Recent Injury Concerns

The defending U.S. national champion’s career has been hampered by injuries in recent months, most notably in the lead-up to the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

After winning her first U.S. title, Rivera and her teammate Claire Pease both withdrew from the World Team Selection Camp due to injury, ending their world championship bids. Both athletes are trained by Valeri and Anna Liukin at the prestigious World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA), the famed coaches and parents of 2008 Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin.

Considered a favorite to contend for multiple world medals, Rivera’s untimely injury made way for a significantly depleted U.S. squad in Jakarta, resulting in the lowest medal total for U.S. women in more than two decades.

Team Final Competition Continues

Despite their veteran’s early departure from competition, Team USA’s show must go on in Rio. As Rivera withdrew during the competition on the field of play, Team USA was unable to replace her routines with an alternate athlete.

Nonetheless, the delegation looks for strong contributions from Claire Pease, the 2025 U.S. Classic Champion, and promising first-year senior Charleigh Bullock.

The U.S. women hope to fend off challenges from Canada and host country Brazil, which boasts the return of six-time Olympic medalist Rebeca Andrade.

In addition to fighting for the team title, the American women hope to qualify for the women’s all-around and individual event finals with their scores from Thursday’s competition.

Should American athletes finish within the top 24 qualifiers, the top two athletes will advance to Friday’s all-around final. On the four individual events, the top eight athletes (two per country) will qualify for this weekend’s event finals.