Gymnastics #24 - The Road to Paris

[Karen-W]

If I recall, Suni did beat Simone one day of the last Olympic trials, so it's not impossible. But, I don't want to tempt the gym gods, so I'll shut up now. (TBH, I don't have a strong belief in gods, but I respect the fact that other people do and say so, as long as they are not doing something bad based on their beliefs - such as sacrificing Shilese - or imposing their beliefs on me. )

There really was zero intent to sacrifice Shilese for anyone else making the team. She's too good and easily would have been in the mix for the AA podium in Paris, so I'm totally bummed for her.

 

[peibeck]

Just got a chance to see the prelim night and final night of the men. Gutted for Wiskus after such a superb two nights, but glad he's one of the alternates. Really astounded by Khoi's first night disaster, but his being an alternate is a great win for him.

At least Malone proved he's human and the commentators weren't as orgasmic over him like they were at Nationals.

 

[HeatherC]

I am going to ignore how annoyed I am that Khoi not being at his best left an opening for Stephen to end up on this team or how annoyed I am that Shane had the meet of his life and ended up an alternate because the one big thing I wanted to happen actually did and I may never emotionally recover. PAUL JUDA IS A FREAKING OLYMPIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if you're not following Frederick Richard on social media, you really should be because he's got SO much personality and does all kinds of fun stuff on there. And for the record, I am actually extremely happy about 4/5ths of this US men's team, LOL

 

[Allskate]

I am going to ignore how annoyed I am that Khoi not being at his best left an opening for Stephen to end up on this team

I'm not sure that Khoi being his best would have meant that Stephen wasn't on the team. I think it just might have meant that Paul or Asher didn't make the team. The real problem is that the American men in general are not very good at PH. It's just particularly sad that Khoi didn't do his best on PH because we know what he can accomplish and win when he does and because he was really looking like a strong contender for the team after Nationals.

 

[canbelto]

So I'm rewatching Night 1 of the WAG and anyone get the feeling the commentators don't like Jade? At one point Sam said "She gets the job done." Zero enthusiasm.

 

[Allskate]

Kayla has posted on Instagram. After Nationals, I was rooting for her to make the team, and this makes me even sadder because she is showing such class at such a difficult time.

Her IG Story where she says how proud she is of Suni:

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Her more extensive post:

"Thank you so much for all your love and support. Unfortunately, I ruptured my achilles on the opening event at Olympic Trials. While this is not the result I envisioned, there’s so much to be proud of. Years of tireless work and dedication in the gym with the dream of representing my country once more at the Olympic Games. Pushing myself to go after new skills, new dreams. There is so much to be thankful for, too. To my coaches, my gym teammates, my family, my friends, and my supporters: I am so thankful for everything you’ve done for me. It truly takes a village to get to this point, and your support throughout good days and bad has been something I’ve leaned on more than you know.

As I begin my healing journey, I’m thankful for your prayers and good wishes. This is not the end of my story. "

 

[tony]

I am going to ignore how annoyed I am that Khoi not being at his best left an opening for Stephen to end up on this team or how annoyed I am that Shane had the meet of his life and ended up an alternate because the one big thing I wanted to happen actually did and I may never emotionally recover.

sorry, had to do it.

 

[skatfan]

How was she able to do bars yesterday and get the highest score? Oh my gosh if I was the coach I’d be like you’re good to go honey. Lol.

While she did place 1st on bars, she didn’t do any other events and she has two injuries now. It was odd that she posted she was going to compete in morning and by the afternoon was out. I’m guessing that she was told that only competing bars on Sunday would not get her named to the team (too risky if another team member went down after alternates could be named) and she decided not to risk doing beam. After Tokyo, the US ain’t going to not have back-ups.

So sad.

 

[canbelto]

She probably got an MRI and the MRI results were a lot grimmer than expected.

 

[Rukia]

She probably got an MRI and the MRI results were a lot grimmer than expected.

