China have won the women’s team title at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, ending the United States’ run of seven consecutive gold medals by just 0.233 points in Rotterdam.
China finished on 165.764 points, with Japan taking bronze 1.468 points further behind. France finished fourth.
The United States had led at the halfway stage after strong vault and uneven bars performances from Skye Blakely, the only member of the team involved in their 2023 triumph.
But the Americans lost ground on the balance beam when 18-year-old Caylor Dulcy stumbled and scored 12.333. China gained more than four points on the apparatus, with Zhang Qingying producing a leading performance worth 15.066.
The result left the United States facing their first failure to win the team title since Russia beat them at the 2010 championships.
China were still required to hold their nerve on the floor. Qiu Qiyuan needed more than 12.600 in the closing routine to secure victory and delivered a score of 12.833.
It was China’s first women’s team world title since 2006.
The United States competed without Simone Biles, the 23-time world champion who has taken a break from gymnastics and has not competed since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won three gold medals.
The championships continue in the Netherlands on Thursday, when Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto will defend his men’s all-around title against a field expected to include compatriot and Olympic champion Shinnosuke Oka.
Japan won the men’s team competition on Tuesday, finishing ahead of Russia and China.
