Gymnastic news #22 - Tokyo or bust

[just tuned in]

Does anybody know who will go to US Championships?

I'm curious for that, too. How many can go to championships? I am particularly interested in Shilese Jones. She had a very high vault score, but was not ranked bcs she did only one vault. I think Skinner was the only person to do two vaults. So, would the committee invite Shilese for her vault? Will the committee invite the sentimental favorites, even if they are not contenders?

 

[haribobo]

Anyone scoring over 52.00 at Winter Cup, American Classic, or US Classic (or National team training camp comp) qualifies for Nationals. So that is-

Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, Kara Eaker, Skye Blakely, Grace McCallum, Aleah Finnegan, Emily Lee, Mykayla Skinner, Ava Siegfeldt, Shilese Jones, Laura Lippeatt, Amari Drayton, Ciena Alipio, Addison Fatta, Zoe Miller, Karis German, Kaylen Morgan, Faith Torrez, Elle Mueller, Sydney Barros (from training camp comp), Olivia Greaves (from training camp comp)

2019 World team + alternate:
Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee (everyone else was already listed above)

• 2021 National team International Assignment (is how its listed in the document)...

I don't think there were any internationals, but Morgan Hurd and Riley McCusker are part of the National Team so I assume in this Covid world, that's enough to qualify.

I know Chellsie Memmel got a bye for coming back from an injury. Assuming same for Laurie Hernandez (maybe she wasn't injured but famous so...)

Someone needs to help me out on Konnor McClain. I do know that today Emma Malabuyo got the 2-event qualifying score just barely (27 pts), but Konnor with 37.3 did not get the 3 event score of 39.75...although she got 40.05 at training camp comp if that counts! And yes, surely there are other 2 and 3 event gymnasts but i'm not trying to figure all those out right now...

 

[Jayar]

Based on what they said on the broadcast, these are the automatic qualifiers:
Simone Biles
Jordan Chiles
Kayla DiCello
Grace McCallum
Aleah Finnegan
Leanne Wong
Skye Blakely
Emily Lee
Kara Eaker
MyKayla Skinner
Ava Siegfeldt

These women did not qualify and may not petition (unless they met the score elsewhere):
eMjae Frazier
Karis German
Zoe Miller
Kaylen Morgan
Amari Drayton
Elle Mueller
Lexi Zeiss
Sydney Barros
Anya Pilgrim
Skylar Draser
Hailey Klein
Katelyn Rosen
Temple Landry
Sophia Butler
Alonna Kratzer
Jamison Sears

These women did not qualify and may petition:
Shilese Jones
Mya Witte
Konnor McClain
Ciena Alipio
Emma Malabuyo
Sunisa Lee
Addison Fatta
Jade Carey
Morgan Hurd
Chellsie Memmel
Laurie Hernandez
Riley McCusker
Lauren Little

 

[Jayar]

Deleting because better info was provided.

 

[dramagrrl]

I love Simone, but her FX choreo continues to be hideous. It's really a shame.

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

A very kind person has posted a full version of session 2 of the US Classic on YouTube:

GK classic 2021 Senior session 2

2021 Womens gymnastics GK classic. Full length. Results at end of video.

www.youtube.com

It works for me in the UK, but could potentially be geo-blocked in other places.
The audio is a little glitchy, but the video is perfect.

 

[Coco]

Is there a reason why Terry has to keep telling the audience that Morgan was adopted?

I think Morgan has been discussing it recently, but yeah, it's a bit much from Terry.

Shallow of me, but Shilese Jones looked amazing, and her vault was equally stunning.

I think a lot of the athletes on the may petition list above qualified through scores earned at camp. The only big name who wasn't qualified on that list was Riley. She injured her foot on vault yesterday so it remains to be seen if she will petition. I think she should just for bars as long as she's safely able to physically do that.

 

[Doggygirl]

I wonder how bad Riley’s injury is. My heart is just breaking for her after all she went through previously, and now rediscovering her love of the sport.

