Just a few hours before he was supposed to take the floor in Jakarta, Texas-born gymnast Asher Hong stood confident, saying, “I’ve put in the work, and I’m just here to show off my best gymnastics…There’s nothing to fear. I’m excited.” It wasn’t just another World’s appearance for him. It was personal. It was home. Because Jakarta isn’t just the stage for the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships, it’s the city where his mother, Karen, grew up. It’s where his grandparents still live. Competing here meant more than medals. It meant roots. It meant legacy. But in a heartbreaking twist, that dream ended before it even began.

During warm-ups, something went wrong on the 19th of October. Something that changed the tone of the entire day. Reporter Scott Bregman broke the news on X, writing, “Welp, we just got word from USAGym that Asher has withdrawn from today’s competition due to an ankle injury.”  At first, it felt like just another rumor. Fans waited, hopeful that it was a misunderstanding, a precautionary pause at worst.

Then the confirmation hit. USA Gymnastics released an official statement moments later: “Asher Hong sustained an ankle injury during warmups. The medical staff, Asher and his coach have made the decision to withdraw from the competition today. He will be further evaluated after the competition of Subdivision 4.” 

Just like that, one of Team USA’s brightest medal hopes was out. Hong, a bronze medalist from Paris, who was expected to be a major contender in the all-around, vault, and floor, left the arena on crutches. But this isn’t the first time 2025 has hit him hard.

Earlier this year, Hong planned to compete at the Pan American Championships. Fans were excited to see him back in action. Then came an unexpected update on June 11. USA Gymnastics quietly announced that Hong would not compete ‘due to illness’ and named Jun Iwai as his replacement.

Illness kept him from Pan Ams. Now, injury has pulled him from Worlds. Two major international meets. Two sudden withdrawals. One relentless year. But wait, Hong wasn’t just a participant. He was a medal favorite. Yet despite these setbacks, Hong’s reputation as a top contender remained intact.

Asher Hong arrived in Jakarta with big plans

Asher Hong first captured the world’s attention at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. There, he was a key member of the U.S. men’s team that won bronze – the first men’s team medal for the U.S. in years. He kept the momentum going in August 2025 at the U.S. Championships, dominating the competition.

Hong won his second national all-around title by a record margin of 7.4 points and swept multiple apparatus titles. With this track record, hopes were high for the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta. For Hong, these Worlds were more than just a third trip to the global stage. The 21-year-old Stanford student planned to compete in Indonesia for the first time. But unfortunately, fate had other plans.

His grandparents planned to watch him compete on Sunday, October 19. “They probably watched some practices when they visited in Dallas, but never anything like this,” Hong said. Even his mother shared the sentiment.

“I’m so happy I can finally show him around my hometown,” she said. “He gets to see where I grew up, where I slept. My parents are hosting the whole gymnastics team for a special dinner. It’s just such a proud moment.” She added, “There’s something symbolic about it. I bleed red and white for Indonesia, and now I get to cheer red, white and blue.” But the moment was cut tragically short. Yet if history is any indication, this isn’t the end for Asher Hong.