Conference Stars Reign Supreme at 2026 US Gymnastics and Diving Nationals

The Big Ten Conference left a mark on the national sports landscape this week, as current student-athletes and distinguished alumni dominated podiums across two major showcase events: the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Phoenix, Ariz., and the USA Diving National Championships in Morgantown, W.Va. From individual all-around crowns to synchronized diving victories, competitors representing Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Indiana proved to be the standard-bearers in elite national competition. 

At the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships inside the Mortgage Matchup Center, Big Ten gymnastics stars spearheaded a headline-grabbing week. Leading the charge was former University of Michigan standout Frederick Richard, who captured his first career senior U.S. national all-around title after landing on the podium in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This year, Richard put on a masterclass over two days of competition, compiling a two-day total score of 170.015 to finish more than two points clear of the field, while also adding national gold in the floor exercise. 

With an elusive national title finally in hand, Richard immediately set his sights on building a legacy. 

"The number one trait of the most successful athletes is winning,"  Richard said after the event . "I want to keep winning." 

Joining Richard on the winner’s podium were fellow Big Ten standouts Asher Cohen (Nebraska), who earned the national title on still rings and was named the USA Gymnastics Sportsperson of the Year, and Kameron Nelson (Ohio State), who uncorked a championship-winning vault performance to claim national gold. 

Meanwhile, at the Mylan Park Aquatic Center in Morgantown, the USA Diving National Championships turned into a showcase for Indiana University’s powerhouse program. Program alumni and current student-athletes spearheaded a dominant run across the platform and springboard events, sweeping multiple national titles. IU alumnus Carson Tyler set the tone by capturing top honors in the men’s 10-meter platform competition, delivering a personal-best score in the final to secure individual gold. Fellow Indiana graduate Quinn Henninger joined forces with Jack Ryan (Stanford) to claim the men’s 3-meter synchronized title, while current Hoosier Ella Roselli partnered with Bayleigh Cranford (Longhorn Aquatics) to win top honors in the women’s 10-meter synchronized championship. 

The Hoosier momentum carried right through to the final day of competition as Indiana athletes continued to add to the medal tally. Tyler returned to the platform alongside Josh Hedberg to capture the men’s 10-meter synchronized national title with a total score of 844.86, marking the pair’s fourth synchronized championship together. Indiana’s depth was on full display in the same event as current Hoosier Max Weinrich secured a bronze medal alongside partner Dash Glasberg. 

To wrap up the conference’s stellar showing, former Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana star Kristen Hayden claimed gold in the women's synchronized 3-meter along partner Sophie Verzyl.