 

[haribobo]

Just FYI there's a clip on youtube of Riley practicing all her routines at that competition, with some really annoying commentary-

Riley McCusker GK US Classic 2021 AA Podium Training Clips

*I DO NOT CLAIM ANY RIGHTS TO THESE VIDEOS*Here are all of the clips I managed to get from Riley’s podium training!

www.youtube.com

 

[BittyBug]

I'm a casual watch every four years at the Olympics gymnastics fan, but I watched the US Classic last night and I was struck by how dreadfully similar the commentary is to skating commentary (and I don't think Terri Gannon is the cause). Also, when did gymnastics get so ugly? I feel like people who complain about Trusova just stalking quads, but the difficulty level is such that it seems to leave little time for the held positions and beautiful transitions of yore. Wolf turns seem to be the equivalent of Bielmanns (usually poorly done and ugly) and the floor excercises lack any type of choreography or relationship to the music.

And everyone was falling all over the place (those belly flops off the bars looks painful ). Are the athletes just not ready yet because of YKW, or is the sport in a phase similar to the Chan years where most everyone was splatting on quads?

 

[FiveRinger]

I wonder how bad Riley’s injury is. My heart is just breaking for her after all she went through previously, and now rediscovering her love of the sport.

I haven't heard anything except that she has gone for an MRI.

NBC's coverage of her changing coaches and moving across the country was so out of touch. Why not mention who her coach was and the real reason that she left? Instead of harping on Morgan being from China and other nonsensical stuff, why not mention that? Please know I'm not downplaying anti-Asian violence. I'm over Tim mentioning her adoption....repeatedly.

 

[Rob]

I think Jordan Chiles is going to make this team. I did not think that last year. She’s really benefitted from an extra year and training with the GOAT.

 

[FiveRinger]

I think Jordan Chiles is going to make this team. I did not think that last year. She’s really benefitted from an extra year and training with the GOAT.

I wanted to say that, but I hesitated. These girls are fighting for 2 spots, and based on their strengths, the field just got narrowed significantly.

 

[haribobo]

Right now I am thinking the other 2 spots are between Leanne Wong, Kayla DiCello, and Sunisa Lee. Jade Carey could be top 3 or 4 AA which would make an interesting case... Maybe Morgan Hurd (please!), Kara Eaker, or Grace McCallum can factor somehow but I'm not really seeing it. Riley, sadly I think time has run out. And I'm still here for Chellsie's comeback. I don't think her bars will be in form enough but she seems a lot closer than I originally imagined- there's just something really watchable about her that many others lack.

 

[FiveRinger]

Does Jade Carey’s qualification to the Olympics mean she’s competing in the AA or on floor and vault individually?

 

[millyskate]

Does Jade Carey’s qualification to the Olympics mean she’s competing in the AA or on floor and vault individually?

She can compete the AA as per Olympic rules but might be under pressure from USAG to do floor and vault only as they won’t want her to place higher AA than their top two I suspect.

 

[FiveRinger]

She can compete the AA as per Olympic rules but might be under pressure from USAG to do floor and vault only as they won’t want her to place higher AA than their top two I suspect.

I'm confused. Are you saying that after Qualifications, if Jade and 2 other Americans end up top 24 that one will get bumped?

 

[Karen-W]

I'm confused. Are you saying that after Qualifications, if Jade and 2 other Americans end up top 24 that one will get bumped?

Isn't that the way it's always worked? I'm not a hardcore gym fan but I can't remember when the Olympics AA didn't limit it to the top 2 athletes from each country after qualifications.

 

[FiveRinger]

Isn't that the way it's always worked? I'm not a hardcore gym fan but I can't remember when the Olympics AA didn't limit it to the top 2 athletes from each country after qualifications.

Yes, but these extra spots are a new thing. So they may be treated differently, which is why I asked.

Personally, I feel like Jade earned her spot thru the World Cup process, that what she does or doesn’t do now shouldn’t have any bearing in Team USA at this point. She made that decision when she chose the alternate route to qualify to the Olympics and those 4 spots shouldn’t be open to her, especially since another American can’t be put in her place if she were to get chosen for the team.

