Gymnastics News #21 - Tumbling on to Tokyo

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I wouldn't mind that because it's not the same old teams winning the team gold but totally new teams. Gymnastics needs a blood transfusion fast. That said, I have a hard time not seeing how U.S. won't win gold because they're like the Eteri school in that they keep churning out those gymnasts like robots and the competition is usually high in the U.S. (maybe not this year but generally). Though the FIG made it easier for other teams by only making it 4-member teams so dying federations with 3-4 usable gymnasts may have a chance now.

Anyway, I think that's why I love Simone so much. I know some of you aren't fans of Simone but the reason I love her so much was because she brought real energy and charisma to gymnastics in the last four years and I shudder to think the type of champions and competitions we'd have without her exciting gymnastics in the past four seasons. Now we go from Simone to a gymnast like Ragan Smith who creeps me out though it's not really her fault.
 
I am still trying to get excited about Worlds. It hasn't happened yet. I am trying to find joy in it, and not just for me as a spectator. None of these gymnasts seems to like what they are doing, at all. It shows a lot.

I am, however, really pulling for Larissa Iordache. She is my sentimental favorite.

I have been feeling really nostalgic, watching lots of YouTube videos of days gone by.
 
FiveRinger said:
None of these gymnasts seems to like what they are doing, at all. It shows a lot.
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Ding. Ding. Ding. That's what's bothering me the most, although I did see a bit of a spark from Trinity and Margzetta on the US side, most of what I observed from the other gymnasts was "we've been asked to stay in for another quad and are taking one for the team" or "my parents paid a lot of money for me to get to Elite and there's no turning back now."
 
The nominative rosters are out for Worlds. They can still change and I wouldn't consider them official if they haven't been confirmed by the federation, but still interesting for countries that have not announced their teams, like the US and Great Britain. The US nominative roster is the team many have been assuming for a while of Smith, McCusker, Locklear, and Carey. I think the real question is whether Jordan Chiles can find her way on the team at camp. I don't remember the last time the US roster has differed from the competing team (barring serious injury), but there's always a first for everything. Britain's is also not a surprise with Tinkler, Frags, Alice Kinsella, and (assuming she doesn't come down with yet another untimely injury) Georgia-Mae Fenton.
 
I think I will cry tears of joy if Larissa wins the AA. And I would love to see a strong and beautiful Chinese team show up.
 
I'm quite impressed Larissa I. chose to do Universiade (in Taipei, won AA gold) + Romanian Nationals in literally back-to-back weeks.
 
I'm really excited for Worlds. The AA seems like it will be really competitive. I would love Larisa to win or even Melnikova. Smith is fine and she has improved some too. I really like Tabea Alt too as well as the whole German team. I've watched a lot of the competitions lately and have seen gymnasts from around the world that I enjoy, even if they don't have the top difficulty.

There have been several years where the nominative roster for the US has differed from the actual roster. Doesn't really mean anything or there wouldn't be a selection camp coming up.
 
FSfan107 said:
There have been several years where the nominative roster for the US has differed from the actual roster. Doesn't really mean anything or there wouldn't be a selection camp coming up.
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I'd agree that the nominative roster means less this year than normal given that it's before the selection camp. But I wouldn't say it "doesn't mean anything". I'd say it gives insight as to where Valeri's head is at now and who the default team is heading into camp. Camp obviously is very important or they wouldn't hold it, but I think that much like the Olympic Trials where Martha had a team in mind and something crazy had to happen to change it, I feel like Valeri has a team in mind and something crazy has to happen to change it.

People were skeptical of the nominative roster for the US in 2015 when it had Brenna Dowell and Mykayla Skinner on it and no Bailie Key but that ended up being the final roster.

ETA, I checked because I was curious and the last time I can find the US changed from the nominative roster was 2011 but it fits with my "due to major injury" exception, where Mackenzie Caquatto was on the nominative roster, but was injured before Worlds, so she wasn't on the final roster (replaced with Gabby Douglas). The roster did change in 2010 though (Kytra Hunter was on the nominative and Bridget Sloan on the final). Either way, it's been a while.
 
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I still can't believe Bailie Key did not make that team.
I like Tabea Alt too.
 
Erin said:
I'd agree that the nominative roster means less this year than normal given that it's before the selection camp. But I wouldn't say it "doesn't mean anything". I'd say it gives insight as to where Valeri's head is at now and who the default team is heading into camp. Camp obviously is very important or they wouldn't hold it, but I think that much like the Olympic Trials where Martha had a team in mind and something crazy had to happen to change it, I feel like Valeri has a team in mind and something crazy has to happen to change it.

