The curtain has closed on the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, leaving behind a trail of new stars. Some athletes dazzled with victories on their world championship debuts, while others finally reached the top after years of persistence.

[Chinese Gymnast Hong Yanming./JAGOC]

One of the biggest breakthroughs came from Hong Yanming. At 19 years old, the Chinese gymnast captured the men’s pommel horse title, a stunning feat in his first-ever appearance on the world stage.

[Chinese Gymnast Zhang Qingying./JAGOC]

Another standout performance came from his teammate, Zhang Qingying, who impressed fans worldwide by clinching gold on the balance beam. The 18-year-old led consistently from qualification to final, outperforming all competitors — including 2024 Olympic Champion Kaylia Nemour. Her world championship debut in Jakarta ended with double success, as she also earned bronze in the all-around.

[Algerian Gymnast Kaylia Nemour./JAGOC]

For Kaylia Nemour, the Jakarta championship brought another golden chapter. The 2024 Olympic Champion from Algeria reclaimed her mastery on the uneven bars, securing the top spot once again.

The 19-year-old gymnast also took silver on the balance beam, improving on her 2023 Antwerp World Championships result, where she had finished second on uneven bars.

[Japanese Gymnast Aiko Sugihara./JAGOC]

Aiko Sugihara also shone in Jakarta. Competing in her first world championship, the 26-year-old Japanese gymnast captured gold on floor exercise and bronze on balance beam. A two-time Olympian (2016 and 2020), Sugihara’s persistence finally paid off on the global stage.

[US Gymnast Donnell Whittenburg./JAGOC]

The event also marked a career milestone for Donnell Whittenburg of the United States. After three world championship appearances, he finally claimed gold on rings — becoming, at 31 years old, the oldest American male gymnast ever to win a world title.

Previously, Whittenburg had collected bronze medals in the men’s vault at the 2015 Glasgow World Championships and in the team event at the 2014 Nanning Worlds.

Jakarta will be remembered as the birthplace of these new champions — a celebration of resilience, breakthrough, and history in the making.

Congratulations to all the new champions!