The 18-year-old Olympic gold medalist successfully defended her U.S. women’s all-around gymnastics title on Sunday, producing a remarkable turnaround at the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix.
Rivera entered the final day in fourth place after recording 55.000 points in the opening round. Instead of allowing the deficit to define her championship, she responded with the strongest all-around performance of the competition’s second day, scoring 56.950 to finish on 111.950 points overall.
That was enough to move her from fourth to first and secure her second consecutive U.S. senior all-around championship.
The Numbers That Tell the Story
Gold: Hezly Rivera
All-around total: 111.950
Day 1 score: 55.000
Day 2 score: 56.950
Second: Claire Pease – 110.800
Third: Charleigh Bullock – 110.550
Fourth: Reese Esponda – 108.900
Fifth: Jade Carey – 108.750
Margin of victory: 1.150 points over Pease
National titles: Two consecutive senior U.S. all-around championships
From Fourth to First
Rivera’s championship was defined less by a perfect start and more by how she responded when she was under pressure.
Her first-day total of 55.000 left her behind Skye Blakely and Claire Pease, who shared the lead at 55.600, as well as Charleigh Bullock at 55.400.
The situation changed dramatically on the second day.
Rivera raised her performance to 56.950, while Pease posted 55.200 and Bullock 55.150. The turnaround allowed Rivera to overtake the field and finish with a winning total of 111.950.
Her second-day apparatus scores were particularly strong: 14.400 on vault, 13.850 on uneven bars, 14.400 on balance beam and 14.300 on floor exercise.
The balance beam again proved to be an important part of Rivera’s success. She produced a 14.300 on the event in the opening round and followed it with 14.400 in the final round.
A Championship That Carries Extra Weight
Rivera’s latest victory is significant because of what it says about her position in the next generation of American gymnastics.
She was already an Olympic champion after helping the United States win the women’s team gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But her rise at the national level has accelerated since then.
In 2025, Rivera captured her first senior U.S. all-around title in New Orleans with a two-day total of 112.000, beating Leanne Wong by 0.800 points. She also won titles on balance beam and floor and shared the uneven-bars title.
One year later, she has successfully defended that crown.
That makes the achievement even more notable: Rivera is now a two-time consecutive U.S. senior all-around champion, confirming that her 2025 breakthrough was not a one-off result.
Pease and Bullock Keep the Pressure On
While Rivera took the spotlight, the competition behind her was extremely tight.
Claire Pease finished second with 110.800, only 1.150 points behind the champion. Charleigh Bullock was even closer, taking third with 110.550.
Reese Esponda and Jade Carey rounded out the top five with 108.900 and 108.750, respectively.
The results underline the depth of the current U.S. women’s field, with several gymnasts competing for places on the national team and, ultimately, major international assignments.
Rivera’s Rising Record
Rivera’s recent résumé is becoming increasingly impressive.
She won the U.S. senior all-around championship in 2025 and followed it with another national title in 2026. Earlier this year, she also won the all-around at the 2026 Winter Cup, along with the balance beam and floor exercise titles. USA Gymnastics lists her among the leading senior competitors following her Olympic team gold in 2024.
Her latest national title also adds another chapter to the story of an athlete who is increasingly being viewed as one of the central figures of the next U.S. gymnastics generation.
The Bigger Picture
The most striking part of Rivera’s victory was not simply the final score.
It was the recovery.
A fourth-place position after the opening day could easily have turned into a missed opportunity. Instead, Rivera delivered her best all-around performance when the championship was on the line.
That ability to respond under pressure may prove just as valuable as her technical ability as the international season develops.
Rivera is no longer simply the young gymnast who was part of an Olympic gold-medal team.
She is now a back-to-back U.S. national champion, and her latest comeback suggests that the American gymnastics spotlight may increasingly belong to her.
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