold at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, after a dramatic final routine from Qiu Qiyuan.
China finished with 165.764 points on Wednesday, edging the Americans, who scored 165.531, by just 0.233 points. Japan claimed bronze with 164.063 points.
The victory marks China’s first women’s team world title since 2006 and ends the United States’ run of seven consecutive championship victories.
Qiu Delivers Under Pressure
China needed Qiu to score more than 12.600 on the floor exercise in the final routine to secure gold. The 18-year-old delivered 12.833, enough to confirm a memorable victory for her team.
China had entered the competition strongly after topping qualifying, but the final proved a tense contest against the reigning champions.
The Americans made a strong start, taking advantage of excellent performances on vault and uneven bars. Skye Blakely was among the leading performers for the US, helping her team establish an early advantage.
However, the balance beam proved costly. Caylor Dulcy scored 12.333 after a difficult routine, while China produced a powerful response on the apparatus.
Zhang Qingying delivered one of the standout performances of the final, scoring 15.066 on the beam. China finished with 43.366 points on the apparatus, compared with 39.199 for the United States, turning the competition in its favour.
Japan Complete the Podium
Japan secured third place with 164.063 points, finishing behind China and the United States. The three teams also secured places in the women’s team competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
American superstar Simone Biles, a multiple-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist, was absent as she continues her break from competition following the Paris 2024 Olympics.
China’s triumph represents a major achievement for its women’s gymnastics programme, while the narrow margin underlines how decisive a single routine can be at the highest level.
Men’s All-Around Competition Next
The championships continue on Thursday, October 22, with the men’s all-around final. Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto is seeking to defend his title, with Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka among the competitors expected to challenge him.
With individual finals still to come, the competition in Rotterdam remains far from over.
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