Most of the top US gymnasts were in attendance at US Classic but I wouldn't really take that as an indicator of much because most of them weren't competing all-around, and many were coming back from injuries. Here is what I would consider exhibits A, B, and C on why US Classic doesn't mean that much, Simone's performances in 2013:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=28vDRvMp1Ec
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wdI5iKvG1hs
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tkMmoNnnhaE
Vault was supposed to be her last event and she withdrew from that or I'm guessing that could have been Exhibit D. Anyway, three weeks later she won her first US National title and two months later she won her first world title, but I don't think a lot of people would have predicted it after watching that performance.
Back to this year's Classic, I was very impressed with Ragan Smith and the upgrades she showed on both bars and beam. The scores she got seemed a bit generous, not surprising for a domestic meet, but she looks very comfortable with all her skills and I think she has put her name back on the list as one of the favorites for world all-around gold, which I'm not sure I would have said before this meet. The other potential bright spot in the seniors was Trinity Thomas, who only competed bars and beam, finishing third on both, when neither is her best event. I'm keeping an eye on what she can do in the all-around next month. I was a little disappointed with Hurd, as I was hoping to see more consistency from her - she fell off beam twice in her World Cup event so I was really hoping to see a stronger beam routine here. Jury is still out on Riley McCusker...after the disastrous American Cup, she recovered nicely by winning Jesolo, with one of the highest all-around scores of the year so far (I think the only senior who has scored higher is Liu Tingting). She wasn't great here, but it sounds like podium training was much worse and she has just got back to training full routines. I think Nationals will be a better indicator for her. And Victoria Nguyen was injured and didn't compete at all. And then with Ashton Locklear not competing bars, that's still a lot of big question marks until Nationals.
The one question mark that did get answered was getting to see Jade Carey, who has a good chance at a worlds spot because she is the only contender who has two vaults (Jordan Chiles, who has an Amanar, should really be training a second vault). She was exciting to watch, but to me she is not the shoo-in for world gold on vault that people were predicting beforehand. She still seems like the leading contender for the Worlds spot, especially since she also had the top floor score. But I could see her being a one and done at Worlds.
As for whether the US dominance will end...we will see...this does seem to be a weaker year for seniors but the juniors coming up seem to be never ending. Malabuyo's floor, Kenlin's beam, Perea's bars (that scored 14.5 having to count an A-skill dismount), Annie Beard's beam and floor from the afternoon session, etc. I'm not necessarily seeing the rest of the world come back with incredible depth either.
She's never been the most consistent gymnast but after a great performance at Euros, I thought she was finally coming into her own this year and she was on my short list of contenders in Montreal.
Bravo to her for upgrading to a Patterson Dismount because she will need it if Hernandez, Raisman and Biles return.
That stands to reason.
