Sports
Hezly Rivera withdraws as U.S. gymnastics changes its world roster
Dulcy Caylor replaces the reigning U.S. all-around champion; the confirmed change should not be treated as a medical prognosis.
By NewsCubby · Published
We’d love you to join NewsCubby for free. Join here
Hezly Rivera has medically withdrawn from the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, with Dulcy Caylor added to the U.S. women’s five-athlete roster.
International Gymnast reported USA Gymnastics’ confirmation October 17. Patricia Duffy of Gymnastics Now, reporting from Rotterdam, also described Rivera’s withdrawal and confirmed with the federation that non-traveling alternate Jade Carey would not travel as a replacement.
Rivera won the 2025 and 2026 U.S. all-around titles and was part of the gold-medal U.S. team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her absence changes the personnel available to the national team, while Caylor moves from the traveling-replacement role identified in the original October 1 selection announcement.
Gymnastics Now reported left-ankle pain during training. That observation does not establish a new diagnosis, recovery date or the effect on a future college season. No such prognosis has been verified for this report.
For the U.S. team, the immediate question is how it adjusts to competing without the reigning national all-around champion. The withdrawal itself does not establish how the team will finish.
Sources and photo credit
- Patricia Duffy / Gymnastics Now - IG Staff / International Gymnast Magazine - USA Gymnastics — Original October 1 selection
Hezly Rivera – Podium – 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships 03, by Kimberly Indergand (SpiritedMichelle), August 9, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0; photo adaptation under the same license. Archival competition portrait, not withdrawal or injury photography. Crop, text and gradient added; no endorsement implied.