JAKARTA, Indonesia (October 24, 2025) – Donnell Whittenburg (Baltimore, Md./EVO Gymnastics) clinched still rings gold, becoming the first U.S. man to do so at a World Championships, as Patrick Hoopes (Lehi, Utah/U.S. Air Force Academy) and Joscelyn Roberson (Texarkana, Texas/University of Arkansas) won individual event bronze medals on the first day of apparatus finals at the 2025 FIG Artistic World Championships in Jakarta. At age 31 and 61 days, Whittenburg also became by far the oldest American man to win a world title, surpassing Kurt Thomas, who won two golds in 1979 at age 23 and 254 days.

Whittenburg made history Friday evening, winning the title on rings with a 14.700 to become the first American man to win a World gold medal on the apparatus. He claimed the gold over Adem Asil of Turkey in second (14.566) and Xingyu Lan of China in third (14.500). Whittenburg’s win on rings is his first Worlds win of his career and his third World medal in total, ten years after his last medal, a bronze on vault in 2015.

With the gold, he joins Brandon Wynn (2013 bronze) and Paul O’Neill (1994 silver) as the only Americans to have medaled on rings and surpasses O’Neill (28 years and 354 days) as the oldest U.S. medalist in World Championships history.

Hoopes and Roberson each secured bronze medals Friday, with Hoopes rounding out the pommel horse podium with a 14.566 behind first place Yanming Hong of China and Armenia’s Mamikon Khachatryan in second, each sharing a score of 14.600.

Roberson placed third on vault with a 13.983 (13.966, 13.600) to finish behind independent athlete gold medalist Angelina Melinkova (14.466; 14.100, 14.433) and Lia-Monica Fontaine of Canada (14.033; 13.933, 13.733).

Also in action Friday were Skye Blakely (Frisco, Texas/University of Florida) and Kameron Nelson (Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University), who both finished fourth in their respective final rounds. Blakely slotted in fourth during the uneven bars final with a 14.333 where Kaylia Neymour of Algeria won gold with a 15.566. Nelson landed just off the men’s floor exercise podium with a score of 14.133. Jake Jarman of Great Britain was first on the apparatus with a 14.866.

The championships in Jakarta conclude Saturday, October 25 with all remaining apparatus finals beginning at 3 a.m. ET. On the men’s side, Whittenburg will contest the parallel bars while 2022 World champion Brody Malone (Aragon, Ga./EVO Gymnastics) is on horizontal bar. Dulcy Caylor (Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre) will represent the U.S. women on balance beam and floor.

Fans can continue to follow along on the FIG website and Peacock.

2025 FIG Artistic World Championships U.S. Medal Count
Total: 4

Gold (1)
– Donnell Whittenburg, still rings

Silver (1)
– Leanne Wong, women’s all-around

Bronze (2)
– Patrick Hoopes, pommel horse
– Joscelyn Roberson, women’s vault


The U.S. women won the Fujitsu Infinity Award, which recognises their remarkable performances and the infinite possibilities they represent for the future of gymnastics.