Gymnastic news #22 - Tokyo or bust

[love skating]

I have to say, for all the talk of 'the computers are figuring out the strongest team' talks, Grace was the least likely for me out of the trio but maybe they are rewarding the one who got 4th place here with a 'locked up gold medal' in mind. She's only offering a small bit more potential in vault and floor (which she may not even participate).

I'm not mad at it, Wong is actually probably my favorite but I thought every sign pointed to Skinner so I'm

I think Tim kept harping on Floor and Vault but in the end I really think all four events mattered. And I forgot to say how awesome Jordan has been - more solid than anyone really! So happy she's going to be a Bruin!

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I feel like the Grace pick is about picking the athlete who will have the strongest backup for beam and bars. I think they looked at what if one of the top 3 makes a mistake or gets injured, who is the solidest person to have?

McKayla getting the individual spot is kind of offensively dumb. They basically burned that spot because letting her go gives good feels? Like they literally picked to send a “specialist” who isn’t a specialist and is highly unlikely to make a single event final. It’s very unfair to Kara and Riley, who truly excel on one event, to give a spot to McKayla because, well, we don’t care that much about that spot and we don’t want her to cry again.

 

[Karen-W]

Who are the alternates? Wong, DiCello, Malabuyo and Eaker?

 

[dramagrrl]

Disagree with both McCallum and Skinner, but especially with Skinner as the individual spot. It is very likely going to go to waste because Simone will definitely get spots in FX and vault event finals, and Jade is more likely to get the second U.S. spot in either of those events than Mykayla.

 

[OlieRow]

Interesting that Skinner gets a +1 but she’s gotta beat Biles/Carey to make EF so it seems like a waste of a spot IMO. Just glad she isn’t on the team and thrilled for Grace after coming back from injury. I guess Tom went with the covering all the bases pick as opposed to someone that would could really boost VT/FX in TF.

 

[FiveRinger]

Someone Else Pulling for Laurie in Tokyo

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Who are the alternates? Wong, DiCello, Malabuyo and Eaker?

Yes they’re the alternates.

 

[VGThuy]

I feel like the Grace pick is about picking the athlete who will have the strongest backup for beam and bars. I think they looked at what if one of the top 3 makes a mistake or gets injured, who is the solidest person to have?

McKayla getting the individual spot is kind of offensively dumb. They basically burned that spot because letting her go gives good feels? Like they literally picked to send a “specialist” who isn’t a specialist and is highly unlikely to make a single enemy final. It’s very unfair to Kara and Riley, who truly excel on one event, to give a spot to McKayla because, well, we don’t care that much about that spot and we don’t want her to cry again.

They're probably afraid of her, her familiy, and her vlog’s fans antics causing negative media attention leading to Tokyo like five years ago when they targeted Gabby Douglas in some of the most despicable ways.

 

[canbelto]

The reason they give it to Skinner is (and this is sort of bad to wonder about) I wonder if there are some injuries right now that are worse than expected.

 

[skatfan]

I have always been aware that there were individual competitors. In the past weren't they just for countries that couldn't field a team? When did they change it so individuals could qualify in countries that did field a team. and why?

Sorry if this has already been discussed ad nauseam

The short version: this time, the teams were trimmed from 5 or 4 people, and other individual spots opened up for specialists to qualify in various ways. The qualifying for these spots was a nightmare to manage especially with COVID, so it won't be repeated - teams will go back to 5 people for Paris.

You can google the long version.

 

[semillon27]

It has been written about ad nauseum but briefly, FIG wanted to cut teams down to 4 to try to even the playing field between top countries and others, because other countries were more likely to be able to field a smaller number of good gymnasts. They "made up for it" by implementing an insanely convoluted system by which countries could, in theory, qualify one or two more individual specialists.

 

[FiveRinger]

I feel like the Grace pick is about picking the athlete who will have the strongest backup for beam and bars. I think they looked at what if one of the top 3 makes a mistake or gets injured, who is the solidest person to have?

McKayla getting the individual spot is kind of offensively dumb. They basically burned that spot because letting her go gives good feels? Like they literally picked to send a “specialist” who isn’t a specialist and is highly unlikely to make a single event final. It’s very unfair to Kara and Riley, who truly excel on one event, to give a spot to McKayla because, well, we don’t care that much about that spot and we don’t want her to cry again.

No, they don't want her re-tweeting pictures of her face imposed over the faces of the gymnasts that did make the team. Been there done that.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Disagree with both McCallum and Skinner, but especially with Skinner as the individual spot. It is very likely going to go to waste because Simone will definitely get spots in FX and vault event finals, and Jade is more likely to get the second U.S. spot in either of those events than Mykayla.

