Gymnastics News #15

[BigB08822]

As horrible as that choreography and music selection was, Mills performed it as well as it could be performed plus had excellent execution on the tumbling. Imagine what she could have done with a good routine.

 

[viennese]

I just realized I've got a channel called BeIn Sports, which is showing gymnastics events: an international meet in Stuttgart and rhythmic gymnastics today.

Can someone answer a rhythmic gymnastics question?

The athletes do spins on one foot, while in arabesque position or even in a full split, with their torsos perpendicular to the floor. Multiple turns (!), while holding or balancing balls or hoops. They seem to be wearing shoes or slippers, but their feet are never shown in close up.

Are these turns the same/similar move that artistic gymnasts do during the FX?

How is that that the rhythmic gymnasts are so good at staying balanced while artistic gymnasts fall off axis? What's the difference - speed of turn, the shoes they wear, or the faster pace of the artistic FX?

 

[poths]

So.. Laurie Hernandez for Olympic BB Champion

She's making the team, and quite honestly it'll be either Raisman or Nichols that she bumps. She will only get better and better this year, with a new FX that really shows off her personality she could maybe even make the AA. IMO she's too high of a BB score and good backup elsewhere.. She also has the personality, cleanliness, and star power that this team is missing overall. She's Kyla this year with a big personality.

Maybe have Locklear (who could win UB in Rio) or Kocian UB and then Aly for VT, BB, FX and let Laurie do AA in prelims. I'm so happy about how well she scored here (and with some mistakes on UB and FX)

I also want Hernandez on the team, but if she bumps Maggie, that's only one decent Amanar on the team. If she bumps Aly, you're losing.4/5 on floor perhaps. The 5 rule is so annoying.

I also want Locklear over Kocian for the bars place.

 

[matti]

https://youtu.be/eREe1vpeasw
... I still can't believe this was performed at the Olympics.

Wow. Vintage Géza Pozsár. Usually I hated his choreography, but somehow Teodora Ungureanu, Emilia Eberle and Phoebe Mills made it work...unfortunately they were the only ones... Anyway, I thought this was neat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA5vH6eBrAE

 

[Karpenko]

I also want Hernandez on the team, but if she bumps Maggie, that's only one decent Amanar on the team. If she bumps Aly, you're losing.4/5 on floor perhaps. The 5 rule is so annoying.

I also want Locklear over Kocian for the bars place.

I've decided we gain more on BB taking Hernandez and Smith. as long as Simone is 15+ on bars I would take Hernandez and Smith over Raisman and Kocian/Locklear.

Unless Kocian/Locklear start posting Olympic UB champion scores like Laurie and Ragan are posting on balance beam (the US could have 3! 15+ scores on BB - that's 3 15's that none of the other teams sans Saraiva or Iordache will get) - a bars specialist, esp Locklear who can't vault or FX if Mohini-gate happens again (Athens BB TF) I'd rather not take a gymnast who can only score well on one event.

Locklear I would like to send to Romania.

 

[Karpenko]

Realistically it'll probably be Hernandez and Kocian, or Hernandez(UB/BB) and Aly (VT, BB, FX) with Maggie complimenting them (VT, UB, FX). Maggie will only miss the team if she doesn't get the Amanar back to where it was IMO. She's made a lot less mistakes than Aly and Maggie has been in bigger pressure situations the past year (and hit them all).

This is way harder to predict than last time (I remember feeling at the thought of Ross making it over Bross/Nastia lol)

 

[Coco]

Yes, four years ago it was pretty clear by Classics. This year is more like 2004. There are a variety of winning teams they can send.

 

[Allen]

If you go by Flo Gymnastics rankings, you have two teams that could win medals for sure. First team is Simone, Gabby, Aly, Madison, and Maggie. Second team is Lauren, Ragan, Ashton, Skinner, and Emily Schild. Other than a weak spot on beam and less amanar/chengs, that second team would be very competitive and could certainly beat China, Russia, and Great Britain on a good day.

 

[morqet]

Ponor competing in Doha today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRkpn9CQDGY&index=39&list=PLTM9jZKOZ9A7JvVVBFnC-alDpMXPYVnRQ . She scored a 14/6 & looked fairly solid, although some of the connections were questionable.

