Tatum Drusch won the 2026 American Classic in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 27, securing her qualification to the upcoming Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The qualifying meet also featured the return of Olympic medalist Jade Carey and the elite comeback of Katelyn Ohashi, who competed at the national level for the first time in 13 years.
Tatum Drusch and Jade Carey Lead Qualifying Field
Tatum Drusch, representing Flips, topped the senior women’s all-around leaderboard with a 53.700, successfully punching her ticket to the U.S. Championships scheduled for August in Phoenix, Arizona. Drusch’s performance included a standout 13.800 on the beam, according to Gymnastics Now. Joining her in qualifying for the all-around was Jade Carey, the Oregon State standout and 2024 Olympic gold medalist, who finished with a 53.050.
Carey’s return to elite competition marked her first appearance since the Paris Games. She demonstrated her signature power by winning the vault with a 14.250 and the floor exercise with a 13.100. Zoey Molomo, a future UCLA Bruin, also secured her all-around qualification with a 52.700. While Molomo had previously qualified on three individual events, her performance in Minneapolis finalized her all-around status for the national championships.
For Carey, the American Classic served as a critical benchmark in her post-Olympic trajectory. Athletes who have reached the pinnacle of the sport often use these mid-summer qualifiers to test upgraded routines or return to competition rhythm after extended breaks. By securing her all-around qualification, Carey ensures her path remains open to contend for the national title in Phoenix, a necessary step for any athlete looking to maintain their standing within the U.S. national team pool.
Katelyn Ohashi Returns to Elite Competition
The American Classic served as the high-profile stage for Katelyn Ohashi’s return to elite gymnastics. The 29-year-old, who gained international fame for her viral collegiate performances at UCLA, had not competed at the elite level since 2015. The Gymternet reports that Ohashi is now training at Pacific Reign in Washington, the same facility home to national team members Jayla Hang and Simone Rose.
Ohashi’s comeback included a 13.150 on the balance beam, tying for third on the apparatus, and a 11.500 on a floor routine described as “watered down.” While she did not secure the specific qualifying score needed for the U.S. Championships this weekend, she remains eligible to attempt qualification at the U.S. Classic next month. Her participation follows a long hiatus; her last national-level appearance was the 2013 American Cup, where she famously defeated Simone Biles for the all-around title.
The transition from collegiate gymnastics, where Ohashi dominated during her time at UCLA, back to the elite code of points requires significant adjustment. Elite gymnastics emphasizes higher difficulty values and stricter execution standards compared to the NCAA format. By training at Pacific Reign, Ohashi has positioned herself within an elite ecosystem that prioritizes the technical rigors required to compete alongside the current generation of national team members.
Qualification Path and Upcoming National Events
The Minneapolis event is part of a broader series of qualifiers organized by USA Gymnastics to determine the field for the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The competition requirements for athletes are stringent: gymnasts must achieve a 52.500 in the all-around, a 39.600 on three events, or a 26.800 on two events to earn a spot at the national meet.
These qualifying standards are designed to ensure that only those athletes prepared for the intensity of the national championship participate. The process is a filter, narrowing the field from a wide pool of collegiate and club athletes down to a select group capable of contending for medals in Phoenix. Athletes who miss the mark in Minneapolis are not excluded from the season; rather, they are redirected to the final qualifying opportunities, where the pressure often mounts as the roster spots for the U.S. Championships diminish.
Other competitors are still working to meet these thresholds. Amari Celestine, a Missouri alumna, competed on beam (12.000) and floor (11.900) but scratched vault and bars. She fell short of the 26.800 two-event requirement and will look to improve her standing at the next qualifier.
“She’s on my worlds team this year.” The Gymternet, regarding expectations for returning athletes
As the season progresses, the focus shifts to the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, set for July 17-18. This will be the final opportunity for athletes like Ohashi and Celestine to secure their spots for the championship meet in Phoenix. The U.S. Classic is historically one of the most important meets on the calendar, acting as the final gatekeeper for the national championships.
Beyond the women’s competition, the broader scope of U.S. gymnastics remains highly active. The men’s artistic gymnastics community is holding its own national qualifier in Colorado Springs this weekend, headlined by Olympic medalists Stephen Nedoroscik and Shane Wiskus, as GymCastic noted in recent coverage of the shifting elite landscape. The simultaneous nature of these events underscores the depth of the U.S. pipeline, as both programs work toward their respective national championships in the late summer.
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