Except Jade, who essentially strategically took floor off this competition for obvious reasons, MyKayla’s highest floor score this week was the lowest of the six US gymnasts and her combined was the second lowest. So it’s not just Jade and Simone who are likely to beat her on floor.

If you are going to call her a “specialist,” it’s only on vault.

 

[semillon27]

I feel like the Grace pick is about picking the athlete who will have the strongest backup for beam and bars. I think they looked at what if one of the top 3 makes a mistake or gets injured, who is the solidest person to have?

McKayla getting the individual spot is kind of offensively dumb. They basically burned that spot because letting her go gives good feels? Like they literally picked to send a “specialist” who isn’t a specialist and is highly unlikely to make a single event final. It’s very unfair to Kara and Riley, who truly excel on one event, to give a spot to McKayla because, well, we don’t care that much about that spot and we don’t want her to cry again.

On the other hand, Skinner hit 16-for-16 throughout nationals and trials and does have two legit vaults that should get her in to the final if she's not two-per-countried out. Riley, sadly, got injured and then fell at trials. With bar workers like Suni, Nina Derwael, Fan Yilin, and the Russians, she was unlikely to medal anyway (though could have made the final). Kara has been inconsistent all year and her routine construction has been questionable.

I've never been a big Skinner fan, but I don't hate this decision.

 

[A.H.Black]

The short version: this time, the teams were trimmed from 5 or 4 people, and other individual spots opened up for specialists to qualify in various ways. The qualifying for these spots was a nightmare to manage especially with *********, so it won't be repeated - teams will go back to 5 people for Paris.

You can google the long version.

I was sort of aware of most of that, except for the opening up of specialists. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

They're probably afraid of her, her familiy, and her vlog’s fans antics causing negative media attention leading to Tokyo like five years ago when they targeted Gabby Douglas in some of the most despicable ways.

Seems like a fcuking wild reason to reward someone.

 

[semillon27]

No, they don't want her re-tweeting pictures of her face imposed over the faces of the gymnasts that did make the team. Been there done that.

Again, she's grown and changed a lot in five years. See my earlier post. She was co-winner of the sportsmanship award at nationals, voted on by the competitors. As I said before, I've never been a fan of her gymnastics, but I think it's important to acknowledge people who grow and change.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

On the other hand, Skinner hit 16-for-16 throughout nationals and trials and does have two legit vaults that should get her in to the final if she's not two-per-countried out. Riley, sadly, got injured and then fell at trials. With bar workers like Suni, Nina Derwael, Fan Yilin, and the Russians, she was unlikely to medal anyway (though could have made the final). Kara has been inconsistent all year and her routine construction has been questionable.

I've never been a big Skinner fan, but I don't hate this decision.

Except that the fact that she’s almost guaranteed to be two-per-countried put is exactly why people are objecting to her selection. It’s like a cookie for working really hard instead of a decision that has anything to do with being a specialist.

 

[VGThuy]

MyKayla didn’t really hit 16-for-16 though. Her beam and floor tonight should not be counted as actual hits imo.

 

[semillon27]

MyKayla didn’t really hit 16-for-16 though. Her beam and floor tonight should not be counted as actual hits imo.

Maybe not, but she didn't fall.

 

[Karen-W]

I feel like the Grace pick is about picking the athlete who will have the strongest backup for beam and bars. I think they looked at what if one of the top 3 makes a mistake or gets injured, who is the solidest person to have?

McKayla getting the individual spot is kind of offensively dumb. They basically burned that spot because letting her go gives good feels? Like they literally picked to send a “specialist” who isn’t a specialist and is highly unlikely to make a single event final. It’s very unfair to Kara and Riley, who truly excel on one event, to give a spot to McKayla because, well, we don’t care that much about that spot and we don’t want her to cry again.

Disagree with both McCallum and Skinner, but especially with Skinner as the individual spot. It is very likely going to go to waste because Simone will definitely get spots in FX and vault event finals, and Jade is more likely to get the second U.S. spot in either of those events than Mykayla.

Interesting that Skinner gets a +1 but she’s gotta beat Biles/Carey to make EF so it seems like a waste of a spot IMO. Just glad she isn’t on the team and thrilled for Grace after coming back from injury. I guess Tom went with the covering all the bases pick as opposed to someone that would could really boost VT/FX in TF.

