USA Gymnastics Names Nearly 100-Athlete Team for 2026 Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships

 USA Gymnastics Names Nearly 100-Athlete Team for 2026 Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships

INDIANAPOLIS — August 13, 2026 — USA Gymnastics has announced a nearly 100-athlete delegation that will represent the United States at the 2026 Junior and Senior Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships and World Age Group Competitions in Nanjing, China, from November 4-15.

The selection brings together a mix of experienced world medalists, returning junior stars and emerging American talent across trampoline, tumbling and double mini trampoline.

According to USA Gymnastics, the senior World Championships will take place November 4-8, followed by the Junior World Championships and World Age Group Competitions from November 12-15.

Senior Team Packed With World Medalists

The senior delegation features 24 American athletes, with more than half having already won at least one World Championships medal.

Among those selected are world medalists Maia Amano, Ruben Padilla, Isaac Rowley, Aliaksei Shostak and Sarah Webster, who will compete in trampoline alongside Clare Bretscher, Leah Garafalo and Elijah Vogel.

Padilla is one of the team's leading figures. The three-time defending individual double mini World champion will attempt to add another title while also competing in individual trampoline.

The senior tumbling team will be led by Kaden Brown, a three-time individual tumbling World medalist. He will compete alongside Kaleb Cave, West Fowler, Amelia Gasper, Xaiver Harper, Akela Magee, Ashley Matern and Tia Taylor.

Brown's selection is particularly significant given his established record at the international level.

The double mini roster also includes World medalists Fowler, Susan Gill, Gracie Harder, Trevor Harder and Aliah Raga, along with Clara McNew and junior World medalist Rafi Pikofsky-Christiansen.

Junior Stars Ready for Another World Championship

The United States will also send 24 athletes in the 15-16 age category to the Junior World Championships.

Nora Simmonds, who won junior World bronze in 2025, returns to international competition and will contest the trampoline event. She will be joined by Michael Carey, Matteo Giove, Ethan Gordon, Briley Pullin, Sydney Rosen and Bentley Zillmer.

Another returning medalist is Sylus Harper, who earned junior silver last season. Harper will compete in tumbling alongside Zillmer, Sophie Bolos, Anya Brooks, Ingrid Campbell, Soren Campbell, Hutch Page and Avery Schmidt.

Carey, Giove, Gordon, Schmidt, Zillmer, Zarah Lugosi, Capri McLarty and Stella Teeter will compete in junior double mini.

The depth of the junior squad gives the United States several athletes with previous international experience while also providing a platform for the next generation of American trampoline and tumbling competitors.

Nearly 50 Athletes Named for World Age Group Competition

The U.S. delegation extends beyond the senior and junior World Championships, with nearly 50 athletes selected for the World Age Group Competitions in the 13-14 and 17-21 divisions.

In the 17-21 trampoline division, the team includes Grace Danley, a 2025 junior World bronze medalist, alongside Kate Arakawa, Josie Bain, Joseph Borders, Nate Erkert, Taj Gleitsman, Logan McCoy and Max Poveda.

The tumbling roster features Eli Nilson, who won a World Age Group medal in 2025. He will compete alongside BJ Mensah, Micah Miner, Ty-LA Morris, Haleigh Smith, Kennedy Stoker, Amare Walker and Anto Wachterdorff.

The 17-21 double mini team includes Nate Swanepoel, another 2025 World Age Group medalist, along with Bain, Miner, Bella Bowman, Chandler Graham, Shaeya Johnson, Joey Lopatka and Kaysen Maag.

The 13-14 division will feature another group of promising American athletes competing across all three apparatus.

A Major Test in Nanjing

The November competition will provide the U.S. program with an important opportunity to measure itself against the world's leading trampoline and tumbling nations.

The presence of established World medalists gives the senior delegation significant international experience, while the junior and age-group selections highlight the depth of the American development system.

For athletes such as Padilla and Brown, the championships represent another opportunity to add to already impressive international records. For younger competitors including Simmonds, Harper and Danley, the event could become another important step in their development on the global stage.

USA Gymnastics' announcement also identifies traveling and non-traveling replacement athletes, providing additional depth should changes be required before competition.

With the championships still several months away, the selected athletes now have a clear target: arrive in Nanjing prepared to challenge for medals across trampoline, tumbling and double mini.

The United States delegation combines experience, returning medalists and emerging talent, setting up an ambitious international campaign when competition begins in China in November.

Analysis: Why USA Gymnastics’ Nearly 100-Athlete Trampoline and Tumbling Team Could Make a Major Impact in Nanjing

USA Gymnastics’ announcement of a nearly 100-athlete delegation for the 2026 Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships and World Age Group Competitions is more than a simple roster release. It provides an important look at the depth of American talent heading into one of the sport’s biggest international stages.

The championships will take place in Nanjing, China, from November 4-15, bringing together athletes across senior, junior and age-group categories. For the United States, the size and experience of the delegation underline the country’s ambition to remain competitive across trampoline, tumbling and double mini trampoline.

One of the strongest aspects of the team is the amount of previous international experience within the senior delegation. USA Gymnastics said more than half of the 24 senior athletes have won at least one World Championships medal. That statistic immediately changes the expectations surrounding the American team.

Instead of relying almost entirely on developing athletes, the United States will arrive in Nanjing with competitors who already understand what it takes to perform under the pressure of a World Championships.

Padilla Represents One of America’s Biggest Medal Opportunities

Ruben Padilla is arguably one of the most important names in the delegation.

