Gymnastics News #23: Defying Gravity

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Interesting Andrea Joyce wasn’t there and seems to have been replaced by John Roethlisberger. Wonder if she’ll still be covering skating?

Anyone know if Riley McCusker plans to compete elite? I’d love to see her get a place on the Paris team.

Sigh. I despair of Nastia’s (and Tara’s) less-than-professional clothing choices.

Seems like NBC did try to show more routines instead of having the camera on the gymnasts waiting around for their scores. Progress indeed.
 
Enjoying the men's team final :cheer: The British boys are in shape. Nice to have stronger performances on rings and vault now.
High bar is always scary though.
 
I am really enjoying this group of athletes on both the men's and women's side. The men are all about the future, Asher Hong is a four event star, hopefully he will get the other two in workable form and he will be an all around contender. Lots of other bright spots in the group, but some really wonky performances. Tim seemed to think they were flukes so hopefully they will disappear once they get more elite experience. I will continue to root for Donnell Whittenburg and hope he can peak at the right time for Paris.

For the women, I really love Jones, she is the most well rounded gymnast we've had in a while. Jade has matured and while she isn't going to be bringing the house down with her dance it is better. The way Tim and Nastia were gushing about her new artistry I was expecting more. It seems the judges really went after her artistry because she was dumped a bit on floor. Chiles and Carey have improved a lot from college. I was never a big fan of Jordan's style but I like her now. I have always liked diCello and I expect she will gain more consistency in college as well. McClain has so much potential but I was surprised her presence on floor wasn't better. I know she has problems with nerves so maybe with more confidence she will turn up the performance. Those five plus Blakely, who had a bad night, and Hong, if she is healthy, would certainly be in the mix for the worlds team?

What is the format for Worlds this year? Please tell me we get six athletes.
 
What is the format for the 2024 Olympics? How many members will there be per team, what’s the preliminary and team final format with regards to how many compete per apparatus and how many scores count, and are they doing that individual thing where a country can try to qualify up to two athletes outside of the team again?
 
Everything is 5-4-3 in qualifications, 2 per country AA final/apparatus final, 3 up 3 count in team final. This is the format going forward. I have always opposed any format that does not allow every gymnast on the team to compete every apparatus. I hate it. Trying to pick a US women's team under 5-4-3 really hurts my brain.
 
danafan said:
Everything is 5-4-3 in qualifications, 2 per country AA final/apparatus final, 3 up 3 count in team final. This is the format going forward. I have always opposed any format that does not allow every gymnast on the team to compete every apparatus. I hate it. Trying to pick a US women's team under 5-4-3 really hurts my brain.
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Better than what we had last year!
 
ilovesalchows said:
Those five [Jones, Carey, Chiles, DiCello, McClain] plus Blakely, who had a bad night, and Hong, if she is healthy, would certainly be in the mix for the worlds team?
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Absolutely. Others with a chance: I'd put Lexi Zeiss in the same bucket as Blakely (newbie with good all-around potential and she finished ahead of Blakely at Pan Ams). I also think a bars specialist could be considered especially if Hong isn't healthy. Not that any of the bars specialists (Mathews, Mueller, Jong, Booth) did well on night one. Zoe Miller was the best bars worker for U.S. at Pan Ams (hugh 6.5 D score), but she didn't compete here. Another eventer Ciena Apilio could be considered for beam (4th on night one). However, since she wasn't selected for Pan Ams after being on the top mathematical team after Camp, I don't see a big name being left off for her for the Worlds team.

Interesting to note that McCallum is not trying to make the next Olympic team. Seems fairly obvious that AA ranking won't be the way the team is selected next time so she doesn't really have a shot.

From night one, McClain's beam was incredible. Great form and flow through the elements. Thought Jones had the best performance quality on floor. Carey showed some credible improvement in interpreting her choreography. Nice job overall.
 
Was not expecting Chiles to be so good. Not sure if she'll score that well at World's, but you never know.
 
I'm actually watching the TV broadcast now from night one on NBC (senior WAG). I'm impressed that they are actually trying to explain the deductions now and they even whipped out the artistry deductions check list!

Coco said:
Was not expecting Chiles to be so good. Not sure if she'll score that well at World's, but you never know.
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I was impressed with her level, considering it was recently reported she might not do all events. I have to admit I was surprised by her scores at the Olympics, though I didn't do a full analysis (though her floor from prelims was part of the judging study material for the exam this year). My gut feeling, again not having done a full analysis, is that she has really addressed artistry on beam and floor. Her beam seems more flowing to me, fewer pauses, better variety of rhythm and tempo And her floor she seems to be using her body well and her interpretation and expression look good to me.

Hopefully Memmel will be able to help the athletes improve, as she spoke about during the broadcast.
 
Men’s Senior Finals is on right now on CNBC.

It hurt my ankles watching Wiskus’ FX. ?

It’s insane that Whittenburg is still competing.

IMHO, Asher Wong need to start getting international experience - NOW.

Fred Richard looks promising. I’m not sure if NCAA or the USOPTC is a better option for him, though.
 
