The United States first competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 1958.

They only sent a men's team; they finished seventh.

[1] In 1962 they sent both a men's team and a women's team; they finished sixth and eighth respectively.

[2] In 1970 Cathy Rigby became the first American to win a medal at the World Championships, winning a silver on the balance beam.

[3] In 1978 Kurt Thomas and Marcia Frederick became the first Americans to win a gold medal at the World Championships.