The Oklahoma City Convention Centre has turned into a mega-hub of American gymnastics this weekend, hosting nearly 1600 athletes for the Men's and Women's Development Program National Championships.

The competition at the Oklahoma Intervention Centre kicked off on May 6, 2026. The officials expressed high optimism for the event and the future of sport. The event is showcasing the country's top young gymnasts, bringing together Level 10 women and Level 8-10 men for the 2026 Development Program National teams.

As reported by Koco News, the gymnasts, after earning their spot through regional and state qualifiers, will compete for the 2026 Women's Development Program National team and Men's level 8/9 junior National team.

For men's junior elite athletes, the pressure is quite high, as it will serve as the qualification for the 2026 Xfinity US Gymnastics Championship scheduled for August in Phoenix.

The director of events operations for the USA Gymnastics, Scott Cole, highlighted the significance of the weekend, saying,

“So, really great opportunity for them to be able to showcase their best. And, at the end of the day, hopefully bring home a national championship,” Cole said as reported by the Koco News.

The championship has solidified the status of Oklahoma City, as the event will feature major NCAA recruits, and it will be the prime destination for the discovery of future stars who will showcase their best on the floor at the championship.

The championship also saw the inclusion of the 2026 GymACT National Championship on Saturday, May 9, highlighting the men's non-NCAA collegiate club programs along with the main event. The concurrent event showed the diversity of sports, making the hub turn into a more competitive atmosphere.

To add more excitement, fans will be treated to autograph sessions from the reigning 2026 NCAA Champions, Oklahoma’s women's and men's gymnastics teams. The final session of the championship will be wrapped up by Sunday.

Let's take a look at how the development program is changing the dynamics of USA Gymnastics.

Role of Development Program in US Success

The program serves as the main bridge for NCAA talent and makes collegiate gymnastics so competitive. Level 10 is the testing ground for gymnasts to earn their spot in the elite universities like Oklahoma or LSU.

The Development Program includes level 10 for women and levels 8, 9, and 10 for men. It is a two-day competition for women and four days for men. The national event helps choose the national team for the year.

In US gymnastics, the Level 10 National Championship has proven a launchpad for American legends like Jordan Chiles, Olympic medalist and Leanne Wong, transitioning from DP standout to UF dominant force.

With the 2026 Championship wrapping up on Sunday, soon the next generation of gymnastics stars will be launched into the spotlight.

What are your thoughts on this?

Read more at Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi