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While Simone Biles hasn’t officially announced her retirement, USA Gymnastics seems to be in its post-Biles Era. Which means there’s an opportunity for new faces to shine on the world and national level.
One of those faces, in particular, is 22-year-old Leanne Wong. Wong, who competed collegiately for the Florida Gators, made her debut in the World Championships in 2021 and took silver in the All-Around competition.
In 2022 and 2023 she helped win gold for the USA in the team competition, and this year, after finishing at U.S. Nationals in August, she represented Team USA’s best hope at All-Around gold after national champion Hezly Rivera had to pull out of World Championships with an ankle injury.
Leanne Wong Takes Silver In World Gymnastics Championships All-Around
Russian competitor Angelina Melnikova, competing as an Independent Neutral Athlete due to a ban on Russia, jumped out to an early lead in the competition thanks to a solid 14.100 on vault and an impressive 14.700 on uneven bars.
Melnikova would falter, however, falling during her balance beam routine, and scoring just 12.800.
That’s when Wong made her move on vault, nailing a “Cheng” – a move that involved roundoff onto the takeoff board, followed by a half-twist onto the vaulting table, and then a somersault with 1½ twists. She scored 14.466 points for the vault, moving into first place with Melnikova yet to go on her final rotation, the floor routine.
Gymnastics Fans Think Leanne Wong Was Robbed!
On her floor routine, Melnikova went out of bounds on her first tumbling pass. Going out of bounds with one foot is a 0.1 point deduction, while stepping out with two feet is a 0.3 deduction.
It appeared, from some angles, as if Melnikova stepped out with both feet.
If Melnikova did, in fact, step out with both feet, then Wong would win gold. However, Melnikova was handed the smaller deduction, 0.1 points. That brought her final total to 55.066, just 0.10 points better than Wong.
But gymnastics fans, especially in the U.S., aren’t sold.
Leanne Wong should’ve won the All-Around. She had the cleanest day (no falls).
This isn’t a political statement about Melnikova, who had some really excellent gymnastics today.
I don’t say “she was robbed” lightly, but Leanne Wong was robbed.
— Poor Lawyer (@poorlawyer) October 23, 2025
How can the judges actually still have a job? They just robbed Leanne of the gold and handed it to Gely?? She was clearly out of bounds with a .3 deduction they didn’t take??? Wth
— iGymMom (@bheister1st) October 23, 2025
How can the judges actually still have a job? They just robbed Leanne of the gold and handed it to Gely?? She was clearly out of bounds with a .3 deduction they didn’t take??? Wth
— iGymMom (@bheister1st) October 23, 2025
Interestingly enough, no overhead angle of the step out has hit the internet to this point. Meaning it’s virtually impossible to say if Melnikova’s deduction was correct.
But one thing is certain, the gymnastics world sure doesn’t think so.