Tonight's the night!

The moment I've been waiting for is almost finally here! Tonight the Olympic Trials begin for gymnastics!! I honestly feel like only yesterday I was watching the 2009 Visa Championships and thinking how far away London 2012 was! Then a year later, I watched the 2010 Visa Championships while we were in our hotel on our vacation to NYC right before our wedding. Last year, in 2011, it finally started to feel close, and I can't believe here we are, it's 2012 and time for Olympic Trials!!!

I wish more than anything that I could be there, however, they are all the way in San Jose, CA, and I've been on 2 vacations in the past two months so no way I could swing that. I'm still super super excited for tonight though. I work until around 4, and then I'm going to come home, shower, charge my laptop, make myself some popcorn and get ready to watch!!! I'll probably be tweeting both my thoughts on every routine as well as with my friend Alexis on Twitter, she's the only one I've met yet that is as obsessed with gymnastics as I am .. she even watches men's also, which I don't.

I'm so excited for all the girls. I'm so proud of some of them for how far they have come since the first year after the 2008 quadrennium. I love all of the girls, but my overall favorite is Kyla Ross. She's a first year senior and I'm SO BLOWN AWAY by her ability to just perform with so much pressure on her! A majority of the rest of the girls have been seniors for a year or two already, and have international experience so they are used to the pressure more, but this girl has only had 2 meets as a senior so far and she's nailed both of them! At Visas she didn't even use her full difficulty in her routines and finished 4th, so if she would have done all her difficulty she no doubt would have finished on the podium.

Jordyn and Gabby are being called "the new Nastia and Shawn" since both of them have such an amazing shot at the all around in London. I agree that there will be a huge rivalry, and I love both of them -- especially Jordyin, HOWEVER, I don't think that they are as good now as Nastia and Shawn were at this point in '08. Jordyn has gotten SO MUCH BETTER on her weakest event, bars, but in her beam routine she usually wobbles on the tough connections. I know difficulty is important, but she needs to hit those every time. Gabby CAN BE amazing on all four events, but consistency seems to be her issue. At trials, to go 8 for 8 would be the biggest victory for her and give her so much more confidence going into London. Nastia and Shawn in '08 were pretty much as close to perfect in all of their routines as they could get; by the time Beijing came there was virtually no problem areas with either of them.

Aly Raisman has been rock solid for literally years. Her floor exercise, in my opinion, is the best in the world. I want her in the FX EF at the Olympic games, and I want her to win gold. Jordyn would need to take the silver though, because I love her floor too :) Alicia Sacramone has looked great on beam and vault and I would love love love more than anything for her and Aly to be teammates in London (they are club teammates), but I just don't know if its going to happen.

McKayla Maroney looked amazingly impressive in Podium Training, she looked even better than she did at Visas, and that is after sustaining a concussion and a nasal fracture. I'm pretty sure she goes no matter what, because of her status of vaulting world champion.

Nastia .... gahhh I don't know. I am very proud of her for putting her heart into her comeback but unfortunately I think she started the comeback just a little too late. I don't think she is capable of medaling in London individually, and as for the 3 up for the team competition, you have Gabby, Kyla, and Jordyn that can all score 15+, and I just don't think that Nastia is capable of scoring over a 15 at Trials. I don't think she deserves to go as much as all these other girls who have been training for 4 years or more. I'm worried though that Martha will take her due to favoritism and one of my favorites will be left off. If that happens I honestly don't know what I will do.

Well, I don't know how I'm going to work til 4 today without talking about gymnastics but I gotta go!

The World Comes to Life ...

The world comes to life & everything's bright from beginning to end, when you have a friend by your side that helps you to find all the beauty you are when you open you heart and believe in the gift of a friend.

This past weekend (Thursday-Sunday) I went to Providence, Rhode Island to see my best friend, Bianca, and to go to her sister's graduation party. We also got to see our other best friends, the Checcis, who came down from New York. Thursday I had to take a shuttle to the airport and then I had a layover at La Guardia for about an hour. Bianca picked me up from the airport with two of the three kids she babysits for, Liam and Isla. Their sister, Reese, was at school. They are honestly the most precious kids!! We dropped off the kids and then went to Bianca's and had dinner and hung out in her room before going to sleep.

