Hezly Rivera won the all-around title at the 2026 U.S. Championships on Sunday in Phoenix, coming from behind to defeat teammate Claire Pease in a fierce battle that came down to the wire.
After falling from the uneven bars on day one, Hezly Rivera did not take the lead until the eighth and final rotation in Phoenix. Slowly chipping away, routine after routine, the defending U.S. Champion showed impressive mental endurance to clinch her second-straight championship.
With her win, the 18-year-old joins an elite club of American gymnasts who won multiple U.S. titles, including Olympic Champions Simone Biles, Shawn Johnson, and Nastia Liukin.
Four different athletes won the four individual events. U.S. Classic champion Reese Esponda claimed her first national title on floor after a two-day masterclass. Olympic and World vault medalist Jade Carey claimed her third U.S. vault title. Rivera defended her balance beam title, while Claire Pease won her first U.S. title, on uneven bars.
1. Hezly Rivera (WOGA): 111.950
2. Claire Pease (WOGA): 110.800
3. Charleigh Bullock (Capital): 110.550
4. Reese Esponda (WCC): 108.900
5. Jade Carey (Oregon State): 108.750
Phoenix Play-By-Play
Rotation One: Pease Takes Control, Blakely Stumbles
Beginning the competition on vault, Jade Carey showed her trademark power – perhaps too much today, hopping twice on landing. For her second vault, Carey showed improvement from night one, landing her “Lopez” vault with a small hop. A World and Olympic vault medalist, Carey is a favorite to win her third U.S. vault title here.
Tied for first heading into tonight’s competition, Claire Pease began her night on bars. Pease handled her difficult inbar work with ease, taking a small hop forward on her dismount for a massive 14.350.
While the top contenders began their meets, 2025 Junior U.S. Champion Caroline Moreau impressed on the balance beam. Scoring only a 12.800 on night one, Moreau nailed her exercise for a massive 14.300 – the highest score thus far in the competition. Though unlikely to contend for the all-around podium, Moreau put USA Gymnastics leadership on notice.
Hezly Rivera began night two on the event that unraveled on night one: the uneven bars. Though the Olympian almost lost control of her routine on her final handstand pirouette, she pulled through the routine to salvage a strong exercise.
Minutes later, first-place Skye Blakely took to the floor exercise. With Rivera on the rise, Blakely could not afford any major mistakes. However, the Florida Gator mistimed her punch on her first pass, falling to the floor. Though Blakely was able to laugh off the mistake, the damage would be significant. She scored just 11.900, dropping her to fourth place with athletes still to go.
In third-place after night one, Charleigh Bullock began her night on the balance beam. In her first routine of the night, she’d face her biggest test. Though the 16-year-old had some nerves, she fought through the exercise for a solid opener.
After One: 1. Claire Pease: 69.950, 2. Hezly Rivera: 68.850, 3. Charleigh Bullock: 68.700, 4. Jade Carey: 68.650, 5. Skye Blakely: 67.500.
Rotation Two: Esponda Shines, Rivera Climbs
With a sizable full-point lead over her teammate Hezly Rivera, Claire Pease and Rivera headed over to beam, Charleigh Bullock to floor, Jade Carey to bars, and Skye Blakely to vault.
Blakely left her floor error behind her on vault, cruising through her easy Lopez vault. On bars – her weakest event – Jade Carey fought through a late pirouette to nearly nail her full-twisting double layout dismount. Both remained on the outside, but in the hunt.
Reese Esponda scored a massive 14.450 on floor in night one – one more routine of that caliber and she would win gold. Launching into her massive tumbling, Esponda landed without a flicker. Captivating the audience with her power and eerie music, Esponda delivered another winning routine for her second 14.450. Even with many athletes yet to go, she would undoubtedly win her first U.S. title.
Over on beam, defending U.S. all-around champion Hezly Rivera looked to keep her comeback effort on track. Rivera stunned on beam in night one, but was slightly less secure on tonight’s effort. Nonetheless, she hit the routine for a higher score than night one.
Third-place Charleigh Bullock then took to the floor, looking to hone in on her execution due to lower difficulty than her competitors. Bullock did just that, earning a solid 13.550 from the judges, a .100 improvement from night one.
Current leader, Claire Pease, was the last of the top gymnasts to finish the rotation. Despite the eyes of the arena on her, Pease floated through her difficult combination, nailing her dismount with veteranlike confidence. Pease earned a 13.800, losing ground on Rivera but good for the lead.
After Two: 1. Claire Pease: 83.750 2. Hezly Rivera: 83.250, 3. Charleigh Bullock: 82.250 4. Jade Carey: 82.050, 5(t). Skye Blakely: 81.450 & Reese Esponda: 81.450.
Rotation Three: Rivera Retakes Lead
Though Pease maintained her lead heading into the second half of the meet, Rivera’s beam routine halved Pease’s once-sizable lead, setting up a thrilling final two rotations.
Charleigh Bullock went first of the top group, showing off her immense power. Bullock struggled to find a clean landing, but still delivered a strong score due to superior execution.
Over on bars, Skye Blakely moved to one of her best events. Blakely cruised through her difficult release moves, closing her effort with a perfectly stuck dismount and a beaming smile.
Currently in second place, Hezly Rivera moved to the floor. The Olympian looked confident, nailing her first two tumbling passes with almost no landing errors. Rivera earned a huge 14.300, putting significant pressure on her younger teammate.
From one Olympian to another, Jade Carey went to beam, looking to cleanly execute one of her lower scoring events. While her effort on the balance beam was clean, Carey stumbled out of her dismount, incurring significant deductions for a 12.900.
Looking to hold her lead, Claire Pease opened her floor routine with an out-of-bounds deduction. With Rivera on her heels, she had to be nearly perfect. Pease characteristically bounced out of many of her passes, posting just a 13.200.
With only vault to go for the two WOGA teammates, Hezly Rivera took a sizable lead. Hezly Rivera has not led this entire weekend and just took a .600 lead going into the final rotation.
After Three: 1. Hezly Rivera: 97.550, 2. Claire Pease: 96.950, 3. Charleigh Bullock: 96.450 4. Skye Blakely: 95.700, 5. Reese Esponda: 95.600:
Rotation Four: Rivera Closes the Deal
Jade Carey opened the final rotation in Phoenix on her best event: floor. Carey nailed her first two tumbling passes, drawing roars from her home crowd. Dismounting with a small hop, Carey concluded a solid return to the elite stage in Phoenix.
Finishing her night on balance beam, Skye Blakely fell twice on balance beam, ending her bid for a national title on the event and effectively ending her contention in the all-around race.
All eyes turned to Hezly Rivera on vault. If Rivera could land on her feet, she would win her second-straight U.S. Championship. Seconds later, it was all but official. Rivera nearly stuck the vault, her coach Valeri Liukin beaming with pride.
She immediately received a fist bump and hug from her top competitor and teammate Claire Pease. Pease vaulted shortly after, hitting her Yurchenko double to secure a likely silver medal.
After Four: 1. Hezly Rivera: 111.950, 2. Claire Pease: 110.800, 3. Charleigh Bullock: 110.550, 4. Reese Esponda: 108.900, 5. Jade Carey: 108.750