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, “W

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