Friday I went to babysit with Bianca. We took the kids outside to play on their Slip N Slide, to McDonalds for lunch, and to the library :) Friday night we went back to Bianca's and worked on Johnna's picture board for her party the next day!!

Saturday was so much fun. Johnna's party started around 2 and we got to see Tracy, Nicole, Lori, Rick, and Nichole, and the kids also came! Her party was awesome, there was tons of people there and it went on for a long time. After everyone left we all went to Friendly's before the Checcis had to go back to their hotel.

Sunday morning Bianca, Johnna, and I went to the hotel to say goodbye to the Checcis. We had such a great time chatting in their hotel room before they packed up and checked out. After some pictures outside, we had to say see you later ;( Sunday night Bianca, Johnna, Nichole, and I went to see Rock of Ages. 

I miss them so much already. Bianca, Johnna, Nicole, Tracy, and Nichole, you guys are my besties and have my heart. We are always together no matter how far apart we are. I love you all and cannot wait until our next get together<3

More Gymnastic Obsession ...

I know that I'm obsessed with gymnastics, but I've been putting so much time into watching it, talking about it, reading about it, etc recently that's taken the obsession to a whole new level.

The Visa Championships were last weekend, Friday and Sunday. Friday night I couldn't get off work, so I came home after and watched the whole competition and read through my entire Twitter feed as well as made comments on my own Twitter until like 1am. Then Sunday, luckily, I was able to get off of work (or rather, rearrange my hours) so that I could watch the final day. Jordyn won her 2nd National Championship, I was super excited for her. Watching the Championships changed who, in my mind, I wanted to make the 2012 London Olympic team. I now believe (after a 15.350 and a 15.850 on bars) that Gabby Douglas is a lock. I still believe that Jordyn and Aly are and will continue to be. That leaves 2 spots left. I previously thought that these 2 would go to Nastia Liukin and McKayla Maroney, however, I no longer believe so. Nastia struggled terribly on both days, and it's clear that her bars routine is not even remotely up to Olympic par and probably won't be before Trials. I thought McKayla was a lock only because she is World Vault Champion .. unfortunately, her other 3 events are very shaky and Alicia could fill the vault role as well as possibly contribute on beam and floor. McKayla also suffered a concussion on Day 2, and it remains to be seen how that will affect her training for Trials. Kyla Ross has impressed me most, simply because she has remained consistent on all events and also has more difficulty she can add in her routines, which we will most likely see at Trials.

So, as of now, MY London Dream Team is ...

Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, Gabrielle Douglas, and Alicia Sacramone.

Trials are in 2 weeks, and I don't know how I'm going to wait that long to know who makes the team!!

I also read two books -- Shawn's Winning Balance and Dominique Moceanu's Off Balance. Both were amazing and also two completely different points of view of life in gymnastics. I recommend both to anyone! So anyway, I've been having the WEIRDEST dreams with all of this gymnastics craziness in my head. First, I had a dream that at Trials, Jordyn injured one of her wrists but still wanted to (and did) compete uneven bars on only one good arm. In another dream, I dreamed that I met Shawn at her house and also met her parents, LOLLLL.

I'm crazy. The end.

Thanks for the Memories

On Sunday, June 3, 2012, my favorite gymnast Shawn Johnson decided to retire from gymnastics. This entry is dedicated to her and her amazing career as an Elite gymnast.

2005-2006 - Junior Elite 

*2006 Junior National Championships*

Shawn finishing her FX on Day 1.

Shawn placed first on Floor Exercise. This routine was also used the following year when she moved up to Senior Elite, and I actually like it better than the routine that she did in 2008.

Shawn competing on FX Day 2.

She also placed first on Balance Beam. This routine scored a 16.2, even though at this point she hadn't added her most difficult element (her standing back with a full twist).

Shawn's BB routine Day 2.

She placed first on Vault as well, performing the double twisting Yurchenko. 

Shawn's Vault Day 2.

Shawn on BB Day 2.

