Katelyn Ohashi Shines at US Classic, Misses Phoenix Qualify

Hartford Showdown and Scores

Katelyn Ohashi stepped onto the senior elite floor for the first time at the U.S. Classic, feeling right at home in Hartford despite a grueling 13‑year absence from elite competition. She posted a 13.200 on beam and repeated that score on floor, for a two‑event total of 26.400. That total fell short of the 26.800 required to automatically secure a spot at the August championships in Phoenix, leaving her just four‑tenths of a point shy of qualification.

Technical Adjustments and Judging

Ohashi and her Pacific Reign coaches shifted to a more artistic approach, hoping to maximize scoring with fewer high‑risk acrobatic elements. After an initial 13.300 on beam, the team asked about difficulty valuation, but the inquiry backfired and the judges lowered her score to 13.200. “My score went down,” Ohashi joked afterward, “But you have to gamble, right?” The incident underscored the delicate balance between creativity and risk in elite gymnastics.

JOY and Olympic Dreams

Despite the missed qualification, the crowd’s reaction radiated pure enthusiasm, with Ohashi receiving some of the loudest cheers of the night. She described the experience as a celebration of happiness, emphasizing that “that’s what my gymnastics is about: [being] happy and bringing the joy in.” While she could still petition to appear at the Phoenix championships, her immediate focus is on a long‑term goal: a podium run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Hartford meet marked a confident, joyful step forward in that pursuit.