Gymnastics #24 - The Road to Paris

[Karen-W]

Simone's clearly not bringing her best tonight and wanted to make things at least a little interesting going into Paris.

 

[FiveRinger]

They had the same (abusive) coach. NBC glossed over that point when talking about her move from NJ to TX.

Oh dear....

 

[HeatherC]

Simone on FX....

 

[ptvvibezz]

I prefer Suni's floor to Simone's...

 

[HeatherC]

Wasn't Laurie coached by Maggie Haney? I think Hezly has been with WOGA for a long time now and was never with Maggie but I could be wrong.

 

[FiveRinger]

She was an alternate and didn’t compete because she was an alternate. No one on the team was taken off the team and no alternates were used.

Ok. Let me rephrase. She got all the way to Tokyo and got stuck, couldn't leave because she had been exposed to Covid.

 

[Allskate]

She finished 2nd to Tiana on BB at the 2023 Pan Ams.

Let's use this as the criteria for choosing the fifth gymnast.

 

[ptvvibezz]

Wasn't Laurie coached by Maggie Haney? I think Hezly has been with WOGA for a long time now and was never with Maggie but I could be wrong.

Her dad gave an interview about Maggie saying something along the lines of "If I wanted Hezly to be happy I'd enroll her in a clown school"

 

[danafan]

Wasn't Laurie coached by Maggie Haney? I think Hezly has been with WOGA for a long time now and was never with Maggie but I could be wrong.

She was with Haney for a while. Her dad was quoted in an article about Haney's suspension actually.

 

[Rukia]

i love simone's floor all bouncing and no cares for anything else

 

[beckab81]

Wasn't Laurie coached by Maggie Haney? I think Hezly has been with WOGA for a long time now and was never with Maggie but I could be wrong.

Yep. I'm also not a fan of some of her Dad's comments from back when everything broke, but she's been at WOGA since then.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Wait, the parade of nations is going to be on boats?

I kinda love this.

 

[honey]

Just because she has a different body shape? They used to say that about Shawn Johnson and she got the medals and accepted by Judges as hopefully they judge them on what they do and not how they look!

Not her body, but her complete lack of form? She hits pretty much none of the leaps, lack of flexibility, no stretch. It’s not about her body.

Also, Shawn may have had a similar body, but she was a much more polished gymnast than Josc is. She did lack flexibility and some stretch, but to compare the two, Shawn comes out much more favourably. By a mile.

 

[canbelto]

Every time NBC shows the parents in the stands, I think that there are a lot of overbearing helicopter parents in gymnastics ...

 

[Rukia]

Her dad gave an interview about Maggie saying something along the lines of "If I wanted Hezly to be happy I'd enroll her in a clown school"

lol this was the vibes i was getting while watching him so that tracks

 

[FiveRinger]

Her dad gave an interview about Maggie saying something along the lines of "If I wanted Hezly to be happy I'd enroll her in a clown school"

Was that him? I remember being horrified by that statement. I get you're spending money, but surely there was a better way to make that point.....

 

[HeatherC]

The way Simone and Jonathan always support and cheer for each other in their respective sports is freaking adorable. I love it!

 

[canbelto]

Hezly is now with Valeri, who tbh probably isn't any better than Haney ...

 

[beckab81]

Hezly is now with Valeri, who tbh probably isn't any better than Haney ...

I think that's a big part of why I've been reluctant to warm up to her.

 

[HeatherC]

Suni....you are going to Paris!

 

[Spikefan]

Not her body, but her complete lack of form? She hits pretty much none of the leaps, lack of flexibility, no stretch. It’s not about her body.

Feet and knees never together.

Shawn Johnson would never.

 

[Karen-W]

Awwww - all that love from the crowd is so sweet for Suni.

 

[Wyliefan]

Tiana keeps putting me in mind of Maddie Schizas. I think they have similar jawlines.

 

[canbelto]

I will defend Shawn Johnson's form forever. She did not have any flexibility, but she was a very clean twister and rarely had form breaks. Her coach Liang Chow was a big stickler for that sort of thing.

 

[FiveRinger]

I think that's a big part of why I've been reluctant to warm up to her.

Don't take that out on her. It makes me want to hug her. I can't imagine what she's seen and/or been thru both at home and the gym. I hope I'm wrong...

 

[Allskate]

Wait, the parade of nations is going to be on boats?

It's along the Seine. Peyton Manning, Kelly Clarkson, and Mike Tirico are hosting the opening ceremonies and have talked about it. It's so different from what we usually see.

 

[canbelto]

Ok Tiana ALSO has the "international look" that judges favor. Idk how much that matters in team selection but that is something to consider ...

 

[HeatherC]

The men's fifth spot didn't go the way I thought it would so I think the gym world universe owes it to me to give that spot here to Tiana. That was beautiful!

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

I’ll acknowledge my huge bias but I am really rooting for Tiana to get that 5th spot. She has beautiful lines and the type international judges reward. She also could contribute well on Beam that the US team needs and decent backup FX VT scores. Hezly out scored her on Beam but I wouldn’t put a new senior without senior international experience on the Olympics as their first international. And Josc does not gave the lines that international judges would reward. It’s unfortunate as Skye, Shilese and Kayla will be missed making this 5th spot so tough.

This shouldn’t factor into decision making, but I also love the South Asian representation. Grew up never seeing fellow South Asians in my fave sports of skating and gymnastics so love to see her succeeding!

 

[Karen-W]

I just LOVE Tiana's floor! Please, if not Leanne, then I want her on this team!