Gymnastics News #15

[tuffcaco]

Gabby puts all discussion of her comeback to rest with a World AA medal.

I have to say that I was one of those who questioned if the comeback was legit or a PR-ploy a la Nastia. She's proved me wrong! And it even looks like she's holding back a bit now, pacing herself to peak next year.

 

[Lara]

Saraiva finished last. shes so cute but that isn't stellar.

Aw. That's not going to help her cause should Brazil not qualify a full team.

 

[kwanoverrated]

IMO Biles is now the best American gymnast ever, surpassing Miller and Liukin. Event finals here and Rio next year could move her up, or even to the top, on the best gymnast (world wide) all time list.

Douglas did really well today. I am glad she is back and no way she will go down as some 1 hit wonder. I wouldnt even be surprised if she was pushing Biles a bit by next year. She can only get better.

 

[kwanoverrated]

Great floor routine from Gabby, I predict that once she raises her difficulty she will surpass Simone, yay for Larissa!!

LOL you think it is just that simple. Simone easily had over a full in major mistakes today (and other small ones just like Douglas) and still won by over a fall. Plus Simone is fully capable of alot more upgrades.

 

[Buzz]

Congrats to the medalist! But I have to admit to being nervous for Simone. The last time an Olympic champion won the world's the year before was way back in 1995 with Podkopayeva.

 

[floskate]

Simone had to make an AA mistake at some point (Nationals night 1 notwithstanding) and I'm glad it was here. The pressure heading in to Rio will be enormous for her anyway but if she still had a huge clean streak going that would be even worse.

But three time World AA champ is an incredible accomplishment. I just hope she's able to attack next year. Pressure will now mount on the defending Olympic champion Gabby, having made a terrific AA comeback and with upgrades in the pipeline. Simone has nothing to lose in Rio, only new titles to gain. She's not defending anymore and I would imagine that will be something of a relief. It's gonna be an interesting 10 months leading up to it, that's for sure. I hope she and all the girls stay healthy

 

[Karpenko]

Aw. That's not going to help her cause should Brazil not qualify a full team.

I think she would still make the team, but for her confidence it's absolutely terrible. They'll qualify with Andrade and the gymnasts here pretty easily if they perform like usual at the test event.

Btw I was pleasantly surprised with Jurca, esp on bars. There's big improvement in her form/swing and she could potentially get into the low 14's by Rio I think.

 

[Rob]

I hope Saraiva got her jitters out and will make a nice splash in Rio. I had to tune out mid-way, did they show any of Murakami?

 

[vesperholly]

Wow, Simone is head and shoulders above the competition. Love the podium, but the rest of the field is rather disappointing. Good sets here and there (Wevers UB, Black FX) but nothing really impressive.

 

[FiveRinger]

Aw. That's not going to help her cause should Brazil not qualify a full team.

Brazil is the host nation and automatically has a team participating, unless something has changed.

 

[floskate]

Brazil is the host nation and automatically has a team participating, unless something has changed.

GB had to qualify for London 2012. The men's team had to do the test event. Don't know if that has changed though.

 

[Lara]

They're guaranteed a gymnast, but not full team afaik. I can't imagine the men would have reacted like this otherwise lol:
https://instagram.com/p/9UUXx6oIau

 

[OnyxRose81]

Brazil is the host nation and automatically has a team participating, unless something has changed.

There is no automatic qualification. They have to go to the Test Event in the Spring. They have to try and qualify there. If they don't make it to top 4 teams from the test event, then they don't go to the Olympics as a team.

 

[poths]

I have to say that I was one of those who questioned if the comeback was legit or a PR-ploy a la Nastia. She's proved me wrong! And it even looks like she's holding back a bit now, pacing herself to peak next year.

She's TOTALLY pacing herself. Everything she did she made look easy! I'm so impressed with her, remember how fragile she was pre-London? Now she's rock solid and beat Simone on 2 pieces tonight! Really, she needs a double layout on floor, her Amanar back and a few tenths on beam and bars and that title will actually involve a fight! - well done to Biles, she's an excellent athlete. Tonight's performances arent going to gain her any new fans though are they? Her bars were waaay over scored and her flat feel on beam and floor were painful. She's lost the invincible shine from my point of view, but another win.

