The U.S. National Champion and the U.S. Classic Champion will not be at the Worlds Selection Camp. “Hi everyone! I wanted to share personally that I recently rolled my ankle. After talking it through with my doctor and coaches, I’ve decided the best thing right now is to sit out of the Worlds Selection Camp,” announced Hezly Rivera on September 26, 2025. And as if this heartbreak wasn’t enough, Claire Pease also announced today, “Unfortunately, I rolled my ankle and will not be attending Worlds Selection Camp.” These two were the biggest stars expected to help the U.S. team at the World Championships in the absence of their legends. Now that this hope is gone, what does USA Gymnastics do? Nothing.
Inside Gymnastics Magazine took to Instagram today to announce that there will be no replacement athletes for the absence of Rivera and Pease at the Worlds Selection Camp. “❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 It’s been a tough week on the U.S. gymnastics scene with two of the most successful athletes of the season sidelined. Reigning National Champ Hezly Rivera and reigning U.S. Classic Champ Claire Pease have suffered injuries, effectively ending their seasons,” read the caption of the post. Rivera won the 2025 U.S. National Championship (Senior All-Around) with a two-day total of 112.000, while Pease won the senior all-around title at the 2025 U.S. Classic with a combined score of 54.600.
Both were expected to make the U.S. team for the World Championships. The caption further assured, “USA Gymnastics confirmed to Inside Gymnastics magazine that there will be no replacement athletes for the duo at this week’s Worlds Selection Camp, leaving eight gymnasts in the mix for the team. Wishing both a speedy recovery!” The 2025 Senior World Championships Selection Camp for U.S. women’s artistic gymnastics is slated to take place Tuesday, September 30, and Wednesday, October 1, with the team expected to be announced Wednesday afternoon. Who will be there?
Skye Blakely, Dulcy Caylor, Jayla Hang, Gabrielle Hardie, Joscelyn Roberson, Simone Rose, Ashlee Sullivan, and Leanne Wong will compete for the squad. The highest-scoring all-arounder on day one automatically qualifies. The Athlete Selection Committee will choose the remaining three members. The committee may also select up to two alternates, who will not travel with the team.
Hezly Rivera would have been a great addition, given that she is an Olympic gold medalist, but destiny had other plans, and she had to make a harsh decision. In her absence, doors opened for Pease, but she too met the same fate. “While this is the absolute worst timing, my family, coaches, and I decided it’s best to heal and come back for next season. Wishing everyone good luck at camp,” her message read.
Hezly Rivera’s absence creates trouble for an already troubled USA Gymnastics
When it comes to the big names in U.S. gymnastics currently active, we have stars like Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey. While retirement rumors surround Simone Biles and Suni Lee, there is no concrete evidence or official word from either of them, so we can still count them in. All of them were in Paris and won the team Olympic gold. Individually, Biles took gold in the all-around and vault, along with silver on floor. Lee earned bronzes in the all-around and uneven bars, Carey claimed vault bronze, and Chiles took floor bronze. None of them will be at the Gymnastics World Championships in October.
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Biles and Lee are busy with their lives outside gymnastics. Carey had also announced earlier this season, “I’m not doing elite this year, so I just have them to focus on and that’s it. I’m really excited to jump in with them and be a leader and help get them to where we want to go.” Jordan also did not participate in any elite competition this year and is on DWTS right now. The U.S. is not sending its best team; it’s sending its best possible. Rivera’s injury only adds to the problem.
Yes, she had a tough night at the U.S. Classic, first slipping on her Tkachev for an 11.95, then later letting nerves show on beam with a fall that brought her score down to 12.30. But her performance at Nationals was outstanding. Beyond winning the all-around title, she also claimed titles on balance beam (28.350), floor exercise (28.200), and uneven bars (tied with Skye Blakely, 27.600). Her win made her the first gymnast since Jordyn Wieber to win both a junior national title and a senior national title. But now she will not be there.
Joscelyn Roberson was third all-around behind Leanne Wong at Nationals. They will be the hope for the U.S. team at the World Championships, most likely making the team.