Vasco Peso wins world tumbling title in Nanjing with 31,000 points

A world title after a European one

Vasco Peso, a 23-year-old Portuguese gymnast, won the tumbling title at the World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships in Nanjing, China, on Saturday, 7 November 2026. His final routine scored 31,000 points, made up of 13,100 for difficulty and 17,900 for execution, according to Notícias ao Minuto. Azerbaijan's Tofig Aliyev took silver and the United States' Kaden Brown took bronze with 28,900 points. The gold follows Peso's European title in Portimão in April, which SAPO described as the first European tumbling title won by a Portuguese gymnast. The world title is Portugal's second medal at these championships, after the team silver won the day before.

Route to the final

In the initial round Peso scored 30,500 points, behind Aliyev's 30,900 according to Notícias ao Minuto. Reports differ on his place after that round, with one account putting his mark second and another fourth. Aliyev's silver score is 29,700 points in most accounts, though one SAPO article gives 29,000. At the previous world championships in Pamplona, Spain, a year earlier, Peso had finished 15th with 25,000 points. He was the only Portuguese gymnast in the tumbling final, since João Saraiva placed 16th in the opening round and João Azinheira 23rd.

Previous world championship, Pamplona25

Initial round, Nanjing30.5

World final, Nanjing31

Previous world championship, Pamplona

25 points

Initial round, Nanjing

30.5 points

World final, Nanjing

31 points

Data from the article text

Team results and reaction

On Friday, 6 November, Diogo Cabral, Diogo Fernandes, Francisco José and André Dias took silver in the double mini-trampoline team event, behind Russia and ahead of the United States. In the overall team competition, Portugal placed fifth in the men's event and eighth in the women's. In the men's team final, Peso, João Azinheira, Diogo Gomes and João Saraiva finished fifth.

In a statement published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, President António José Seguro sent his congratulations to the gymnast.

“On behalf of Portugal and the Portuguese people, the President of the Republic sends warm greetings to the world champion.”

The statement also praised the talent, determination and capacity to overcome adversity that the athlete showed, saying that he

“He writes a page in the history of Portuguese gymnastics and honours Portugal, setting an example for the new generations.”

Peso described the medal in personal terms. He said that completing the double after the European title was something he had not thought possible, and that he was left without words.

“This medal simply means everything.”

A season of medals

Peso's European and world titles both came in 2026, the European crown in April and the world title on Saturday, 7 November. The sequence of the season and of Portugal's medals at Nanjing is shown below.