The world of American Gymnastics has entered a new season. While the LA 2028 Olympics seem far away, gymnasts must first go through this year’s Winter Cup and qualify for the 2025 World Championships. Securing a spot on Team USA for Jakarta, Indonesia, in October for the prestigious event will be this year’s primary goal for the gymnasts. But, before that, they have to start this year’s journey in Kentucky, where the 2025 Winter Cup marks the start of the elite gymnastics season. But as a viewer, don’t be too excited! Most of the Paris 2024 Olympic stars, including Simone Biles, seemed notably absent.

On February 18, USA Gymnastics released the official roster of the competitors taking the stage in Louisville on their official social media ‘X’ handle. And what do we find out? Nearly all of the Paris 2024 Olympic stars, including Simone Biles, and Jordan Chiles, from the women’s elite team have withdrawn from the Winter Cup. On the other hand, it’s almost the same as the Olympic bronze-medal-winning men’s team, which decided to skip the 2025 Winter Cup. In 2025, Simone Biles has till now only one event planned this year, which is the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. While, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey in 2025, seem to be focused mostly on their NCAA careers.

The Team USA men’s gymnastics athletes have already made successful careers at the NCAA level. Athletes like Asher Hong,  Paul Juda, and Fredrick Richard were already bronze medalists at the 2023 World Championships. The only exceptions are Hezly Rivera and Frederick Richard, who will compete at the event. So, why are these players absent? Most probably, because Olympic team members and alternates automatically qualify for the U.S. Championships, which means it’s not compulsory to compete at the Winter Cup in order to advance.

Despite the automatic qualification, Hezly Rivera is choosing to compete. As the youngest member of the 2024 Olympic gold-winning team, which featured Simone Biles as well, Rivera enters this year with newfound experience and momentum. Rivera was the youngest athlete representing Team USA across all sports at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At just 16 years old, she recently committed to competing for the LSU Tigers Gymnastics team. Her participation at the Winter Cup signals her ambition to continue building towards the next Olympics in 2028.

On the men’s side, Frederick Richard stands as the sole representative of the U.S. Olympic team. Frederick Richard had a stellar 2023, winning bronze medals in both the team and all-around competitions at his first World Championships. His momentum carried into 2024, where he helped Team USA win Olympic bronze. Richard has also eased into the 2025 NCAA season with Michigan and showed impressive performances in a bar routine against Illinois by scoring 14.700.

The absence of big Olympic stars at the Winter Cup highlights the shift of focus among elite gymnasts. With automatic qualification secured, many are probably opting to rest, recover, and train strategically for the high-stakes competitions ahead. However, for young rising stars like Rivera and Richard, the event presents an early opportunity to set the tone for the 2025 season. But they are not the only ones to be watched in this year’s Winter Cup.

Players to watch at the 2025 Winter Cup

This year marks the third consecutive year that Louisville, Kentucky, will welcome the Winter Cup. The competition serves as the kickoff to the elite gymnastics season, which gives athletes a chance to showcase their training and test new skills. Some gymnasts come prepared to hit clean routines in pursuit of international assignments, while others will take the opportunity to experiment. Regardless, the Winter Cup is an exciting place to watch rising stars and seasoned competitors alike.

Among the women competing, Hezly Rivera, Jayla Hang, and Simone Rose stand out as key contenders to watch. Jayla Hang also made waves in 2024. Though she narrowly missed a spot at the Olympic Trials, she proved her talent by winning the all-around title at the 2024 Pacific Rim Championships and helping Team USA secure gold. Hang has committed to competing for the University of Florida and is known for her powerful skills, including a back handspring with a back tuck full-on beam. Simone Rose made her mark by finishing tenth in the all-around at the Xfinity U.S. Championships in 2024, earning a spot at her first Olympic Trials.

On the men’s side, Frederick Richard, Colt Walker, and Kameron Nelson are among the standout athletes to follow. Colt Walker is a standout from Stanford who had a strong 2022 season but was sidelined for much of 2023 due to injury. He made a triumphant return in 2024, contributing to Stanford’s National Championship team and earning the 2024 Nissen-Emery Award.

Kameron Nelson, one of the team captains for the Ohio State Buckeyes, has been making history in 2025. He became the first gymnast ever to perform two triple backs in a single floor routine—a triple pike and a triple tuck. As the reigning U.S. vault champion and a multiple-time Winter Cup champion, Nelson is poised for another standout season.

With a mix of Olympic veterans and rising stars, the 2025 Winter Cup promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent. As the gymnastics world watches, the road to the 2025 World Championships—and ultimately, the 2028 Olympics—begins now.