Yeah I feel like this is way more likely. She was trying to hold out but diagnostics were like no.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Stay off social media an watch it during the day on youtube

I don’t believe it’s on YouTube.

 

[haribobo]

Does the men team have non traveling alternates and have they been named?

 

[museksk8r]

Three-time national champion Brody Malone has made his second Olympic team, joining trials winner Fred Richard. Asher Hong, Paul Juda and Stephen Nedoroscik round out the five-man team that will look to end a 16-year medal drought at the Olympics.

Interesting I definitely had Shane on the team and I thought they would still put young on the team.

I would have Whiskus and Young on the team instead of Hong and Nedoroscik. I suppose the biggest selling point for Asher is the high degree of difficulty he brings to the men’s team and that his body type makes him less prone to injury, but I much prefer the artistic form and aesthetics of Shane’s and Khoi’s gymnastics. Even though Asher does bring high difficulty, with that comes high risk and he has been very inconsistent looking at his performances from Nationals and Trials. Had Khoi been more reliable on PH during Nationals and Trials, he would be on this team. It was shocking to see him struggle so much there since he is the reigning World PH silver medalist. Juda was consistently 3rd best on PH, which paid dividends for him since it is the US men’s least consistent apparatus and has been their downfall for consecutive Olympics team podiums.

 

[museksk8r]

So who goes for AA in womens besides Simone? Sunisa?

Suni or Jordan, one would presume. If a repeat of 2020/21 happens, Jade is not out of the question either. Carey has been quietly and slowly building to attempt to peak at the right time.

 

[Frau Muller]

I hope that the announcement of the women’s team is less cheesy than the men’s announcement last night. NBC milking it up to the max!

 

[Coco]

My understanding is that by not competing today, Shilese is no longer eligible to be named to the team.

If she does have an ACL tear or some other kind of significant knee injury, her landing her bars dismount on night 1 is freaking nuts.

 

[Stephanie]

Suni or Jordan, one would presume. If a repeat of 2020/21 happens, Jade is not out of the question either. Carey has been quietly and slowly building to attempt to peak at the right time.

I can't see Jade competing BB in prelims. Whoever is competing beam in team finals (Simone, Suni, plus probably Leanne or Tiana) should definitely compete in prelims.

 

[Karen-W]

I hope that the announcement of the women’s team is less cheesy than the men’s announcement last night. NBC milking it up to the max!

Sigh. We NEED that kind of maximum drama and cheese! I'm loving it as much as I love having the T&F athletes sign their mini-Eiffel Tower after they earn their tickets to Paris at the end of every race/competition. I want NBC to put the same kind of effort into bringing their stable of celebrities/color commentators that they've done with all of the Summer Games trials for 2026 US Figure Skating Championships.

And I want us to have the same type of hoopla and team announcement/introduction for our sport. The USFS was sort of moving in that direction in 2022 but they need to be a lot faster about it - none of this "we're introducing you during the ice resurfacing TOMORROW" like they did with the Women and then the Pairs in 2022. Change the competition schedule so that NBC has 30 minutes of air time to kill while the International Committee makes their decision after each discipline is completed. They can and will fill it and the USFS Olympic selection procedure, if it remains the same or mostly similar to 2022, won't take the full 30 minutes.

 

[Karen-W]

I can't see Jade competing BB in prelims. Whoever is competing beam in team finals (Simone, Suni, plus probably Leanne or Tiana) should definitely compete in prelims.

There are actually a few team combinations that would have Jade competing in the beam in prelims. I haven't worked through all of the potential team combinations and it isn't VERY likely but it is not completely outside the realm of possibility - most of these combos include Kaliya Lincoln being on the team but Leanne Wong doesn't score MUCH higher than Jade on the BB so it could happen in some scenarios with Jade & Leanne both on the team. I'm really hoping Leanne can have a solid day today, especially on beam, and increase her chance at being selected.

