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PHOENIX — Friday marked the beginning of the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships and the first of two days of competition for our three athletes from Region 5. Inside the freezer box that is the Mortgage Matchup Center, Kylie Smith, Claire Ekart and Izzy Stassi all had plenty of moments to celebrate throughout the competition.
Kylie Smith entered Phoenix with a resume that already demanded attention. The Cincinnati Gymnastics standout was the 2026 Winter Cup junior all-around champion and one of the most experienced junior competitors on the floor.. Kylie unfortunately sustained an injury at the Pan Am Champs selection camp in May. Friday, was her first all around competition since Jesolo back in March.
Smith finished third in the junior all-around with a 51.15, putting herself firmly within striking distance of the lead heading into Day 2. Her biggest moment came on beam, posting a 13.1 currently ranked 2nd on the event. Super solid from the start, the routine continue to build towards the well executed tuck double back dismount. Kylie finished her day strong on floor, though competing a slightly watered down routine for her, has put herself in good position entering day 2.
For Claire Ekart, Friday was another important step in what has already been an impressive first elite season. The Cincinnati Gymnastics elite qualified for Championships after posting a 49.950 at the U.S. Classic. That performance came after she had already shown steady improvement throughout the summer.
In Day 1, Ekart opened with a strong 13.200 on vault which ranked 4th among the junior field and was her highest of the four events. Claire executed her bar routine confidently blasting her new Jaeger release into the air and sticking her double back dismount. Her layout layout series on beam was a standout highlight of her performance attacking it with confidence.
Ekart finished the first day of competition with a 49.65 good for 14th. The score however, does not tell the entire story as she is competing in her first US Championships a year removed from competing as a Level 9. Claire has only been at Cincinnati for a short time, but her gymnastics has continued to grow and develop and this is a valuable piece of experience on the biggest stage of her young career.
In her fifth US Championships, Izzy Stassi enters a new chapter for her career as she is now representing the University of Oklahoma, which she is incoming Freshman this fall, though she has already been on campus since June. Day one in Phoenix was only her second meet back to competition since Winter Cup, the first being US Classic in Hartford.
Izzy began the competition on Day 1 fighting to stay on the beam, and ended with a knock it out of the park quality bars set. Her usually solid layout step out mount was off to the right but quickly adjusted and found her balance to prevent a fall. This shaky start resulted in a 12.9, her only score under 13. Stassi’s finish to the competition was the complete opposite of her start, rocking her opening release combo that concludes with a huge piked Ray into a Pak. Her layout full out dismount is second to none and wrapped up a 4th place 13.8 on the event.
Izzy finished with a 53.4 improving on her US Classic score and puts herself within striking distance of the top 5 on Day 2.
What makes this Region 5 trio so interesting is that their stories couldn’t be more different. However, One thing is already certain.
Region 5 showed up on Day 1.
Looking forward- Four more routines, four more opportunities to show what these three are capable of. Day 2 here at the 2026 US Championships will be exciting and looking forward to the front row view for all of it.