People were skeptical of the nominative roster for the US in 2015 when it had Brenna Dowell and Mykayla Skinner on it and no Bailie Key but that ended up being the final roster.
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Yeah, I remember 2015. Still think it was crazy to take Dowell. However, they had a camp between Nationals and the final selection camp that year prior to submitting the nominative roster. They haven't had a camp in between Nationals and the selection camp this year.
 
Oh boo. Well there is an opening for Jordan Chiles. And more likely Locklear will make it for bars.
 
Rob said:
Oh boo. Well there is an opening for Jordan Chiles. And more likely Locklear will make it for bars.
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Yep, that looks like the next most likely world team configuration in my book. A shame for Riley to work so hard to come back from her injuries over the summer to have this happen to her again - I wasn't sold on her after the American Cup but thought she looked very good at Nationals and was starting to warm up to her.
 
VIETgrlTerifa said:
@suki posted this in the WADA thread:

http://deadspin.com/russian-gymnastics-legend-accuses-simone-biles-of-dopin-1803138294

Gross of Svetlana.
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Thank you VIETgrlTerifa for posting a link. I confess I don't follow the non-skating threads, so I wasn't aware this thread existed. I agree with you about Khorkina. Her gymnastics were only outpaced by her annoying drama queen antics. I was thrilled when Carly Patterson beat her for the OGM All-round in Athens.
 
There are these videos on YouTube analyzing who would have won certain competitions if they used the new 2017-2020 code, and some times the results really are different (accounting for the same E scores). I don't any other sport that changes its code so often as gymnastics does to the point where routines would result in wildly different scores and results. Even under 10.0 the requirements and such would change making the routines and gymnastics look really different. I know skating has gone through major code changes as well but it doesn't seem nearly as drastic as what happens with gymnastics. It's like a sport that still can't figure itself out.
 
Khorkina needs to get her head out of her a$$ and realize that sports evolve, there was always going to be someone that was going to threaten her status as greatest of all time, it just happened earlier than expected. How would she have felt if Comaneci had accused her of doping and kept on trying to undermine her achievements, whatever insecurities she's battling maybe she should tackle those out of the public eye before attacking one of gymnastics great champions.
 
DimaToe said:
Khorkina needs to get her head out of her a$$ and realize that sports evolve, there was always going to be someone that was going to threaten her status as greatest of all time, it just happened earlier than expected. How would she have felt if Comaneci had accused her of doping and kept on trying to undermine her achievements, whatever insecurities she's battling maybe she should tackle those out of the public eye before attacking one of gymnastics great champions.
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I am shocked that a mature women of 38 that looks like this would make a comment like that.

https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/rehost/2016/9/13/8ff731d7-69fc-43db-ac56-eba2db8c976b.jpg

Khorkina is not just supposed to be a role model because she was a gymnast but also because she is an adult. There are basic ways that adults are supposed to behave, including dealing with serious matters without mockery.

The whole thing makes Khorkina look rather strange, like she has had some sort of arrested development.

Khorkina writes:

“It turns out that leading international gymnast, American Simone Biles has been getting a therapeutic exemption for some time now! She is so sick, that she requires potent drugs, that help her concentrate! How is she participating in this kind of sport, which requires from its athletes constant super-concentration! She’s going to die! Don’t her parents feel sorry for her?! Don’t her parents feel sorry for her?!”
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https://deadspin.com/russian-gymnastics-legend-accuses-simone-biles-of-dopin-1803138294
 
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Khorkina is one of my favourite gymnasts of all time, but she makes it very hard to justify being her fan sometimes...
 
It is not like this is the first time Khorkina showed poor sportsmanship by a long shot. When Carly beat her for the AA gold in 2004 she had some very nasty things to say about Carly and her win.
 
slipchuk said:
When Carly beat her for the AA gold in 2004 she had some very nasty things to say about Carly and her win.
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My favorite was that, apparently, instead of congratulating Carly on the competition floor, Khorkina showed Carly a picture of herself (Khorkina) on the cover of Russian Vogue.
 
bardtoob said:
My favorite was that, apparently, instead of congratulating Carly on the competition floor, Khorkina showed Carly a picture of herself (Khorkina) on the cover of Russian Vogue.
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Well, now she looks ready for the cover of AARP (no disrespect to our mature members, I'm barrelling towards 50 at warp speed). But in that picture she looks like a Rose Nylund, helmut hair and all. And I know that's not nice. But if she can be mean to Simone (of all people) then I have no problem being mean back!
 
bardtoob said:
My favorite was that, apparently, instead of congratulating Carly on the competition floor, Khorkina showed Carly a picture of herself (Khorkina) on the cover of Russian Vogue.
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At an Athens podium ceremony (either team or AA) she told Carly, "Smile! I just lost the Olympics!". :rofl::rofl::rofl:

One of the reasons why I like her was that she was so arrogant about how good she was (rightfully, I might add) instead of the "I just wanna do my best" schlock that we often get, but these comments go too far. :yikes:
 
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