How to Accidentally Lose a Medal at Worlds: A Rules Deep Dive, Plus Szombathely

We predict the future! It's our annual pre-Worlds rules review, where we tell you exactly what kind of accidental gymnastics shenanigans might cost someone a medal.

Plus, Flavia Saraiva is somehow the Szombathely BARS champion, Dulcy Caylor wins floor, Rebeca Andrade returns on beam, and we examine the World Cup of "does anyone actually know what a layout vault is?"

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PRE-WORLDS RULES
When can a traveling alternate replace an injured gymnast?
Why vault remains the apparatus most likely to create chaos.
The Cheng two-hand problem.
Balked vaults: your life is apparently less important than completing the vault.
When you should — and absolutely should not — inquire.
The new post-Paris inquiry rules.
Why springboards are lava.
What happens if your coach gives you the WRONG springboard.

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SZOMBATHELY WORLD CUP
Flavia Saraiva wins bars and beam gold plus floor silver.
Rebeca Andrade returns on beam.
Dulcy Caylor wins floor.
Tatum Drusch makes all four event finals.
Greta Mayer wins vault.
And the great Lopez/pike/layout debate continues.

2026 Worlds Roster Tracker — WAG and MAG, updated daily.

CHAPTERS
00:00 – Flavia Saraiva, Leanne Wong & Szombathely Headlines
08:02 – The Rules That Will Decide Worlds
17:04 – Vault Chaos: Chengs, Balks & Bonuses
26:28 – Good Rules: Unitards, Fall Time & Music
38:32 – To Inquire or Not to Inquire
47:54 – Dumb Rules & Springboard Sabotage
56:01 – Szombathely World Cup Deep Dive
01:14:33 – Asian Games, Paris World Cup & What's Next

UP NEXT
Friday at noon PT: Behind The Scenes — U.S. World Team Preview.
Next week: podcast from U.S. World Team Selection Camp in Tennessee.
Then: 10 podcasts from World Championships on site in Rotterdam.

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