 

[haribobo]

Yea, its a totally bizarre situation that I'm sure will be revised by USAG and/or Olympic committee for next time. I totally understand Jade's position since the rules don't prevent it- you train your whole life to be part of gold medal winning team USA and then at the 11th hour some weird rules throw it all into limbo. If it were still 5 member teams, she'd have such a good shot at making that. But DiCello, Wong, and Sunisa generally make more of a case on bars and beam, although Jade's bars success yesterday is impressive. If Jade manages silver in AA at Nationals and Trials, it will be hard to leave her off a team. I think she just wants to know she gave it her all. If she bronzes behind Jordan, well then it depends on how those other 3 (KD, LW, SL) are looking for consistency on bars/beam vs. Jade. Sad if the solo spot goes down the drain to put Jade on the team, but then didn't everyone else have the opportunity to compete for that too and nobody did? So whose fault is that? Am I mistaken there?

And for anyone saying Mykayla Skinner for the team (nobody here, but lots of people on reddit)... no baby no. Not based on yesterday.

 

[Coco]

@haribobo I kind of feel as you do, but it's not true to say everyone else had the chance to pursue the world cup individual event spot that Jade earned. You had to already be a medalist at worlds, and at that time I think only 2017 worlds had happened possibly 2018. So there were literally like 3 people in the US who could have gone that route Jade, Morgan and one other.

 

[haribobo]

Ohh, thanks for clarifying. Gosh that is limiting then, but wow. Hmm

 

[FiveRinger]

@haribobo I kind of feel as you do, but it's not true to say everyone else had the chance to pursue the world cup individual event spot that Jade earned. You had to already be a medalist at worlds, and at that time I think only 2017 worlds had happened possibly 2018. So there were literally like 3 people in the US who could have gone that route Jade Morgan and one other.

Thank you for some clarity. That being said, looks like the goal was to make it to the Olympics. Jade achieved that goal.

I'm not going to beat that drum too loudly because I don't think her chances of being placed on the team now are hugely high. There are a number of true all arounders who have stronger beam and bars than she does that would get more consideration. I could be wrong, but that's what I see 2 months out.

 

[shuilee]

If Jade is 2nd in the combined Nationals + Trials AA results, then she is automatically on the 4-person team. And USA will have to forfeit the individual spot, so only 5 USA women will go to Tokyo.

If Jade is 3rd or 4th in the combined AA results, it'd be up to the selection committee to decide if it's worth it to forfeit that 6th Olympic spot so that Jade can be on the team. It's not like USA is in danger of losing Team Gold without Jade's scores.

Based on what I saw yesterday, bars appears to be their weakest event, and beam is 2nd weakest. I think it'd be wise to select someone strong on UB/BB in the 3rd and 4th team spots. Suni Lee would fit perfectly, but she fell on both yesterday. Morgan is another possibility, but she's injured and didn't even do bars. LeAnne Wong had strong beam, but fell on bars. Riley McCusker is excellent on UB/BB, but she's injured. Argh...ALL of my 4 favorite American gymnasts had terrible days yesterday!

 

[4rkidz]

Does anyone else find it a little silly these girls wearing bows in their hair when they are grown adults? I could see if they were 12. So much talent in the USA women, I think will Biles will be the best gymnast historically so amazing. Yay for Chelsea Memmel, nice to follow her journey.

 

[FiveRinger]

If Jade is 2nd in the combined Nationals + Trials AA results, then she is automatically on the 4-person team. And USA will have to forfeit the individual spot, so only 5 USA women will go to Tokyo.

If Jade is 3rd or 4th in the combined AA results, it'd be up to the selection committee to decide if it's worth it to forfeit that 6th Olympic spot so that Jade can be on the team. It's not like USA is in danger of losing Team Gold without Jade's scores.

Based on what I saw yesterday, bars appears to be their weakest event, and beam is 2nd weakest. I think it'd be wise to select someone strong on UB/BB in the 3rd and 4th team spots. Suni Lee would fit perfectly, but she fell on both yesterday. Morgan is another possibility, but she's injured and didn't even do bars. LeAnne Wong had strong beam, but fell on bars. Riley McCusker is excellent on UB/BB, but she's injured. Argh...ALL of my 4 favorite American gymnasts had terrible days yesterday!