 

[smarts1]

It'll come down to who are Marta's favorites.

 

[poths]

Realistically it'll probably be Hernandez and Kocian, or Hernandez(UB/BB) and Aly (VT, BB, FX) with Maggie complimenting them (VT, UB, FX). Maggie will only miss the team if she doesn't get the Amanar back to where it was IMO. She's made a lot less mistakes than Aly and Maggie has been in bigger pressure situations the past year (and hit them all).

This is way harder to predict than last time (I remember feeling at the thought of Ross making it over Bross/Nastia lol)

Just looked at Hernandez' vault. The height is there for the Amanar in my opinion. If that happens, She is locked and Honestly, it should be Raisman that's gone. I'm up for smith and Hernandez over Maggie and Aly, but I would keep Locklear or Kocian for the bars.

Simone, Gabby, Laurie vault
Locklear, Gabby, Simone bars
Laurie, Simone, Smith beam
Simone, Laurie, Smith fx

Aly/Maggie/Madison alts.

ridiculous to think that a B team of Aly, Maggie, Madison, Brenna & Skinner could also beat Russians/GB/China

 

[Choupette]

How is that that the rhythmic gymnasts are so good at staying balanced while artistic gymnasts fall off axis? What's the difference - speed of turn, the shoes they wear, or the faster pace of the artistic FX?

I am by no means an expert, but I read an interview with Valorie Kondos Field and Geza Pozsar where Kondos Field explained that she couldn't make gymnasts perform inside turns because there was a risk of the little toe getting stuck in the mat and causing a knee injury. I suppose the difference in equipment has to play a part. But it might also be just a matter of practice. Those turns are more important to rhythmic gymnasts than artistic gymnasts, so the former must be practicing them to death. Betty Okino had and easy triple on floor and an easy double on beam, and IIRC she was a former dancer.

 

[Fridge_Break]

To branch off on Val not allowing her gymnasts to do certain turns, this is true with other coaches on different skills as well, particularly if they have had repeat injuries to multiple gymnasts on the same skill. I've heard, for instance, that a few NCAA coaches (can't remember who) don't allow any of their gymnasts to do gainer layout full twist dismounts off the side of the beam due to potential knee injuries.

 

[viennese]

I am by no means an expert, but I read an interview with Valorie Kondos Field and Geza Pozsar where Kondos Field explained that she couldn't make gymnasts perform inside turns because there was a risk of the little toe getting stuck in the mat and causing a knee injury. I suppose the difference in equipment has to play a part. But it might also be just a matter of practice. Those turns are more important to rhythmic gymnasts than artistic gymnasts, so the former must be practicing them to death. Betty Okino had and easy triple on floor and an easy double on beam, and IIRC she was a former dancer.

Thank you. Fascinating subject. I remember Betty Okino's amazing and beautiful turns on the balance beam.

 

[smarts1]

I always wondered why gymnasts seem to prefer outside turns as opposed to inside turns. That's interesting!

 

[semillon27]

U.S. women's team for Pacific Rim has been announced: Biles, Dowell, Hernandez, Locklear, Nichols and Raisman. Thrilled for Laurie, but can't believe Brenna is being given another shot

 

[Fridge_Break]

AFAIK, it's not a majorly important event other than a pre-Rio tune-up, so maybe Marta wants to see how she rebounds from the Worlds disaster. It's not like she's going to be named to the Olympics, so this can be viewed as her consolation prize.

 

[VGThuy]

Marta likes to play with her food before she eats it.

 

[FiveRinger]

U.S. women's team for Pacific Rim has been announced: Biles, Dowell, Hernandez, Locklear, Nichols and Raisman. Thrilled for Laurie, but can't believe Brenna is being given another shot

So is this the Olympic team, sans Gabby? Who gets bumped? I'm sure Dowell is one. Who would be the other? Thoughts?

 

[Karpenko]

Marta likes to play with her food before she eats it.