I'm so impressed by the Romanians. Firstly, Iordache getting a medal (I agree with bronze, her bars were messy, the double double was rank and she had a low chest on a couple of other passes) and also Jurca - she has a really nice line on bars - I know her swing needs work - but a 13'8 and a 14'8 for the two Romanians - I've seen three Romanians fail to score that much between them!!!

I'm disappointed that GB didn't put Ellie Downie in as I know she'd have been top 5 - GB are not USA - they have one AAer who is capable of a 58, that's Downie - yes she missed bars in Quals but the team should know that Ellie is the AAer and expect to be pulled if they qualify ahead. Maybe in Rio the MGMT can orchestrate it so that only 2 do the AA in qualifications *Mattis&Downie* . It was just a bit of a bummer watching GB ladies sit rock bottom when the audience could have had a bit of drama following Ellie chase bronze. Apparently Ruby would have been pulled only for the team won bronze - since the program was expected to bring 1 medal back to secure funding and since they already achieved that they allowed Amy and Ruby to go ahead with AA! This is also telling for next year - and I reckon Louis might punch his ticket based on the medal expectations of the funders.

Lieke Wevers - I don't care if you fall on a quad turn or land an FTY like it was an Amanar - you're a legend. Hope she wins the elegance award

 

[FiveRinger]

GB had to qualify for London 2012. The men's team had to do the test event. Don't know if that has changed though.

They're guaranteed a gymnast, but not full team afaik. I can't imagine the men would have reacted like this otherwise lol:
https://instagram.com/p/9UUXx6oIau

There is no automatic qualification. They have to go to the Test Event in the Spring. They have to try and qualify there. If they don't make it to top 4 teams from the test event, then they don't go to the Olympics as a team.

Thank you guys. I appreciate your knowledge. I remembered that there were automatic berths for the home country, but I thought the team got one as well. And to show how short my memory is, I don't even remember the test event for 2012. But I didn't pay as much attention to the men back then, either. But, quiet as is kept, they are more exciting to watch than the women now.

 

[VGThuy]

Look at Simone and Gabby shamelessly showing off their steroids-induced muscles.

CSg4btTXAAAFNA1.jpg

 

[4rkidz]

B

LOL you think it is just that simple. Simone easily had over a full in major mistakes today (and other small ones just like Douglas) and still won by over a fall. Plus Simone is fully capable of alot more upgrades.

Like others have mentioned, Gabby was holding back and the improvements in such a short time is impressive..I really think she can catch up once she has more upgrades and considering she took so much time off I think she can do it, I dont think it will be that simple - she will have to work hard as she still is not back to where she was but considering she was not 100% 2nd to Simone is impressive and by just a small score, even taking into consideration the fall on the beam by Simone - Gabby had enough errors that it was just as bad.. time will tell! Pressure is on Simone to maintain - always easier to come from behind

 

[4rkidz]

Look at Simone and Gabby shamelessly showing off their steroids-induced muscles.

CSg4btTXAAAFNA1.jpg

impressive athletes - look like the Canadian women figure skaters! Nice to see athletes that tone their whole body, some of the other athletes should take note and learn from them so they too can be as good!

 

[Erin]

before that the last one to do it IIRC was Tourischeva in the 70's

Actually Erin got it Correctly

Well I cheated by looking it up. I actually wrote out that it was Tourischeva and thought I'd better check Davydova just in case, so we were thinking along the same track. Davydova is totally the forgotten Olympic champion, even by gymnastics fans. I might have even forgotten her if I hadn't been sitting next to her at a Canadian championships where I was volunteering as a tabulator while she was judging. She gave me crap for not using a calculator to average out the judges' scores

 

[floskate]

