​Next stop: Hartford, Connecticut. The 2026 U.S. Classic competition caps the final stretch ahead of August’s U.S. Championships, and many of the nation’s top female gymnasts will take the stage from July 17-18 to vie for medals, gain competitive experience and qualify for nationals.With the 2028 LA Olympics just two years away, this year’s field is significantly stronger than the last, and recent comeback announcements point to more competitive battles ahead. From Olympic gold medalists to up-and-coming rookie stars, here are the top athletes to watch at the 2026 U.S. Classic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWatch the 2026 U.S. Classic: TV channel, streaming, and start times.Two-time NCAA Champion, UCLA Gymnastics star, and former Olympic hopeful Katelyn Ohashi is in the midst of a comeback that few saw coming. Ohashi announced her return to the sport in June and made her comeback days later at the American Classic, marking her first elite gymnastics routine in over 13 years.Leaving the small arena of the American Classic, Ohashi steps onto a brighter stage in Hartford in her first U.S. Classic as a senior elite gymnast. Though the former junior U.S. National Champion is content with any outcome, Ohashi’s 2026 elite season could end this weekend. The 29-year-old needs a combined total score of 26.800 to qualify for August’s U.S. Championships in Phoenix. At the American Classic, she fell short of that total by over two points, scoring a 24.650.FORBES | By Caroline PriceKatelyn Ohashi Gives Training Update Ahead Of 2026 U.S. ClassicAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThree-time Olympic medalist Jade Carey is the only Olympian to grace this weekend’s field, but the 26-year-old looks ready to make a splash in Hartford. Like Ohashi, Carey recently announced her gymnastics comeback, launching her push for a third-straight Olympic appearance.Despite taking nearly two years off from elite competition, Carey impressed in her return, finishing second in the all-around at June’s American Classic and first on vault and floor exercise. With her results, she successfully qualified for the 2026 U.S. Championships, held in her native Phoenix, Arizona. This weekend in Hartford, Carey will compete in the all-around once again, vying for more hardware in her seventh U.S. Classic.FORBES | By Caroline PriceHow To Watch Katelyn Ohashi, Jade Carey At 2026 U.S. ClassicAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFive-time World medalist Leanne Wong is a staple on Team USA and U.S. Classic rosters. The 2025 World all-around silver medalist will compete in her ninth U.S. Classic this weekend, an event where she won the all-around title in 2022. In typical Wong fashion, the veteran will compete in the all-around this weekend and face off against former University of Florida teammate Skye Blakely.Known for her steady, clean routines and artistry on floor exercise, Wong’s return to the U.S. Classic kickstarts her bid to make her fifth consecutive World Cham