So, for those of you who do not know, I'm totally and completely obsessed with USA women's gymnastics. I have been ever since my favorite team, the 2000 Sydney Six. That year I watched Nationals and Trials and completely fell in love, and since then I have been an avid fan of the sport, following it every year. I follow it as closely in non-Olympic years as I do in Olympic years, but Olympic years are definitely the most exciting!! This year is even more exciting and nerve wracking for me for two reasons: 1. My favorite gymnast ever, Shawn Johnson, is attempting a comeback to make the London team, and 2. I think this is one of the deepest teams the US has ever had, and a new rule allows only 5 women to go to London. This entry is about some of the hopefuls as well as the more or less locks, as well as my predictions on who will make the team.
The Locks
In my mind, these three are the only 3 gymnasts that are going to be on the team unless they have some kind of injury, illness, or disastrous performances at VISAS or Trials.
Jordyn Wieber is the current US National Champion and also the reigning World Champion. She has won every meet she has competed in this year as well as last year, and she is amazing on vault, beam, and floor. She had a rough time on bars at Classics, but again, unless she has a complete meltdown or gets injured, she will be going to London. However, I think she needs to be able to nail her bars routine in order to be a real contender for All Around gold in London, as uneven bars is China's and Russia's best event.
Aly Raisman was a member of the 2011 World Championship team that won Team Gold in Tokyo last October. She also took home a bronze medal in Floor from Tokyo. She is phenomenal on floor and vaulting, but she is also an All Around gymnast as well. Her floor exercise routine has some of the most difficult, amazing tumbling in it, and she just won the US Classic in Chicago for the second year in a row. Bars is also her weakest event, however, she continues to improve and has looked better this year.
There is one reason that I include McKayla Maroney on the "Locks" list and it is simply because she is the best vaulter in the world. Figuratively and literally, having won gold in the Vault final in the 2011 World Championships. I honestly just do not think if she keeps up her vaulting in VISAS and Trials that they could keep her off of this team and leave the best vaulter in the world home.
The Comeback Kids
Obviously, of all the comebacks from the girls who competed in Beijing, I was most looking forward to Shawn Johnson. She is my favorite gymnast in the whole world ever, and I was psyched when she announced her comeback and I got to see her at Classics last year. However, the last few months no one has heard much about her training at all, so I honestly have no idea where she is at right now. I'm hoping she will compete 4 events at VISAS but then again I'm just hoping she competes at VISAS at all, so I don't know! I can't even begin to speculate.
Nastia Liukin could contribute majorly to the US team's quest for team gold. The US is weakest on uneven bars, and we have yet to see Nastia's complete bars routine but if she has a difficulty score even remotely close to the routine she did in Beijing (around 7.0), she could probably make the team on those grounds alone. She also turned in a solid beam set at the Classic. I'd say she's definitely in the mix.
I wish so much for Alicia Sacramone to have success at VISAS and Trials, but making the team is going to be more difficult for her now that she has stopped training her floor exercise. She is, of course, a former World Champion on Vault, however, the US is now a very strong vaulting team, so she can't expect to punch her ticket with only having vaulting be excellent. She is also training beam, however, she has never been spectacular on beam. She can get consistent scores, but nothing tremendous.
On the Bubble
All these athletes are on the bubble, meaning it could go either way for them at this point. Some, I believe, will definitely not make it, some I feel have a better chance, and some I just honestly don't know.
Just when I thought it was time to count Rebecca Bross out, she turns in a fantastic bars routine at the Classic. I still don't think she will make it to London in the end though, only doing two events - bars and beam, and her beam has not looked consistent at all. I feel very sad for her, that injury really has thrown her off track, I remember when everyone was still talking about a WOGA 3-peat in the All Around.
I was super impressed with Kyla Ross's second place finish at the Classic. I haven't really seen much of her since she has just made the jump to the Senior ranks, Pac Rims was her first competition as a Senior. However, I know that they said she can be even better, and if she can up her game for VISAS and Trials, who knows?
Sabrina Vega is another member of the 2011 Worlds Team. I haven't really seen much of her performances, besides the Classic, where she was not at her best.
Gabby Douglas ... she makes me so nervous. Yes, she is fabulous on Uneven Bars, which works in her favor. However, whenever she competes in the All Around she seems to run hot and cold .. I don't know if it is nerves, or something else. But she just scares me because I can see her choking at the Olympics. I just don't see enough of that mental focus, which is also what Chow (her coach) has said is one of her weaknesses. I honestly really like her and her routines, but she just makes me nervous.
Unfortunately, after her disasters she had at Classics on floor and bars, I don't think Anna Li has much of a shot anymore. She fell on bars, her best event, and on floor she had a pretty near meltdown. She is great on bars normally, however, if she can't handle the pressure when it counts she will not be put on the team.
So, all these amazing gymnasts (AND MORE not mentioned), and only 5 spots on the team. Here are my predictions:
Who I WANT to make it: Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Shawn Johnson, Alicia Sacramone. Alternate: Nastia Liukin.
Of course I want Shawn and Alicia to be on the team. Obviously that will probably not happen (unless Shawn shows up with something amazing!!)
Who I THINK will make it: Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Nastia Liukin. Alternate: Gabby Douglas.
This is if Kyla Ross continues to improve and does well at VISAS and Trials and can handle the pressure. If she doesn't, I don't know. Possibly this would be where a Shawn/Alicia could make it?
Well, I hope everyone enjoyed this :D Go Team USA!