HEY! It’s Nerdy Penn State World Champ Pommel Horse Guy! ??

It’s a shame that Yul Moldauer has been injured so much. ?
 
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Asher Hong is outstanding, but I'm so glad Donnell pulled out the second place finish and automatic qualification to the world championship team. I'm sure Asher will also be chosen, but after that ? If based on tonight, I guess I would go with Yul and Colt Walker. Too bad Fred Richard can't be considered, but I hope he can continue on this trajectory and be a contender for next year and then Paris.
 
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Sounds like Paul Juda will be automatic if he’s healthy. So with him I’d take the top three and Yul if his back is ok. He is just so clean and we need him on Pommel. He scores well internationally.

Is the silk board slipping cash to Nastia?
 
HeatherC said:
I was out tonight so I haven't gotten a chance to watch day two of the US men yet but I'm SO excited about Donnell doing so well at these championships! He's always been a sentimental fave of mine so I'm very happy for him right now! :cheer:
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It was great to see Donnell pull out the silver. Also good to see the men try harder stuff - a couple of those vaults looked insane :eek:

I did not miss Sam Mikulak competing. Did I hear that he’s part of an effort to Create a mens training center in Florida?
 
I know this is a petty complaint, but the NBC gymnastics commentary team really needs a wardrobe consultant that can coordinate the whole crew's look. If Nastia is going to wear ball gowns (or whatever "glam" outfit she is going for on any given day), the men need to wear more formal suits. If the men are going to wear informal suits or polo shirts, etc., then they need to put Nastia in more casual clothing (without making her wear a terrible polo shirt like they did in some of her first years as part of the commentary team). The way they currently dress seems like there is no thought given to coordination of any kind (i.e., every member just chooses their own outfit) and it ends up looking kind of ridiculous.
 
dramagrrl said:
I know this is a petty complaint, but the NBC gymnastics commentary team really needs a wardrobe consultant that can coordinate the whole crew's look. If Nastia is going to wear ball gowns (or whatever "glam" outfit she is going for on any given day), the men need to wear more formal suits. If the men are going to wear informal suits or polo shirts, etc., then they need to put Nastia in more casual clothing (without making her wear a terrible polo shirt like they did in some of her first years as part of the commentary team). The way they currently dress seems like there is no thought given to coordination of any kind (i.e., every member just chooses their own outfit) and it ends up looking kind of ridiculous.
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Why does it matter? No different from figure skating when sometimes you have flamboyant outfits? Uniforms are boring, let Nastia bring her glam lol.
 
I don't think Nastia looks very glamorous, though that is clearly what she is going for. I think she needs a haircut and some purple shampoo. On another note, I just rewatched several of her Beijing routines. I really love her gymnastics.

I am excited for the women today! It has been a treat to have so much gymnastics to watch. Bummed I have a work event the first week of November during worlds.
 
dramagrrl said:
I know this is a petty complaint, but the NBC gymnastics commentary team really needs a wardrobe consultant that can coordinate the whole crew's look. If Nastia is going to wear ball gowns (or whatever "glam" outfit she is going for on any given day), the men need to wear more formal suits. If the men are going to wear informal suits or polo shirts, etc., then they need to put Nastia in more casual clothing (without making her wear a terrible polo shirt like they did in some of her first years as part of the commentary team). The way they currently dress seems like there is no thought given to coordination of any kind (i.e., every member just chooses their own outfit) and it ends up looking kind of ridiculous.
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I think Nastia’s choices are based on her “influencer” income.

I’d rather they spend energy on improving the broadcast- at least this year they have stopped obsessively watching the leader on the sides while not showing routines.
 
Figure skating fans who have been watching the trashy twins do their look at me act for what feels like forever should not be allowed to say anything about any other commentators outfits. No one has sunk to the level of figure skating yet


I don’t believe the gymnastics teams had to bling their headphones


And I’m here watching junior women and WOGO has beautiful leos. And since they have 7 (!!!) qualified athletes they mark an impression
 
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Carolla5501 said:
Figure skating fans who have been watching the trashy twins do their look at me act for what feels like forever should not be allowed to say anything about any other commentators outfits. No one has sunk to the level of figure skating yet


I don’t believe the gymnastics teams had to bling their headphones
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LOL. I never watch the Trashy Twins (I'm assuming you mean Tara/Johnny... I think I have seen/heard them do commentary maybe twice) because I am Canadian and watch all skating except U.S. Nationals on Canadian feeds.

I don't think Nastia looks very glamorous, though that is clearly what she is going for. I think she needs a haircut and some purple shampoo. On another note, I just rewatched several of her Beijing routines. I really love her gymnastics.
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I am also not a fan of most of her "glam" looks, which is why I used the word in quotation marks. Re: a haircut, I believe most of her current hairstyle is extensions, so maybe she should just get rid of the extensions. Her current hair colour is also too platinum blonde and frankly looks very fake, IMO. But like the poster above, I loved her gymnastics -- she was my favourite gymnast of the 2000s, at least so far. I also think she is a decent commentator.
 
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