U.S. Championships Buildup: Injuries, Favorites, and Key Storylines

Ahead of the 2026 U.S. Championships, three champions (Hong, Malone, Whittenburg) are out. Fred Richard is the all-around favorite; a new feature details his LA28 prep, upgrades, and training insights from Asia. The pommel horse battle between Nedoroscik, Hoopes, and Dang is a key storyline. Leanne Wong and Kayla DiCello are racing the clock to recover from injuries. Reese Esponda's U.S. Classic win and Skye Blakely's dominance add depth.