China Dominates the New Mixed Team Format + USAG Pulls Out of World Cups

China wins the first-ever Mixed Team American Cup using the new LA28 Olympic format—and the result might reveal a major flaw in the event design.

We break down how the three-round elimination format worked, why some teams advanced despite falls, and what strategies teams used when choosing apparatus.

Plus, data analyst and figure skating official Dr. Elliot Schwartz joins the show to explain the strategy behind the format, whether teams should be allowed to change lineups mid-competition, and what gymnastics could learn from figure skating's scoring system and judging transparency.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Cold Open: Why This Mixed Team Format Was Built for China
01:11 – USAG Pulls Out of Turkey and Cairo World Cups
03:23 – Iowa State Cuts Gymnastics + KJ Kindler Fires Back
08:45 – Jessica on New USAG President Kyle Albrecht
10:02 – American Cup Mixed Team Format Debuts at the Reborn American Cup
11:42 – China Wins + Why This Format Favors China
13:01 – Round 1 Chaos: Brazil and the Philippines Are Eliminated
14:15 – Round 2 Drama: Asher Hong Falls and the U.S. Barely Survives
17:45 – Final Round Recap: U.S. Gets Silver, Japan Takes Bronze
19:00 – Club Gym Nerd Updates: College & Cocktails, Live Shows and More
20:05 – American Cup Deep Dive: Did It Actually Feel Like a Team Competition?
21:35 – Could Fans Follow the Meet? Arena Confusion and Missing Scores
23:23 – Peacock vs In-Arena Experience
25:43 – Should This Have Been a Head-to-Head Bracket?
28:54 – Debate Club: Should Teams Be Allowed to Change Lineups Mid-Meet?
31:17 – Event Selection Debate: Too Much P-Bars, Not Enough Chaos
33:55 – Comedy Highlights: Claire Pease High-Five Fail + Nastia Clip
35:16 – Broadcast Problems: NBC, U.S.-Only Focus and Missed Routines
41:17 – Interview: Dr. Elliot Schwartz on Strategy, Scoring and Figure Skating Lessons
44:01 – Could Gymnastics Use a Plus/Minus Scoring System?
47:52 – Planned Routines, Improvisation and What Figure Skating Does Better
52:01 – Specialist Strategy: What's the Ideal Team Construction?
55:55 – Is Saving Your Biggest Difficulty for the Final Round the Best Strategy?
59:24 – NCAA Update: UCLA vs Stanford Bronze Medal Reunion Meet
01:00:44 – Florida vs LSU: Historic 198.450 and Scoring Chaos
01:07:00 – Perfect 10 Update
01:08:45 – NCAA Rankings Update
01:10:06 – Listener Feedback: American Cup Broadcast Frustrations
01:16:29 – Tim Daggett Back on Air
01:18:15 – American Cup Right, Wrong and How to Improve It
01:23:47 – Outro: College & Cocktails After Utah at UCLA
01:25:01 – End

UP NEXT

• Fantasy Gymnastics podcast every Wednesday
• College & Cocktails: Utah at UCLA on Sat at 9:30ish
  • 2026 Cocktail and Mocktail menu here

SUPPORT OUR WORK

• Club Gym Nerd: Join Here
• Fantasy: 2026 College Fantasy Game now open with weekly winners
• Merch: Shop Now
• Podcast Tour Tickets
  • Replay tickets on sale for our fundraiser show with all the tea from Cecile Landi
  • 2026 Live Show Season Pass is now available, 4 shows for the price of 3
• Thank you to our sponsor Huel Limited Time Offer – Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with code GYMCASTIC15 at huel.com/GYMCASTIC15. New Customers Only.
• Newsletters
• The Balance Beam Situation: Spencer's GIF Code of Points
• Gymnastics History and Code of Points Archive from Uncle Tim
• Resistance Resources