Elena Colas

The world challenge cup series concludes in Paris this weekend, where the winners of the 2026 season will be announced while the meet also offers one of the final major internationally competitive opportunities to athletes preparing to compete at world championships.

The host country has an impressive list of names on the roster, including a number of athletes who are set for Rotterdam next month. For WAG, most notable are Elena Colas, Morgane Osyssek, and Maïana Prat, and while many of the top MAG athletes are competing under the hors concours designation – basically as guests whose scores in qualifications won’t count toward the total ranking – I’m excited to follow Naël Sakouhi, Kevin Carvalho, and Benjamin Osberger.

In addition to France, the WAG field will include Sabrina Voinea of Romania and Lisa Vaelen of Belgium as two who are often capable of medaling in these types of competitions, and I think Izzy Stassi of the United States could put up some medal-worthy routines on vault and floor. I’m also psyched about Emelie Westlund of Sweden and Sofia Shtykhetskaya on bars, Aitana Pacheco of Spain on beam, and Christine Kubon of Norway, who could medal on vault if she brings back the Yurchenko double full she debuted at Euros this summer, a first in her program’s history.

Lots of top MAG names are on the list as well, including high bar standout Carlo Macchini of Italy, Ferhat Arican and Ibrahim Colak of Türkiye, Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine in his second competition back after an extended break along with his teammate Nazar Chepurnyi, who should be the top contender for vault gold, and pommel horse stunners Hamlet Manukyan of Armenia and Gabriele Targhetta of Italy. Fan favorite Cooper Kim of the United States should put up some exciting routines here, Artem Dolgopyat of Israel should be a top contender on floor, Ilya Zaika of Russia will be one to watch on rings, and I always love Sebastian Sponevik of Norway on floor and vault.

The competition begins tomorrow, September 26, with all of the qualification sessions, while apparatus finals will be held on Sunday, September 27. There will not be a stream for qualifications, but finals will stream live on MaGymTV and on World Gymnastics TV for a fee, and live scores are available through Longines Timing.

A full list of athletes expected to compete is below.

Article by Lauren Hopkins