2026 World Championships in Rotterdam Predictions

Rotterdam Gymnastics 2026:
MAG Predictions for the 8 competitions

The following analysis presents a series of prognostications regarding the potential outcomes of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics competition at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam. These forecasts are based on the results achieved throughout the 2026 competitive season and gymnasts’ previous track record.

Yet, proceed with a healthy dose of skepticism.

2026 World Championships Overview

About 220 gymnasts from 80 countries are scheduled to compete at the 2026 World Championships in Rotterdam, with the objective of showcasing their skills and routines, and potentially winning one or more of the 24 available medals.

It’s also an opportunity to secure the first qualification spots for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles: the three medal-winning countries in the team final will earn the right to compete in LA in two years.

Teams Predictions

Over the past five years, Japan and China have been engaged in an exceptionally close contest for the top position on the podium. The combined difficulty scores of both nations have been the decisive factor, and each team features gymnasts renowned for their high level of execution across multiple apparatuses.

The absence of Zhang Boheng at the 2026 World Championships will significantly affect not only the All-Around competition but also the teams final. In 2023, China narrowly missed the final after a complicated phase in qualifications; at the 2024 Olympic Games, the team committed uncharacteristic errors in the latter stages of the competition. Will 2026 yield a different outcome?

Given the technical advancement of Japan and China, it appears that the contest for the bronze medal may be one of the principal focal points of the competition, not only for the medal itself but also for securing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Great Britain and the United States have emerged as the strongest contenders for third place for the second consecutive Olympic cycle; however, the recent return of Russia to international competition may significantly intensify the level of rivalry at the 2026 World Championships.

After securing the silver medal at the 2026 European Championships, finishing less than six tenths behind Great Britain, Russia emerges as a serious contender. This marks the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021 that Russia will compete as a full team in an international event, fielding a completely renewed roster of gymnasts who have already demonstrated a high standard of performance.

Canada, South Korea and Switzerland are not too far behind, with scores comprised between 242 and 243.

Here is a benchmark of all the scores achieved by countries that competed in one of the five Continental Championships in 2026:
– Oceania
– Asia
– Africa
– Americas
– Europe

All-Around Predictions

The 2026 World Championships were expected to serve as another high-profile encounter between Hashimoto Daiki (JPN), the 2020 Olympic Champion and the 2022, 2023, and 2025 World Champion, and Zhang Boheng (CHN), the 2021 World Champion and 2024 silver medalist. However, Zhang Boheng was compelled to withdraw from the competition due to a biceps injury.

Although most observers have concentrated on the duel between Hashimoto and Zhang, there is another significant contender in the field: Oka Shinnosuke (JPN), the Olympic All-Around champion in Paris. He delivered a subpar performance at last year’s Jakarta meet and finished off the podium, but he subsequently secured the silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games, placing behind Zhang Boheng but ahead of Daiki.

Among the top scorers in the All-Around this year in Continental Championships are Illia Kovtun (CRO), Arsenii Dukhno (RUS), Daniel Marinov (RUS), Noe Seifert (SUI), Camilo Vera (COL), Marios Georgiou (CYP), Joe Fraser (GBR) and Robert Kirmes (FIN).

Zhang Boheng and Sun Wei, who represented China at the Asian Championships and then at the Asian Games, will not compete at the 2026 World Championships. Among the Chinese gymnasts qualified for Rotterdam, Yang Haonan scored 83.631 and Tian Hao scored 79.864 at the Chinese Championships in May.

American gymnasts Frederick Richard, Shane Wiskus and Danila Leykin scored above 84.000 at US Nationals.

Continental Championships are one of several ways to anticipate what could potentially happen at Worlds: similar scoring approach, competitions that include the all-around and team finals, and high stakes. However, not all the best gymnasts took part in these competitions, so I’ve added athletes with a significant track record in the years before or at other major meets in 2026.

The list below displays the highest total scores attained by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships across each of the six events at the 2026 Continental Championships. Other major international meets, such as the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, show that Reuben Ward (GBR), Félix Dolci (CAN), and Jesse Moore (AUS) also scored above 79 points.

ALL-AROUND: HIGHEST TOTAL DIFFICULTY SCORES (TOP 5)

ALL-AROUND: HIGHEST TOTAL EXECUTION SCORES (TOP 5)

Based on other personal records and experience, the following gymnasts are also to be considered:
Angel Barajas (COL)
Milad Karimi (KAZ)
Oleg Verniaiev (UKR)

Floor Exercise Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Floor at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

Pommel Horse Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Pommel Horse at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

Still Rings Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Still Rings at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

Vault Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Vault at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

Parallel Bars Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Parallel Bars at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

Horizontal Bar Predictions

The list below displays the highest scores attained on Horizontal Bar at the 2026 Continental Championships by the registered gymnasts for the 2026 World Championships.

Let’s not forget…

2026 Continental Championships Review

Here are some additional stats about the 2026 Continental Championships, including the average and highest total, difficulty and average scores per continent.

AVERAGE TOTAL SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

HIGHEST TOTAL SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

AVERAGE DIFFICULTY SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

HIGHEST DIFFICULTY SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

AVERAGE EXECUTION SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

HIGHEST EXECUTION SCORES PER APPARATUS (EVENT FINALS & ALL-AROUND)

TOTAL NUMBER OF STUCK LANDINGS PER COUNTRY IN THE COMPETITIONS

More here:
Rotterdam Gymnastics 2026: Guide to the World Championships
Official Website