Olympic Gymnast Hezly Rivera Withdraws From 2025 World Championships After Ankle Injury

Hezly Rivera, the reigning U.S. National Champion and 2024 Olympic team gold medalist, has announced she will miss the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships due to a recent ankle injury. Rivera decided to sit out the upcoming World Championships selection camp in Crossville, Tennessee, after consulting with her doctors and coaches, focusing instead on recovery with hopes to return stronger in 2026. Her withdrawal opens the door for gymnasts like Leanne Wong, Joscelyn Roberson, Jayla Hang, and Claire Pease to compete for spots on Team USA for the championships scheduled in Jakarta, Indonesia. Rivera had been a heavy favorite for the team, having posted the highest all-around score at the 2025 U.S. National Championships and showing strong performances across multiple events. Despite her absence, Rivera expressed excitement to support her teammates from home and thanked her support system publicly. The World Championships will only contest individual titles, and Rivera was considered a medal contender on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise before her injury.