The 21-year-old gymnast earned the all-around title Friday, Oct. 23 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands at the Ahoy Arena with a score of 55.733. The win over Russia’s Liudmila Roshchina, who earned a score of 55.199, by 0.534 points, marks Blakely’s first individual world title.

China’s Ke Qinqin earned the bronze medal with a score of 55.032, while Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour, who qualified in first place, earned fourth place with a score of 54.998.

Blakely, who’s currently a junior at the University of Florida, qualified in second place with a score of 55.465. In the final, Blakely earned a 14.200 on vault for her double-twisting Yurchenko and stuck her landing on uneven bars. After beam, an event that has been shaky for Blakely in the past, she still had a chance at the gold medal and delivered. After Blakely completed her floor exercise, she walked off the podium in tears.

Blakely suffered an Achilles tendon injury in 2024 that kept her from the Paris Olympics. The University of Florida junior tore her right Achilles tendon just two days before the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials while training for floor exercise. Earlier in her career, Blakely tore the ligament in her elbow, missing the 2021 Olympic Trials in Tokyo.

Despite the injuries, Blakely earned a spot on the world team for the third straight year. However, the event was her first time competing all-around since her return to gymnastics this year.

Earlier in the week, Blakely competed in the team final, where her American teammate Claire Pease had the highest all-around score. Blakely, who has competed in four straight World Championships, earned team gold with the United States at the 2022 and 2023 worlds, but hadn’t earned an individual medal at worlds until Friday.

By winning Friday, Blakely continues an American streak. Since 2003, an American woman has medaled in the all-around at every world championships and Olympic Games, which now stretches to 24 global championships in a row. Blakely is the first American woman to win the all-around title since Simone Biles in 2023, who has nine world all-around titles.

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Tanu