Dulcy Caylor Gets Late Call-Up as Hezly Rivera Withdraws from 2026 Gymnastics Worlds
Dulcy Caylor Replaces Hezly Rivera at World Championships
The United States women’s gymnastics team faced a late change ahead of the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as Dulcy Caylor replaced Hezly Rivera following the latter’s medical withdrawal.
Rivera experienced pain in her left ankle during training and was unable to continue with the competition. Her withdrawal came just before the women’s qualification rounds, forcing the American team to adjust its plans for the major international event.
Caylor, who had initially been named the travelling replacement athlete, was called up to join the five-member team. The change gave the American gymnast an opportunity to compete on the world stage while the team prepared for its title challenge.
Hezly Rivera’s Withdrawal Deals a Blow to Team USA
Rivera was one of the most prominent names in the American line-up. She won team gold with the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and claimed the U.S. all-around national title in both 2025 and 2026.
The 2026 championships were expected to mark her debut at the senior Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. However, the ankle problem forced her to withdraw for the second consecutive year, after an injury also disrupted her preparations for the 2025 edition.
Her absence was significant for the United States, which entered the competition aiming to continue its strong record in women’s team gymnastics.
Dulcy Caylor Steps Into the Spotlight
Caylor was already in the United States squad as the travelling replacement athlete. Her experience at the 2025 World Championships gave her valuable exposure ahead of the 2026 competition.
The late call-up placed additional responsibility on Caylor as the American team competed against leading gymnastics nations in Rotterdam. With Rivera unavailable, the team had to rely on its remaining gymnasts to deliver consistent performances across the apparatus.
The 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships ran from 17 to 25 October at Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands, featuring team, all-around and individual apparatus competitions.
Team USA Wins Women’s Team Silver
Despite the late change, the United States women delivered a strong performance and secured silver in the team final on 21 October. The result kept the Americans among the leading teams in international women’s gymnastics.
The championships also marked an important opportunity for a relatively inexperienced U.S. line-up, with Skye Blakely providing valuable World Championships experience while several of her teammates made their debuts.
What Comes Next for Rivera and Caylor?
Rivera’s immediate priority will be recovering from the ankle problem, while Caylor’s late inclusion offers an important opportunity to gain further experience at the highest level.
The change highlighted the unpredictable nature of elite gymnastics, where injuries can reshape a team’s plans shortly before competition. For the United States, Caylor’s inclusion helped the team navigate the setback and finish with a silver medal at the 2026 World Championships.
The focus now turns to Rivera’s recovery and the next stage of both gymnasts’ international careers.
