Two openly gay gymnasts stood out at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships in the United States over the weekend, with both Sam Phillips and Charlie Larson finishing in the top four and earning All-American honours.
Phillips, competing for the University of Illinois in his final season of eligibility, helped his team to a fifth-place finish in the team standings after transferring from Nebraska for his last year of college competition. Individually, he placed fourth on high bar with a score of 14.000, while also finishing in the top 15 on parallel bars and 21st on floor exercise.
Larson, a junior for the Michigan Wolverines, also delivered a top-four performance, finishing strongly on vault with a score of 14.266. He also competed on floor, adding to another standout national appearance for one of the sport’s most visible out athletes.
Their performances earned both gymnasts All-American status, which goes to athletes who finish in the top eight at the NCAA Championships. For Larson, it marks another major achievement after also earning All-American honours last year on floor exercise. Phillips, meanwhile, closes out his NCAA career with multiple All-American finishes, having also collected national honours in the all-around and high bar at the 2024 championships.
Phillips’ latest result is especially notable given that his 2025 season was cut short by injury, making this final campaign a strong return to form. Larson, by contrast, still has one more year of eligibility left, giving him another shot next season to build on what is already becoming an impressive collegiate legacy.
With dozens of athletes competing at this year’s national championships, Phillips and Larson were the two publicly out gay gymnasts highlighted in the coverage — and both gave plenty to celebrate. Their success was not only significant on the scoreboard, but also as a visible reminder that queer athletes continue to thrive at the highest levels of college sport. That final point is an inference based on their public visibility and championship success.