Huh? If Team USA is only 4 members, if Jade forfeits her spot or is put on the team, there are still only 4 members. Where is the 5th member coming from? I thought I heard someone say this but it didn't make sense. What am I missing?

 

[OlieRow]

I'm mildly concerned that Jade Carey could end up on the 4 person team and we only take 5 gymnasts instead of 6. Part of this is probably my being biased since her gymnastics just doesn't excite me all that much. IMO, you elected to take things into your own hands and secure your spot so own it. The benefit is you've avoided the selection committee and locked yourself in. The downside, that's your spot and you should be ineligible for team selection. I think it's unlikely but with injuries and the splatfest from yesterday who knows. It seems nobody at USAG saw this potential scenario coming. It'd be a shame to waste an Olympic berth since I don't know that she adds a ton in terms of scoring potential in team finals over a 6th gymnast.

I'm sure it's a combination of losing a year+ due to COVID, less visibility due to the Nassar scandal fallout/loss of sponsors, and my life in general being hectic but I watch the major events and still don't feel much emotional connection to this quad of gymnasts. I don't know that I have any strong feelings about the team aside from Simone = GOAT, I don't like MyKayla Skinner, and we should take 6 athletes. Starting to get on the Jordan Chiles train though, training with Simone and having an extra year has done wonders for her!

 

[dramagrrl]

Huh? If Team USA is only 4 members, if Jade forfeits her spot or is put on the team, there are still only 4 members. Where is the 5th member coming from? I thought I heard someone say this but it didn't make sense. What am I missing?

I'm sure someone can give a better explanation, but from what I understand, countries were originally going to be given the chance to compete for extra qualifying spots through a series of all-around World Cup events (which were different from the World Cup events Jade competed in to earn her individual spot). However, those events had to be cancelled due to covid, so they went back to results from 2019 Worlds to grant countries the extra spots - in the women's division, the United States, Russia and China each got one extra spot for the Olympics. This spot is not attached to a specific gymnast (the way Jade's earned spot can only be used by Jade and no other American gymnast).

However, where I am confused is when people upthread were talking about the U.S. gymnasts essentially competing for two spots. I understand that one spot is 99.9999% guaranteed to Simone, but shouldn't there be three team spots after that? Is there another gymnast who people are currently seeing as a lock for the team?

 

[OlieRow]

Huh? If Team USA is only 4 members, if Jade forfeits her spot or is put on the team, there are still only 4 members. Where is the 5th member coming from? I thought I heard someone say this but it didn't make sense. What am I missing?

Team USA can have 4 members for the team competition + 1 AA gymnast competing as an individual + Jade's specialist spot that she earned. Jade's spot is hers and can't be given to another USA gymnast if she doesn't use it whereas the AA individual spot belongs to USAG not to a specific person. So if Jade is named to the 4 person team, USAG selects 5 gymnasts (4 person team + 1 AA individual) to go to Tokyo instead of 6 because they can't send anyone else in Jade's spot. You either use it or lose it. And IMO, if you took the opportunity to earn it (meaning no other USA gymnast could) you shouldn't be able to turn it down.

 

[OlieRow]

I'm sure someone can give a better explanation, but from what I understand, countries were originally going to be given the chance to compete for extra qualifying spots through a series of all-around World Cup events (which were different from the World Cup events Jade competed in to earn her individual spot). However, those events had to be cancelled due to *********, so they went back to results from 2019 Worlds to grant countries the extra spots - in the women's division, the United States, Russia and China each got one extra spot for the Olympics. This spot is not attached to a specific gymnast (the way Jade's earned spot can only be used by Jade and no other American gymnast).

However, where I am confused is when people upthread were talking about the U.S. gymnasts essentially competing for two spots. I understand that one spot is 99.9999% guaranteed to Simone, but shouldn't there be three team spots after that? Is there another gymnast who people are currently seeing as a lock for the team?

I think people are speculating that with Jordan's recent performances that she's closing in on a lock for the team.