I really hope that Brenna hits her bar routine, she could phase out Locklear before the Trials process (it'll take them both out) which I would be perfectly okay with. #shouldvedefected2ROU

 

[semillon27]

So is this the Olympic team, sans Gabby? Who gets bumped? I'm sure Dowell is one. Who would be the other? Thoughts?

I think Aly. But could be Maggie. Depends on which one gets the Amanar back better, but I still give Maggie the edge. And I give Locklear about a 0.1% chance of making it over Kocian.

 

[FiveRinger]

I think Aly. But could be Maggie. Depends on which one gets the Amanar back better, but I still give Maggie the edge. And I give Locklear about a 0.1% chance of making it over Kocian.

This was kind of my thinking. Although Marta really likes Aly. Somehow I am guessing that if she gets it together Marta will let her try to defend her floor title? Personally, I think she is painful to watch. DWTS did absolutely nothing to improve her presentation. Mentally she has a lot to offer.

 

[semillon27]

This was kind of my thinking. Although Marta really likes Aly. Somehow I am guessing that if she gets it together Marta will let her try to defend her floor title? Personally, I think she is painful to watch. DWTS did absolutely nothing to improve her presentation. Mentally she has a lot to offer.

Marta does like her, but Aly's stock went down after last year's worlds. Floor is really the only thing Aly has going for her at this point (no Amanar and getting hammered on beam), and Maggie's floor bronze last year showed she can keep up there. Maggie is just as useable on beam (improved difficulty, similar form issues), and way more valuable as a backup on bars.

Agreed that DWTS did nothing for Aly, which is a shame. She had a great 2012 and I give her props for coming back the way she has, but I just don't see where she fits in this year.

 

[VGThuy]

I really hope that Brenna hits her bar routine, she could phase out Locklear before the Trials process (it'll take them both out) which I would be perfectly okay with. #shouldvedefected2ROU

Is Locklear even useful? Can she tumble?

I like the idea of her because I like imagining Heather Locklear doing uneven bars, but still...

 

[Karpenko]

That's exactly why I like her! And swing as light as Heather Locklear's hair..

And no. She's only useful to Romania.

 

[Karpenko]

List of US athletes who if they put on a leotard tomorrow - they are at the Rio test event and in Romania's bar lineup:

Julianne McNamara
Amy Chow
Courtney Kupets
Nastia Liukin
Kyla Ross
Shannon Miller
Dominique Dawes
Mykayla Skinner
Jordyn Wieber
Aly Raisman
Jana Bieger
Chellsie Memmel
Mckayla Maroney (only one landing and she can use a sting mat)
Doris Fuchs-Brause
Betty Okino
Tasha Schwikert
Kristen Maloney
Elise Ray
Sonya Meraz (UCLA)
ETA: Vanessa Atler

I mean it's really sad and I think even Mary Lou Retton and McKenna Kelley would be there. I hope they qualify because I'd love to see both Iordache and Ponor in Rio.

 

[Rob]

So Key is completely out of this? And why is Kocian not getting any pre-Nats work? Don't want to injure her?

 

[Erin]

Key has a slight abdominal muscle strain and is apparently training but waiting to come back to competition to avoid aggravating it. So not necessarily completely out but with the way Hernandez and Smith looked at Jesolo, she's got a lot to overcome now (on top of all the other girls who made the team ahead of her last year). I thought maybe Kocian also has a minor injury, but I can't find anything on that, so maybe I got that wrong.

Norah Flatley was the other new senior I thought could make a splash, but she is also dealing with injury and while she's expected to be recovered in time for Nationals and Trials, I doubt Martha would take a chance on her without getting her out at internationals unless she blows everyone away. Although maybe I'm wrong on that since Martha seems to value camp above all else.

I'm glad Brenna is getting to go to Pac Rims. Even if it doesn't help her get on to the Olympic team, it's one more chance for her to get to represent team USA and hopefully will be a good experience for her.

 

[hirshey girl]

USA gymnastics posted on Facebook that Ragan Smith is now going to Pac Rim this weekend. She is replacing Maggie Nichols who withdrew due to a minor knee injury.

 

[OnyxRose81]

Kocian has an ankle injury.