More than 400 of the world’s elite artistic gymnasts representing 84 nations are set to converge in the Netherlands for the 54th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, where high stakes and coveted qualification spots for the upcoming Olympic Games will take center stage. Running from 20 to 25 October in Rotterdam, the prestigious global competition carries unprecedented significance this year, with the top three nations in each team event automatically securing their places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Fans across the United Kingdom will be able to follow every twist, vault, and routine live across the BBC.
The international gymnastics calendar offers few events with the magnitude and pressure of this year’s championships. On the men’s side, powerhouse squads from China and Japan enter the tournament as the heavy favorites, though Great Britain’s men arrive with immense momentum. Team GB retained their European title back in August following a near-flawless display of precision and difficulty, positioning themselves as genuine contenders for a podium finish in the team event.
Meanwhile, the United States women’s team looks to maintain its historic dominance, having won every single world team final since 2011. The American squad will lean heavily on the seasoned leadership of Skye Blakely, who is competing at her fourth World Championships. Surrounding her is a fresh generation of talent experiencing their first senior worlds, a group that includes reigning Olympic team gold medallist Hezly Rivera.
Complications and drama have not bypassed the competition build-up. The Russian team, which competes under a neutral status, captured the European women’s gold medals earlier in the cycle. However, their campaign in Rotterdam has been dealt a severe blow after reigning world all-around champion Angelina Melnikova and two of her female teammates were denied visas to enter the Netherlands.
Great Britain enters Rotterdam looking to build upon their impressive fourth-place finishes at both the most recent Olympic Games and the European Championships. Leading the British women’s charge is multiple major medallist Alice Kinsella, who makes her return to the world stage just 13 months after welcoming her first child.
Individual rivalries and historical milestones are also set to illuminate the competition floor. Japan’s reigning champion Daiki Hashimoto is chasing a historic fourth consecutive men’s all-around world title, a feat that would further cement his legacy in the sport. In the women’s competition, Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour has a golden opportunity to make history as the first African winner of the world all-around event. Additionally, brilliant Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade returns to major global championship competition for the first time since her stellar four-medal haul at the 2024 Olympic Games, which included a stunning gold medal on the floor exercise.
Great Britain – who’s in the team?
Great Britain has named a formidable squad blending seasoned Olympic veterans with rising stars who have consistently proven themselves on the international and Commonwealth stages.
Jake Jarman heads into the championships as one of the anchors of the men’s team. The 24-year-old captured an Olympic bronze medal on the floor at Paris 2024 and is already a two-time world champion, having claimed the vault title in 2023 and the floor title in 2025. Demonstrating a meticulous approach to his preparation, Jarman skipped the European Championships earlier this year and chose not to defend his titles at the Commonwealth Games in order to focus entirely on peak performance at these World Championships.
He is joined by Courtney Tulloch, affectionately known throughout the sport as Great Britain’s "King of the Rings." At 31 years old, Tulloch remains a pillar of consistency and strength, having etched his name into the history books in 2022 by becoming the first British gymnast—and the first Black man—to win a World Championship medal on the rings apparatus.
Harry Hepworth, 22, enjoyed a spectacular breakout performance during his Olympic debut at Paris 2024. Beyond helping Team GB secure a historic result, he won the nation’s first-ever Olympic medal on the vault and carved his name into British gymnastics history by becoming the first Briton to qualify for an Olympic rings final.
Joe Fraser continues to be a vital cornerstone for the British men. In 2019, Fraser captured Great Britain’s first-ever gold medal on the parallel bars at the World Championships before later becoming Britain’s first European all-around men’s champion. Now 27, his leadership and composure under pressure remain invaluable to the team’s prospects.
Completing the men’s lineup is Reuben Ward. The 21-year-old made history earlier this year by becoming Scotland’s first all-around Commonwealth Games champion while also securing a silver medal on the pommel horse. He now prepares to make his senior World Championships debut.
On the women’s side, Alice Kinsella anchors the team with her wealth of experience. The Olympic bronze medallist returns to international competition following the birth of her first child last year. Kinsella was instrumental in helping Team GB win their first Olympic women’s team medal in 93 years at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and Rotterdam marks the 25-year-old’s sixth appearance at the World Championships.
She is joined by veteran specialist Becky Downie. At 34 years old, Downie is a three-time Olympian and a decorated medallist across World, European, and Commonwealth levels, boasting three major gold medals and four silvers specifically on the uneven bars.
Ruby Evans, 19, brings youthful dynamism to the squad. At just 17 years old, she became the first Welsh female artistic gymnast in 28 years to represent Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She is already a Commonwealth gold medallist and earned a world silver medal on the floor last year.
Abigail Martin, an 18-year-old from Devon, reinforces the team’s depth. Martin earned team, vault, and floor silver medals at the Commonwealth Games and was a member of the fourth-placed British team at the Paris Olympics, alongside capturing a world bronze medal in the floor event last year.
Alia Leat, 21, rounds out the women’s team. Having represented Great Britain at both the 2025 European Championships and World Championships, she holds the title of British champion on the balance beam and was part of the England squad that claimed team bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Live coverage of the 54th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will be broadcast across BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app, beginning with the men’s team final on Tuesday, 20 October, and concluding with the apparatus finals on Sunday, 25 October.