U.S. junior national team members Aulya Daniels (left) and Jakson Kurecki (right) at the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. (© Matthew Smith/Gymnastics Now)

USA Gymnastics will not send athletes to the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

The national governing body confirmed to Gymnastics Now on Thursday that it would not have athletes competing when the Games take place October 31 – November 13 later this year in Dakar, Senegal.

USAG said the decision boiled down to credential limitations. Specifically, personal coaches would not be able to be credentialed, presenting safety concerns for athletes in training and competition.

The U.S. Men’s Program Committee minutes from April indicated there were concerns about the safety and well-being of athletes after a USOPC site visit.

“The Development Program Director gave an update on the Youth Olympic Games,” the minutes read. “After USOPC representatives visited Dakar last week, they led an informational call for NGB’s. We received a full report of the conditions and expectations for this competition, which were not favorable. There were several key items that are putting into question the safety and well-being of the athletes, which has led to an internal discussion with both Men’s and Women’s Programs around declining the invitation to compete.

“We have also learned that other US sports have declined to participate citing the same challenges. The MPC agreed that this was a less-than-ideal situation and they would not be in favor of attending.”

This is the first time the U.S. will not be represented in gymnastics at the Games. In the previous three editions (’10, ’14, ’18), USAG sent athletes in various disciplines.

Notably, Alec Yoder won boy’s all-around bronze and Laura Zeng won rhythmic individual all-around bronze at Nanjing 2014. Brandon Briones won two medals at Buenos Aires 2018: vault gold and mixed multi-discipline team bronze.

Yoder went on to become an Olympian, competing at the Tokyo Games. Briones was an alternate for that same Olympic team.

The U.S. women’s artistic program hasn’t previously sent athletes to the Youth Olympic Games, but it seemed they were at least discussing it earlier this year, with junior standout Addalye VanGrinsven telling Olympics.com that was her goal.

Men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics will be contested at Dakar 2026 from November 7-11. No other gymnastics disciplines will be contested at these Games.