Skye Blakely shares US Gymnastics Championships lead after successful all-around return

PHOENIX — Skye Blakely’s first all-around competition at the elite level was worth the wait.

Blakely is tied with Claire Pease, the 2024 junior champion, atop the standings after the first day of competition at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The two are at 55.6 points, 0.20 points ahead of Charleigh Bullock.

Paris gold medalist Hezly Rivera, the defending national champion, is 0.60 points behind the leaders after a fall on uneven bars. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jade Carey is fifth.

The second day of competition is Sunday, and scores from the two days will be combined to determine the final standings. The top two are guaranteed spots at the selection camp for the world championships team, which runs Sept. 29-Oct. 1. At least 10 other gymnasts will be chosen to go to the camp.

Blakely was a lock for the Paris team until she blew out her Achilles at the Olympic trials. She has been deliberate in her comeback, only competing uneven bars and balance beam at the elite level until Friday, Aug. 7.

Blakely was solid the entire night, her only real mistake on floor exercise, where she stumbled forward on her final pass. But her uneven bars were exquisite, as usual, and her vault looked effortless. Vault was her final event, and she beamed when she came off the podium to exchange hand slaps with her coaches.

“WOOOOOOO!” 🗣️
With that coach reaction on uneven bars, it’s safe to say that Skye Blakely is BACK!

📺 U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Peacock & NBCSN pic.twitter.com/GiDRJaFDMg

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2026

Pease was equally impressive, putting up the second-highest scores on both uneven bars and balance beam. Bullock, who served notice she’s going to be one to watch in the lead-up to LA28 with a second-place finish at Winter Cup in February, had a lead going into the final rotation. But she was finishing on floor exercise, her weakest event, and she couldn’t keep pace with the leaders.

Rivera was a surprise member of the Paris team, taking advantage of the opening when Blakely and Shilese Jones got hurt. But she’s claimed the spotlight for herself with her Paris teammates taking last year off, winning her first national title.

Don’t count her out for this year yet, either. Rivera was in contention for the lead until uneven bars, where she fell on her final release move. The 12.5 dropped her to fourth place going into the final rotation. But Rivera rebounded with a monster routine, posting the highest score — 14.3 points — on the event of the night.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Skye Blakely shares US Gymnastics Championships lead after successful all-around return