Frankly, with Suni, Jordan and Simone it would be a stretch for either McCusker or Eaker to beat one of them into the EF on UB and BB. Simone had an uncharacteristic fall from the BB and was still, over 2 nights, only .133 behind Eaker for 2nd. You might be able to make an argument that McCusker could beat Simone or Jordan on UB without her own fall tonight but she did fall and that matters, especially when Skinner was a solid 2nd in VT behind Simone. Yes, Jade didn't compete VT tonight but, let's assume she scores the same as she did on night 1 - that puts her .001 ahead of Skinner on VT. Those scores are too close for me to not think that Skinner has just as good of a chance at making the EF in VT as Jade.

In addition to the discussion of who is most likely of McCusker, Eaker and Skinner to make the EF in UB, BB or VT respectively, you also need to consider who will contribute the MOST to the team in the TF should one of the 4 team members get injured between preliminaries and the TF. Skinner is a much better choice to sub in than McCusker hands down, and she's also a better choice than Eaker - she has a 2.4 points advantage on VT over Eaker while Eaker's advantage on BB is only 1.433. The math is pretty clear, IMO. Skinner not only has a greater potential to make an EF than McCusker and Eaker but as a "worst case scenario, injury to a team member between prelims & team finals" replacement also.

 

[canbelto]

Does Suni Lee have a chance at AA gold over Simone?

 

[Karen-W]

Does Suni Lee have a chance at AA gold over Simone?

Not unless Simone is more injured than we've been led to believe.

 

[Karina1974]

MyKayla Skinner made it! 5 years later she persevered unreal Her career is not yet over Being 24 is the oldest first-time Olympian in recent memory

Nope. Mohini Bhardwaj turned 26 the year she competed in Athens (2004).

 

[vu2019]

Skinner not only has a greater potential to make an EF than McCusker and Eaker but as a "worst case scenario, injury to a team member between prelims & team finals" replacement also.

Could she be a replacement on the team though? Or would that have to go to one of the official alternates? Also, can the alternates substitute in for the team spots only, or could they replace one of the "individual" members also?

 

[honey]

If Simone hits at full difficulty, Suni will not beat her. However, what tonight has shown us that Simone cannot have a two fall AA ala 2018 worlds and win this time.

 

[Karen-W]

Could she be a replacement on the team though? Or would that have to go to one of the official alternates? Also, can the alternates substitute in for the team spots only, or could they replace one of the "individual" members also?

If a team member is injured between the preliminaries and the team final then only another athlete who competed in the prelims can replace her - so either Skinner or Carey.

I'm not sure what happens to the +1 spot if they're injured prior to the Games - my presumption is that if that happened, Eaker would get the +1 spot. I don't think the +1 can be replaced with a different athlete in the EFs if they're injured during/after preliminaries.

 

[pachelbel]

This team selection is on par with leaving Downie off for GB.

What the hell is the point of taking Skinner as the +1 when you have Biles and Carey? I actually would've had her on the main team of 4 but this +1 makes no ****ing sense. I hope Tom is fired after this year, what a trash decision.

If a team member is injured between the preliminaries and the team final then only another athlete who competed in the prelims can replace her - so either Skinner or Carey.

I'm not sure what happens to the +1 spot if they're injured prior to the Games - my presumption is that if that happened, Eaker would get the +1 spot. I don't think the +1 can be replaced with a different athlete in the EFs if they're injured during/after preliminaries.

+1 spot for Myk can be replaced by any US athlete. The +1 spot from Jade can ONLY be replaced by Coline Devillard of France since she qualified second on vault in the World Cup series.

 

[canbelto]

Nastia explains her outfit:

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[Theatregirl1122]

So the answer is that there is no strategy. They just took the top 4. Thank god the US women don’t need strategy, I guess, because otherwise we’d be in trouble.

https://twitter.com/InsideGym/status/1409351712582815747

+1 spot for Myk can be replaced by any US athlete. The +1 spot from Jade can ONLY be replaced by Coline Devillard of France since she qualified second on vault in the World Cup series.

The question wasn’t who could replace MyKayla. It was could MyKayla replace an injured team of 4 athlete.

Also swapping around people who won’t get individual medals is so far from on par with GB leaving off their possible uneven bars gold medalist, it’s not funny. This decision was kinda weird, but no one got massively robbed. They took the better all arounder instead of the person who is better on two events for the team which is a difference of like .5. And they left off someone who could make a final for someone who won’t. I think they made the wrong choice of specialist and it’s frustrating, but it’s nothing like Becky.