ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — For 15 years, the U.S. women have been the team by which every other country in the world measures themselves.
No more.
China snapped the U.S. winning streak at the world gymnastics championships Wednesday, Oct. 21, edging the Americans by thismuch. Two-tenths of a point. That's one mistake in one of 12 routines.
This isn't the time to wallow, though. The U.S. women's silver medal officially qualified them for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and those Games will be here before anyone knows it. As bad as watching someone else stand on a podium the Americans have owned since 2011, it will be way worse for it to happen on home soil.
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"It gives us a lot of motivation,"
said Chellsie Memmel, the technical lead for the U.S. women's team. "We know where we want to be. We know there’s still work to do. It’s the middle of the quad. We have the time, and I think it’s going to light a fire."
China ended the US women's 15-year gymnastics title streak
The U.S. women have been the gold standard in gymnastics for the better part of two decades now. Yes, having Simone Biles helped greatly. But this is a program that has produced gold more effectively than the U.S. Mint, with Suni Lee, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and McKayla Maroney all part of the run.
Losing its touch before the first home Olympics since Atlanta in 1996 is not the way to go.
"Knowing that we’re just a little bit short of being on the top of podium will definitely push us," said Skye Blakely, the veteran of this worlds team.
Balance beam exposed the US women's biggest weakness against China
This is not to take anything away from the Chinese. But the Americans outscored them on three of the four events in the team final, only to see the gold slip away on balance beam. Dulcy Caylor fell on her dismount and Blakely didn't get her body all the way around on a skill, costing her almost a point in difficulty.
China, meanwhile, scored a 43.366 on beam — higher than the U.S. women got on any other event.
"They are very clearly ahead of us on balance beam," Memmel said. "We knew we needed every tenth we could get."
The Americans made up some ground on floor exercise, getting spectacular performances from Caylor and Claire Pease, who was the U.S. women's MVP with hits on all four events. But Reese Esponda needed to be perfect and she wasn't, allowing Qiu Qiyuan's peppy routine to serve as a coronation for China.
"It speaks to their fight, it speaks to their heart," Memmel said of the U.S. still having a chance to win after balance beam. "Can’t ask for anything more today."
What US women's gymnastics must improve before LA28
They can — they must — in the future.
The Americans have the world beat on vault and floor and are holding their own on uneven bars. But they must add difficulty on balance beam or they're again going to be searching for tenths of points elsewhere like change in the couch cushion.
Cleaning up their landings on floor exercise and perfecting their execution overall also will be an emphasis, Memmel said.
"Go back home (knowing) what our strengths are and then focusing on those small things we can improve, those small details, to continue to push for an overall stronger team score," Blakely said.
Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and others could change the US picture for LA28
This is not an insurmountable task, especially since the Americans have reinforcements coming.
Lee, the Tokyo Olympic all-around champion, plans to return to competition next year and has looked fierce in the clips of training she's posted. Expect Paris Olympian Hezly Rivera, who had to withdraw from these worlds with a left ankle injury, to be on a mission next season. Two-time Olympic champion Jade Carey, who is being deliberate about comeback this year, should be further along. Jordan Chiles is training again.
And there remains the tantalizing prospect of the Americans again having Biles, who is still weighing whether she wants to compete in LA.
Bringing back past champions can't always be the answer for the U.S. women, though. The next generations eventually need to make their own mark.
So take the last few days at the world championships to appreciate qualifying for the Olympics and woulda, coulda, shouldaing how close to the top they were. Then get right back to work, and back to the top of the podium in LA.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The US women lost their gymnastics crown. Here's what must change before LA28.
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