Katelyn Ohashi smiles after competing on the balance beam at the 2026 U.S. Classic in Hartford, Conn., on July 18.

USA Gymnastics

Despite dazzling audiences last week in Hartford at the U.S. Classic, Katelyn Ohashi’s elite gymnastics comeback may have hit a roadblock.

While the door remains open for Ohashi’s team to petition USA Gymnastics for a championship bid, that path took an apparent detour this week. Needing a steep 26.800 qualifying score to advance to August’s U.S. Championships in Phoenix, the 29-year-old fell short by nearly four-tenths in Connecticut.

After sharing the updated list of qualifiers for August’s championships, USA Gymnastics confirmed Tuesday that it has received no petitions from competitors in the women’s elite divisions. The federation official added that “the women’s program is not anticipating any [petitions],” casting doubt on Ohashi’s potential appearance in Phoenix.

While the prospect seems unlikely given recent developments, the opportunity for athletes to petition still exists, as the official confirmed there is no deadline for the committee’s review of petitions.

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Scheduled for August 6-9 in Phoenix, Arizona, the U.S. Championships will determine national champions in the individual all-around and the four apparatus events. Upon the conclusion of the competition, USA Gymnastics leadership will name a U.S. National Team and will later extend invites to the 2026 World Team Selection Event in late September.

From there, the selection committee will determine the five-athlete team that will represent Team USA at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, this October.

What This Means for Katelyn Ohashi

While Ohashi told media she had hoped to qualify for August’s U.S. Championships, after 13 years removed from the elite gymnastics realm, the former elite prodigy and two-time NCAA Champion was content with any outcome from U.S. Classic.

Scoring a strong 13.200 on each of her two events and showing marked improvements on floor exercise from June’s American Classic debut, Ohashi’s U.S. Classic appearance was a resounding success.

"At the end of the day, [I’m] so proud of everything I’ve done this year,” she said after the competition. With her long-term sights set on an appearance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the veteran gymnast has no need to panic.

Given her comparatively lower difficulty levels on beam and floor, Ohashi was unlikely to contend for U.S. titles or be in consideration for selection for the 2026 World team.

Next year, expect difficulty upgrades to put the former star squarely in the mix.

While avid fans may be disappointed, Ohashi’s confident and joyful return to the elite stage bodes well for 2027 and beyond. Although her 2026 elite season may have been cut short, Ohashi is choosing to look forward with positivity. “I couldn’t ask for anything more."