 

[Carolla5501]

Sigh. We NEED that kind of maximum drama and cheese! I'm loving it as much as I love having the T&F athletes sign their mini-Eiffel Tower after they earn their tickets to Paris at the end of every race/competition. I want NBC to put the same kind of effort into bringing their stable of celebrities/color commentators that they've done with all of the Summer Games trials for 2026 US Figure Skating Championships.

And I want us to have the same type of hoopla and team announcement/introduction for our sport. The USFS was sort of moving in that direction in 2022 but they need to be a lot faster about it - none of this "we're introducing you during the ice resurfacing TOMORROW" like they did with the Women and then the Pairs in 2022. Change the competition schedule so that NBC has 30 minutes of air time to kill while the International Committee makes their decision after each discipline is completed. They can and will fill it and the USFS Olympic selection procedure, if it remains the same or mostly similar to 2022, won't take the full 30 minutes.

To do that USFS probably has to have "defined criteria' Not "let's all get together and gossip about who we like" They key to this is that they have clearly defined the limited meets that will be considered. No they aren't considering every event over the past year in an attempt to say "well this is the person" Heck we don't even guarantee the winners at Nationals a spot on the Olympic team. Now I know it's different because we don't have the schedule where the skaters complete against each other, but.. maybe that's what we should do. Nationals and then Trails. Gets a lot of hype and is a lot more understood by the public than "here's who placed well at Nationals but won't be going to the games"

 

[Carolla5501]

Non Traveling alternates Men's team. Donnell Whittenburg, Yul Moldaur and Patrick Hoopes

 

[Karen-W]

To do that USFS probably has to have "defined criteria' Not "let's all get together and gossip about who we like" They key to this is that they have clearly defined the limited meets that will be considered. No they aren't considering every event over the past year in an attempt to say "well this is the person" Heck we don't even guarantee the winners at Nationals a spot on the Olympic team. Now I know it's different because we don't have the schedule where the skaters complete against each other, but.. maybe that's what we should do. Nationals and then Trails. Gets a lot of hype and is a lot more understood by the public than "here's who placed well at Nationals but won't be going to the games"

The USFS criteria is no less undefined as the USAG Women's team criteria which, apparently, is mostly just "feels" and "vibes". I thought the 2022 criteria was pretty clear and fair. As they've moved toward BOW having a greater impact and influence on any team selection, they've become more transparent and clear about how you, as the skater, can control your own destiny.

 

[kwanfan1818]

We’ll never have any results from Nationals guarantee anything in skating, as long as it means USOC gets a cut of the Nationals broadcast money.

I wonder how the money works in gymnastics.

 

[barbk]

I'm surprised that they aren't using the brand of equipment that will be used at the Olympics for this event even if they don't use this brand for regular US events.

I would think that even tiny differences could be significant.

 

[Sarah]

I know a lot of people wish there were no trials. But, if that were the case, Asher Hong wouldn’t be on the team…

 

[her grace]

I liked that the men’s team selection was mostly “control your own destiny” rather than the committee choosing. Once Richard had the top spot, then the rest earned their spots by being the highest scoring team fitting around his strengths and weaknesses. That’s a transparent and fair process.

 

[her grace]

I'm surprised that they aren't using the brand of equipment that will be used at the Olympics for this event even if they don't use this brand for regular US events.

I would think that even tiny differences could be significant.

It’s because of sponsor , regardless of whether it’s the best preparation for the athletes.

 

[skatfan]

I'm surprised that they aren't using the brand of equipment that will be used at the Olympics for this event even if they don't use this brand for regular US events.

I would think that even tiny differences could be significant.

they have a sponsorship with Spiel.

 

[PRlady]

I’m 7 hours ahead. When is today’s competition east coast time? If probably can’t watch but just in case….

 

[Tesla]

I’m 7 hours ahead. When is today’s competition east coast time? If probably can’t watch but just in case….

Peacock coverage starts at 8:10 p.m. I’m in CT.