Well, no one can say that wasn't an exciting competition! (Find full results here at Full Twist) As with most USA Championships, there were plenty of highs, lows, questionable judging moments, and a couple of shockers. Going into Day 2, I've got a few burning questions:
1.) Is it over for WOGA?
Nastia Liukin had a nightmare on bars, placing dead last- certainly not where she was hoping to be. While Liukin has a history of having trouble on night one of Visas and coming back strong on night two, speculation will be that she did indeed leave this comeback too late. I can't see Martha not inviting the current Olympic AA championships to Trials and camp regardless of how Sunday goes, but she needs to start hitting sooner rather than later if she wants to be part of the Olympic conversation heading into Trials. Still, though- don't count her out, not by a long shot. I may not be her biggest fan, but no one can deny her competitive abilities.
I do think, however, that Rebecca Bross's Olympic dreams are over. I have a lot of respect for this gymnast- she really won me over in Rotterdam, with her mental and physical toughness producing a 4 medal haul- not too shabby for someone competing injured. However, the failure of Bross and her coaches to change that beam dismount is almost entirely to blame for keeping her out of the Olympic picture. She hasn't hit a Patterson in competition for 2 years. TWO YEARS PEOPLE. It's another knee injury waiting to happen and has clearly become a serious mental block for her, and who can blame the girl? It is completely insane that she didn't start training something else after last year's Visas. It's such a shame to see Rebecca's fighting spirit slowly snuffed out after each missed beam routine, but this is a problem that could have and should have been addressed much earlier.
2.) What's going on with Kyla Ross's floor routine?
Kyla Ross placed first on bars. Tied for fourth on beam (with Nastia, no less). Absolutely nailed a DTY, wisely choosing not to Amanar after continued training issues. And on floor, you ask? 10th, though it was a solid, polished hit. Her D score? Still a 5.5.
The failure for Kyla and her coaches to upgrade floor is, along with Bross's beam dismount, the biggest coaching headscratcher in the USA gym world. It's what's going to keep her from getting one of those 2 American AA spots at the Olympics, and what makes her status for the team just a bit more tenuous than the girls in the top 3 spots currently (Jordyn, Gabby, Aly) because she simply could not be used on floor in a TF. I just. don't. get. it. Someone please explain this to me.
3.) Can Gabby beat Jordyn?
Well, it's possible. Both girls had their issues and high points, and are heading into Day Two tied for first place, and here's where the mental game is so key. Jordyn was not, as many people forget, the top AA qualifier in Tokyo, but that clearly didn't stop her from taking home that gold. If she wants to enter the Trials as the top gun (and she does) she's going to have to tidy up beam considerably. I hate, hate, HATE the composition of her routine and have been secretly thinking it will be her doom in London, so this is her chance to prove me wrong.
Gabby has beaten Jordyn previously (albeit unofficially) but certainly has never been in this position, a co-leader of the AA, before. With Gabby, I feel like it's feast or famine- either she'll thrive under the pressure and have another great outing, or it'll be a repeat of Pac Rims or worse, last year's Visas. She keeps hitting bars, and that is more than enough for Martha to send her to London, but whether she will be a strong AA challenger too is still somewhat in question.
4.) Will Bridget Sloan be the 2008 Olympian to head to London?
It's not as far fetched as it might seem, despite the fact that I bet exactly 0 people would have guessed this 4 years ago. With Alicia's chances seeming non-existent barring a terrible Raisman/Wieber injury and Liukin's bars troubles, Bridget hitting a very solid 15.1 on bars, the key event for USA, should not be ignored. She's in great shape, competing the AA, and while she didn't have a perfect night, it was unreal how good she looked considering she hadn't competed since the Pan Am games in 2011. Her strengths- bars, beam, and floor- compliment a Gabby/Aly/Jordyn/Maroney combination quite well, so Kyla Ross should watch her back and keep her knees safe from scary Amanar landings.
1.) Is it over for WOGA?
Nastia Liukin had a nightmare on bars, placing dead last- certainly not where she was hoping to be. While Liukin has a history of having trouble on night one of Visas and coming back strong on night two, speculation will be that she did indeed leave this comeback too late. I can't see Martha not inviting the current Olympic AA championships to Trials and camp regardless of how Sunday goes, but she needs to start hitting sooner rather than later if she wants to be part of the Olympic conversation heading into Trials. Still, though- don't count her out, not by a long shot. I may not be her biggest fan, but no one can deny her competitive abilities.
I do think, however, that Rebecca Bross's Olympic dreams are over. I have a lot of respect for this gymnast- she really won me over in Rotterdam, with her mental and physical toughness producing a 4 medal haul- not too shabby for someone competing injured. However, the failure of Bross and her coaches to change that beam dismount is almost entirely to blame for keeping her out of the Olympic picture. She hasn't hit a Patterson in competition for 2 years. TWO YEARS PEOPLE. It's another knee injury waiting to happen and has clearly become a serious mental block for her, and who can blame the girl? It is completely insane that she didn't start training something else after last year's Visas. It's such a shame to see Rebecca's fighting spirit slowly snuffed out after each missed beam routine, but this is a problem that could have and should have been addressed much earlier.
2.) What's going on with Kyla Ross's floor routine?
Kyla Ross placed first on bars. Tied for fourth on beam (with Nastia, no less). Absolutely nailed a DTY, wisely choosing not to Amanar after continued training issues. And on floor, you ask? 10th, though it was a solid, polished hit. Her D score? Still a 5.5.
The failure for Kyla and her coaches to upgrade floor is, along with Bross's beam dismount, the biggest coaching headscratcher in the USA gym world. It's what's going to keep her from getting one of those 2 American AA spots at the Olympics, and what makes her status for the team just a bit more tenuous than the girls in the top 3 spots currently (Jordyn, Gabby, Aly) because she simply could not be used on floor in a TF. I just. don't. get. it. Someone please explain this to me.
3.) Can Gabby beat Jordyn?
Well, it's possible. Both girls had their issues and high points, and are heading into Day Two tied for first place, and here's where the mental game is so key. Jordyn was not, as many people forget, the top AA qualifier in Tokyo, but that clearly didn't stop her from taking home that gold. If she wants to enter the Trials as the top gun (and she does) she's going to have to tidy up beam considerably. I hate, hate, HATE the composition of her routine and have been secretly thinking it will be her doom in London, so this is her chance to prove me wrong.
Gabby has beaten Jordyn previously (albeit unofficially) but certainly has never been in this position, a co-leader of the AA, before. With Gabby, I feel like it's feast or famine- either she'll thrive under the pressure and have another great outing, or it'll be a repeat of Pac Rims or worse, last year's Visas. She keeps hitting bars, and that is more than enough for Martha to send her to London, but whether she will be a strong AA challenger too is still somewhat in question.
4.) Will Bridget Sloan be the 2008 Olympian to head to London?
It's not as far fetched as it might seem, despite the fact that I bet exactly 0 people would have guessed this 4 years ago. With Alicia's chances seeming non-existent barring a terrible Raisman/Wieber injury and Liukin's bars troubles, Bridget hitting a very solid 15.1 on bars, the key event for USA, should not be ignored. She's in great shape, competing the AA, and while she didn't have a perfect night, it was unreal how good she looked considering she hadn't competed since the Pan Am games in 2011. Her strengths- bars, beam, and floor- compliment a Gabby/Aly/Jordyn/Maroney combination quite well, so Kyla Ross should watch her back and keep her knees safe from scary Amanar landings.
No comments:
Post a Comment