PESARO, Italy – Nearly 30 U.S. athletes will head to coastal Italy to compete at the 2026 World Gymnastics 2026 Junior Acrobatic World Championships and World Youth Competitions from September 17-20.

Junior World Championships

Eight Americans will compete in the second edition of the Junior World Championships.

The 13-19 roster set for Italy will be headlined by two-time U.S. 13-19 women’s pair all-around champions Sophia Roberston and Isabella Brookins, reigning U.S. 13-19 women’s group all-around champions Alani Do, Awdriana Ornelas and Silver Weddle, and 2025 U.S. 12-18 women’s group dynamic silver medalists Leesy Sarria, Gia Calo and Dakota Martin.

At the inaugural Junior World Championships in 2024, the U.S. won two all-around medals with the performances of Yaroslav and Vsevolod Ossolodkov (gold, men’s pair) and Hailee Wong and Andrew Castro (silver, mixed pair).

World Youth Competitions

Running in conjunction with the Junior World Championships, the 2026 World Youth Competitions will feature 20 U.S. gymnasts in the 12-18 division.

Three pairs will compete in Italy, with 2026 U.S. all-around champions Alina Rizvanova and Violet Froste and U.S. all-around bronze medalists Elise Maher and Gracie Deters taking on women’s pair action, while reigning U.S. mixed pair all-around gold medalists Yasmin Roberts and Valentino Elbaz compete in mixed pair competition.

On the group stage, the women’s event will see the U.S. all-around champions of Olivia Irreno, Danica Weinstein and Keira Ackley, and U.S. all-around silver medalists Alexia Irreno, Zoe DeShields and Miah Collazo. The men’s division will be contested by U.S. all-around winners Grant Mathison, Benjamin Dethridge, Max Rosenshaft and Peter Vonder Haar, and U.S. all-around silver medalists Dean Miller, Noah Alvarado, Caleb Hoffmann and Joshua Hoffmann.

Schedule/How to watch

Below is a complete schedule of events in Italy with additional information soon to be available at gymnastics.sport. Fans can also visit acropesaro2026.com.

Thursday, September 17
– Qualifications (WYC) – 3 a.m. ET
– Qualifications (JWCH) – 7:20 a.m. ET

Friday, September 18
– Qualifications (WYC) – 3 a.m. ET
– Qualifications (JWCH) – 1 p.m. ET

Saturday, September 19
– Qualifications (WYC) – 3 a.m. ET
– Qualifications (JWCH) – 10 a.m. ET

Sunday, September 20
– Women’s Group and Men’s Pair finals (WYC) – 3:30 a.m. ET
– Women’s Pair and Mixed Pair finals (WYC) – 5 a.m. ET
– Men’s Group final (WYC) – 6:10 a.m. ET
– Men’s Pair final (JWCH) – 9 a.m. ET
– Women’s Pair final (JWCH) – 9:30 a.m. ET
– Mixed Pair final (JWCH) – 10:15 a.m. ET
– Men’s Group final (JWCH) – 11:15 a.m. ET
– Women’s Group final (JWCH) – Noon ET

Rosters

All competing athletes are listed below by event.

Junior World Championships

    13-19 Women’s Pair
    – Sophia Robertson — Riverside, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy, Isabella Brookins — Sacramento, Calif./Realis Gymnastics Academy/Rodina Elite

    13-19 Women’s Group
    – Alani Do — San Diego, Calif./So Cal TTC, Awdriana Ornelas — Ramona, Calif./So Cal TTC, Silver Weddle — Poway, Calif./So Cal TTC
    – Leesy Sarria — Gambrills, Md./International Elite, Gia Calo — Annapolis, Md./International Elite, Dakota Martin — Upper Marlboro, Md./International Elite

World Youth Competitions

    12-18 Women’s Pair
    – Elise Maher — Eureka, Mo./Show Me Acro, Gracie Deters — Catawissa, Mo./Show Me Acro
    – Alina Rizvanova — Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy, Violet Froste — Sacramento, Calif./Rodina Elite Gymnastics Academy

    12-18 Mixed Pair
    – Yasmin Roberts — Las Vegas, Nev./AGC Las Vegas, Valentino Elbaz — Las Vegas, Nev./AGC Las Vegas

    12-18 Women’s Group
    – Olivia Irreno — Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro, Danica Weinstein — Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro, Keira Ackley — Gaithersburg, Md./Xtreme Acro
    – Alexia Irreno — Potomac, Md./Xtreme Acro, Zoe DeShields — Rockville, Md./Xtreme Acro, Miah Collazo — Great Falls, Va./Xtreme Acro

    12-18 Men’s Group
    – Dean Miller — Highland, Calif./Incentive – AGT, Caleb Hoffmann — Fontana, Calif./Incentive – AGT, Noah Alvarado — San Jacinto, Calif./Incentive – AGT, Joshua Hoffmann — Fontana, Calif./Incentive – AGT
    – Grant Mathison — Crofton, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, Benjamin Dethridge— Laurel, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, Max Rosenhaft— Damascus, Md./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer, Peter Vonder Haar — Imperial, Mo./Emilia’s Acro Gymnastics and Cheer

Photos by Alison Wang, AcroLife Photo


World Youth Competitions Team