USA Gymnastics - Cheers and Tears

[A.H.Black]

I notice the Gymnastics Trials thread has maxed out and is closed. I'm sure someone will start a thread for the whole gymnastics competition. This thread is for those interested mostly in the USA team.

GO USA!

I have been thinking about the alternates. Since 2000 at least one alternate has been named to the team following injury to another team member. In 2008 there were several. I wonder if the selection process changes will help with the injuries. Any thoughts?

[bek]

Ross and Maroney trained together for years makes sense they'd be close. Apparently they started out in gymnastics together at 6 years old. There's a video here http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player...#soly/29855565 of Maroney tearing up talking about her and Ross making the team together.. So sweet.

[london_calling]

They didn't name any alternates to the team in 2008. They still needed Chellsie's UB score and Samantha Peszek was injured right before qualifications were about to begin.

[A.H.Black]

They didn't name any alternates to the team in 2008. They still needed Chellsie's UB score and Samantha Peszek was injured right before qualifications were about to begin.

You're speaking of only the women's team. I'm not. This is gymnastics - not just women's gymnastics.

[Spareoom]

They didn't name any alternates to the team in 2008. They still needed Chellsie's UB score and Samantha Peszek was injured right before qualifications were about to begin.

Yes they did...ivana hong was one and I'm blanking on the others. But there were definitely alternates. Now, they didn't end up using any, but they did have them.

[SpeedySucks]

Yes they did...ivana hong was one and I'm blanking on the others. But there were definitely alternates. Now, they didn't end up using any, but they did have them.

Corrie Lothrop and Jana Bieger were the other alternates.

[london_calling]

Yes they did...ivana hong was one and I'm blanking on the others. But there were definitely alternates. Now, they didn't end up using any, but they did have them.

Ur..what? I was talking about them replacing athletes on the team. That's why I was referencing injuries.

[A.H.Black]

I'll ask again. Can we please remember there is a men's side to this too.

[Scintillation]

Wasn't David Durante the only alternate not used in 2008? I'll have to look it up. I felt so bad for him when he was watching the team win bronze and sobbing in the stands. What a sweet beefcake of a guy.
Sorry, every time David Durante comes to mind my brain immediately starts screaming "BEEFCAKE!!!"

I just think it's funny, these girls have a little pow wow that the cameras catch and people assume they're taking a Gabby voodoo doll and stomping it on the ground.

[vesperholly]

I'll ask again. Can we please remember there is a men's side to this too.

Your original post mentioned the women. Fair to assume that people will focus on that. Specify MAG or WAG before getting your leotard in a twist.

[A.H.Black]

Your original post mentioned the women. Fair to assume that people will focus on that. Specify MAG or WAG before getting your leotard in a twist.

You're right. I removed the reference. I really do realize that the majority of the discussion will be about the women but the men's situation with the alternates in 2008 was pretty interesting.

[ilovesalchows]

I just think it's funny, these girls have a little pow wow that the cameras catch and people assume they're taking a Gabby voodoo doll and stomping it on the ground.

Right, because they don't want to win team gold

[Scintillation]

Team gold? Overrated. Let's make Gabby feel left out instead.

[gingercrush]

I don't know aren't the women off to Marth's ranch. That is bound to cause troubles. In fairness the Russians are looking a whole lot more wrecked than the Americans. Being selected onto the US team hasn't been half the trouble it has previous years and thus I think they'll be fine.

[HeatherC]

Someone please put both the US men's and women's Olympic gymnastics in bubble wrap and keep them safe until they have to compete in London! These two teams are made up of almost all my favorite gymnasts in this quad and I VERY BADLY want to see all of them do well this year. Bubble wrap, a room away from everyone else, a padded van that can't be wrecked to ride around in once they're in London, only specially prepared food so they don't get sick.....yeah, I'm a little paranoid right now, LOL

Go USA!!!

[HeatherC]

I don't know aren't the women off to Marth's ranch. That is bound to cause troubles. In fairness the Russians are looking a whole lot more wrecked than the Americans. Being selected onto the US team hasn't been half the trouble it has previous years and thus I think they'll be fine.

The men are heading to the Olympic Training Center this weekend for their own training time but I haven't read much via Twitter about the girls heading anywhere yet. Why would that be a problem though? The Olympic team is all ready set and all they have to do is train and prepare themselves for their next competition. Sounds pretty routine to me and heck, it worked out just fine for the Mag 7 back in 1996.

[Fridge_Break]

The men are heading to the Olympic Training Center this weekend for their own training time but I haven't read much via Twitter about the girls heading anywhere yet. Why would that be a problem though? The Olympic team is all ready set and all they have to do is train and prepare themselves for their next competition. Sounds pretty routine to me and heck, it worked out just fine for the Mag 7 back in 1996.

I'd very much like to think that it'll be all fine But in 2000, Morgan White broke her foot, in 2004 Kupets was injured (although perhaps after prelims and before team finals? I can't remember), and in 2008 Chellsie Memmel got injured yet competed anyways (but was limited ) because she's a badass rockstar... Just has been almost routine now that there is a major injury in preparations leading up to the Olympics. Crossing my fingers, toes, eyes, and everything else that that is not the case this time around!

[Spareoom]

The girls leave for Texas on the 11th for a camp that starts on the 12. It will last a week, and then they fly to London.

Honestly, I'm hoping that between Bridget, Chellsie, ASac, Becca, Shawn, Nastia, that the gymnastics injury gods have been satisfied with the USA's sacrifices. All of them pretty much lost their shot at the Olympics due to an injury within the last year or so (rumor has it Shawn's knee kept giving her problems which is why she couldn't be ready, and we all know Nastia had a shoulder tear that kept her from being able to train bars much). But the "gods" always seem to take someone AFTER the Olympic team has been named. But I pray it isn't so. Not to sound trite, but haven't we lost enough? All of the girls that I listed above would have been SUCH a help to Team USA...and they were mostly bars girls and bars is something that Marta desperately wanted to stack up on. And they didn't end up taking a single bars specialist.

[HeatherC]

I'd very much like to think that it'll be all fine But in 2000, Morgan White broke her foot, in 2004 Kupets was injured (although perhaps after prelims and before team finals? I can't remember), and in 2008 Chellsie Memmel got injured yet competed anyways (but was limited ) because she's a badass rockstar... Just has been almost routine now that there is a major injury in preparations leading up to the Olympics. Crossing my fingers, toes, eyes, and everything else that that is not the case this time around!

Courtney was injured while they were in Athens. It was something with her leg if I remember right and it flaired up on her during the team final (I well remember Mohini rocking one of the BEST beam sets ever in her place with very little notice that she would even be doing that) but was well enough for her to compete in the AA a few days later. I always felt bad for her. She could have done so much better there although I'm glad she got two medals from Athens (silver team and bronze UB).

Bubble wrap for Team USA please and send it with them to London too!

[Spareoom]

Kupets got a stress fracture in her hip...I think it happened DURING TF warmups because Marta would have had alternate lineups put together for beam had her injury been known. Putting Mohini in was beyond last minute. She didn't even get an ideal spot in the lineup because she had to take Courtney's position (last) where I think Marta would have preferred her go up first or second had she had a choice.