China women’s gymnastics end US 7-title run

On October 22, Beijing time, China won gold in the women’s team final at the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, scoring 165.764 points. The team, consisting of Zhang Qingying, Ke Qinqin, Qiu Qiyuan, Du Siyu and Zhang Yihan, returned to the top of the world championships podium for the first time in 20 years.

China’s women’s gymnastics team had already won gold at the Asian Championships and the Asian Games in 2026, but the long-awaited world championship title was the real prize. In the final, China faced the United States, which had won seven consecutive titles. Against such formidable opposition, the Chinese gymnasts delivered a flawless performance, making no mistakes throughout the competition. They finished just 0.233 points ahead of the Americans, bringing their winning streak to an end.