B


Like others have mentioned, Gabby was holding back and the improvements in such a short time is impressive..I really think she can catch up once she has more upgrades and considering she took so much time off I think she can do it, I dont think it will be that simple - she will have to work hard as she still is not back to where she was but considering she was not 100% 2nd to Simone is impressive and by just a small score, even taking into consideration the fall on the beam by Simone - Gabby had enough errors that it was just as bad.. time will tell! Pressure is on Simone to maintain - always easier to come from behind

Pressure will be on both and Gabby is defending champ trying to do something that no one has done since Caslavska!! Simone tonight had her biggest winning margin at Worlds in the AA despite her mistakes. In a sport that runs to hundredths of a point, a 1.2 winning margin is massive.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Pressure will be on both and Gabby is defending champ trying to do something that no one has done since Caslavska!! Simone tonight had her biggest winning margin at Worlds in the AA despite her mistakes. In a sport that runs to hundredths of a point, a 1.2 winning margin is massive.

Nah. I think Simone (has she gone pro?) will be getting a huge number of endorsements leading up to the Olympic trials. Gabby will get a few deal, but I can't see her being considered anything but an underdog. What are the chances that Maggie Nichols could have a shot at U.S. #2 in the AA? I'm assuming they would consider her over Aly, right?

 

[mkwanrocks]

Is there a reason why Wevers is opting out to do a simple dismount? Such a beautiful gymnast but why give up so many points?

Sorry, this is from a few pages ago, but I wanted to give some context. Lieke Wevers' beam dismount is a gainer layout which is a D skill, the same difficulty value as a double tuck or 2.5 twist. So she's really not giving much up at all.

It's hard to believe that Giulia Steingruber's dismount of a gainer layout full is only an E though; seems a bit undervalued in comparison.

 

[Karpenko]

I'm starting to feel like fate might not be kind to Aly, I could realistically see Bailie Key or Laurie Hernandez getting her spot (and contributing UB, BB, and FX in TF). She could make it, but it'll be a much tougher road for her than last time IMO.

I'm really curious to see what Bailie, Laurie, and Kyla do over this next year.

I'll be sad for her but happy for gymnastics if Laurie makes it. it's really not far away at all, staying healthy and cleaning up execution will be very very important. So it'll most likely be the 5 gymnasts from team finals.

 

[VGThuy]

I'm starting to feel like fate might not be kind to Aly, I could realistically see Bailie Key or Laurie Hernandez getting her spot (and contributing UB, BB, and FX in TF). She could make it, but it'll be a much tougher road for her than last time IMO.

I'm really curious to see what Bailie, Laurie, and Kyla do over this next year.

I'll be sad for her but happy for gymnastics if Laurie makes it. it's really not far away at all, staying healthy and cleaning up execution will be very very important. So it'll most likely be the five from team finals.

Yeah, I really wouldn't mind it if Aly didn't make the cut.

 

[Karpenko]

I would be sad.. and then I would be happy. She makes me feel so complex

 

[Aceon6]

I don't have a feeling for or against Aly. She's local, so many in our area have a real soft spot for her.
I just want the US team to have the best, HEALTHIEST athletes available at the time of final selection.

 

[VGThuy]

I like her personally, and I have a soft spot for her (and the rest of 2012 team) because I bonded with my law school buddies as a very new 1L while watching London 2012 Team Finals at what turned out to be the bar I would go to every week for 3 years. However, I just can't abide by her gymnastics. Though, I rather have her than someone less mentally sure to hit.

 

[Spareoom]

US WAG team selection is always a heartbreaking ordeal so I've resigned myself to the fact that a lot of girls I love and want to see in Rio are going to be in tears when they don't make it next summer. I probably will be too. So, I've decided to not stress about it and just enjoy the ride and root for the girls to do their best and stay injury-free. That's all any of us can ask for.

 

[centerstage01]

I'm so thrilled for Simone and Gabby! Having them go 1-2 at Worlds was the best outcome and I hope the same thing happens in Rio. Pray they both stay healthy and feel as little stress as possible (that's asking a lot, I know).

 

[VGThuy]

The best thing was Gabby really performing her FX. We saw a bit of that spark again.