The American is described by USA Gymnastics as the three-time defending double mini World champion. That record makes him one of the athletes to watch closely when competition begins.

Winning one World title is difficult. Winning three consecutive titles demonstrates a level of consistency that is extremely valuable in international competition.

Padilla will also compete in individual trampoline, giving him two opportunities to contribute to the American medal challenge.

His experience could also have an influence beyond his own performances. Major international competitions require athletes to manage pressure, travel, unfamiliar surroundings and the expectations that come with representing their country. A proven champion provides the U.S. team with someone who has already experienced those demands repeatedly.

However, defending a title can sometimes be more difficult than winning it for the first time. Opponents know Padilla's record, know what they are facing and will be motivated to end his run.

That makes his performance in Nanjing one of the most interesting storylines of the entire American campaign.

Kaden Brown Adds Experience in Tumbling

Kaden Brown provides similar leadership in tumbling.

USA Gymnastics identified Brown as a three-time individual tumbling World medalist and the headline name among the eight senior tumblers.

His presence gives the United States a competitor with proven championship credentials. But Brown will not be competing alone. Kaleb Cave, West Fowler, Amelia Gasper, Xaiver Harper, Akela Magee, Ashley Matern and Tia Taylor will also represent the country in the discipline.

That depth matters because tumbling is an event where small mistakes can have a major impact on final rankings. Having several athletes capable of competing internationally gives the United States more opportunities to challenge for finals and medals.

Fowler is particularly interesting because he is also listed for double mini competition, demonstrating how some American athletes can contribute across multiple disciplines.

The Junior Team Could Be Just as Important

While senior medals usually attract the greatest attention, the junior delegation may ultimately be just as important for the future of the American program.

Nora Simmonds returns to the Junior World Championships after winning bronze in 2025. Her previous medal means she will arrive with experience of competing successfully on the same stage.

Sylus Harper also returns after winning junior silver last season. His participation in tumbling creates another opportunity for the United States to challenge for a medal while continuing his progression toward senior-level competition.

These athletes represent an important bridge between the current generation of American stars and the athletes who could eventually replace them.

International success at junior level does not automatically guarantee senior success, but repeated exposure to major competitions can help athletes develop the technical consistency and mental strength required at the highest level.

The presence of returning medalists therefore gives the American junior team a strong foundation.

The World Age Group Competitions Are Equally Significant

Another important feature of the announcement is the size of the World Age Group delegation.

Nearly 50 American gymnasts will compete in the 13-14 and 17-21 categories. This demonstrates that the United States is not simply concentrating its resources on established senior athletes.

Instead, the country is building a broad pipeline.

Grace Danley, Nate Swanepoel and Eli Nilson are among the athletes highlighted by USA Gymnastics because of their 2025 international medals. Their return gives the age-group squad competitors who already know what it feels like to stand on a global podium.

The 13-14 delegation is also important because these athletes could become the senior stars of the next decade.

For the U.S. program, international development is a long-term process. Success cannot be measured only by medals won in November. The experience gained by younger athletes could have consequences for American trampoline and tumbling years into the future.

Depth Could Become America’s Biggest Advantage

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the roster is its depth.

The United States has athletes competing across all three major apparatuses: trampoline, tumbling and double mini trampoline. Several athletes are also listed across more than one discipline.

That versatility can become valuable during a major championship.

A single athlete may not win every event, but a deep delegation increases the likelihood of American representation in finals and medal contests.

The roster also includes replacement athletes, both traveling and non-traveling. That is a practical but important part of preparing for an international competition. Injuries, illness or other circumstances can affect a team before competition even begins.

Having replacements identified provides additional security and allows the program to maintain competitive depth if changes become necessary.

The Biggest Challenge Will Be Turning Depth Into Medals

A large delegation does not automatically guarantee success.

The World Championships will bring together elite athletes from around the world, and the margins between winning a medal and finishing outside the podium can be extremely small.

For American athletes, preparation will therefore be critical.

Traveling to China, adjusting to the environment and maintaining concentration during competition will all form part of the challenge. Technical execution remains the most important factor, but championship experience can become decisive when several athletes are separated by tiny margins.

The Americans will also have to manage expectations. Athletes such as Padilla and Brown enter the competition with impressive records, while younger competitors may be viewed as future stars.

The pressure to perform can be significant.

Why November Could Be a Turning Point

The Nanjing championships could ultimately serve as both a medal opportunity and a measurement of the health of the American trampoline and tumbling program.

The senior athletes provide established experience. The juniors bring returning medalists and emerging talent. The World Age Group competitors provide evidence of a wider development system.

That combination is what makes this delegation particularly interesting.

If the senior athletes convert their experience into medals while the junior and age-group competitors continue to make progress, USA Gymnastics could leave China with more than a collection of podium finishes. It could leave with evidence that the next generation is ready to carry the program forward.

The biggest storyline may therefore not be one athlete or one apparatus.

It could be the depth of the entire American system.

From Padilla's attempt to continue his remarkable double mini run to Brown's pursuit of another tumbling medal, and from Simmonds and Harper returning to the junior stage to younger athletes making their first major international impression, the United States has multiple stories developing at once.

When competition begins in Nanjing in November, expectations will be high.

The American delegation has experience, medalists, promising juniors and a substantial group of developing athletes. The challenge now is converting that potential into consistent performances when the pressure is greatest.

If the team can do that, the 2026 Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships could become a significant chapter in the continued growth of the sport in the United States.

Source: USA Gymnastics, August  13, 2026.