At the 2006 National Championships, Shawn not only won the Junior All Around gold and became Junior National Champion, she did so with a final score higher than that of  the SENIOR 2006 National Champion, Nastia Liukin. 

2007-2008 - Senior Elite

*2007 Tyson American Cup*

Shawn after winning the AA.

In Shawn's first meet as a Senior, she won the All Around gold. 

Loved her bars routine in this competition, especially the double twisting double layout dismount This dismount was first performed by my other favorite gymnast, Elise Ray, and is named after her in the Code of Points (the Ray III). I think it is just amazing that my two favorite gymnasts both perform the same dismount that has the highest difficulty rating, a G.

Shawn on UB, with her new double twisting DLO dismount.

*2007 Pan American Games*

With her gold after BB final.

The 2007 Pan American Games were held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, in July. The American team won the gold medal, and Shawn also won gold in the All Around, Balance Beam, and the Uneven Bars. She also won the silver in Floor Exercise.

Shawn's BB routine in Event Finals.

Shawn competes in the Team Final.

*2007 VISA Championships*

Shawn on Day 1.                       Shawn on Day 2.

The 2007 VISA Championships were held in San Jose, California in August. Here, Shawn made the leap from Junior National Champion to Senior National Champion in one year. She also placed first in Balance Beam and Floor Exercise.

Shawn on BB on Day 2.

Shawn on FX Day 1.

*2007 World Gymnastic Championships*

Shawn during the AA competition.

The 2007 World Gymnastic Championships were held in Stuttgart, Germany. This was Shawn's first World Championships, and she took the All Around gold -- only the 4th US woman ever to be named World Champion. I will never ever forget watching her last rotation (Floor Exercise) and just KNOWING that she would be named World Champion. She had such an amazing time doing that floor routine and after it she just KNEW that she'd done enough. There was like 10 minutes of coverage of her just smiling the hugest smile like she couldn't believe it. It was one of my favorite moments for her. 

All 4 of Shawn's routines in the AA. The final moments are precious.

The Event Finals took place a few days later, where Shawn became World Champion on Floor Exercise. I loved her floor so much that I was kind of disappointed when she got a new routine in 2008, although I know she had to and it was more difficult. She just had so much FUN with this routine. I didn't add a separate video for the FX final because her floor is shown in the above video.

Shawn competing in the Team Final. USA won gold.

*2008 Tyson American Cup*

At the 2008 American Cup, Shawn's undefeated streak that she maintained throughout the 2007 season came to an end. She finished second to Nastia Liukin, mostly due to a mishap on Vault that occurred when she unveiled her new vault -- a 2 and a half twist Yurchenko, aka the Amanar. I have to say here that I think it's so funny how now in 2012 so much focus is put on the Amanar vault and every team wants to have someone who can perform one yet in 2008 Shawn and just a few other gymnasts in the world were doing it and there didn't seem to be any hype around it back then but now it's more common, yet the hype is bigger now. Just thought it was odd.

Shawn competes her new vault, has a fall.

I decided to include this video of her BB routine that day because I believe this is the highest score she ever received on Beam.

Shawn on Beam, her personal best as far as scoring goes.

*2008 VISA Championships*

Shawn was able to defend her title of National Champion at the 2008 Visa Championships in Boston, as well as her title as Floor Exercise Champion, scoring in the 16's on both Day 1 and Day 2! She debuted her new floor routine Day 1 of the Championships, and it was completely amazing, added lots of difficulty.

Shawn on FX Day 2.

Shawn also scored 16.0 in both days of competition on her Amanar vault!

Shawn on Vault Day 1.

*2008 Olympic Trials*

Shawn won the 2008 Olympic Trials that were held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout the competition she was "a rock" and by then everyone already knew that she was a complete LOCK for Team USA. She won the All Around and came first on the Balance Beam and Floor Exercise.

Shawn on FX Day 2. 16.2!!

Shawn and Nastia are named to the team.

*2008 Summer Olympics*

Podium Training

Qualification Day

The United States women were in first place after qualifications, ahead of China. Shawn scored highest on the team on Vault, FX, and BB and also scored the highest in the All Around. The United States as a team scored highest on Vault, FX, and BB as well. I loved the leotards they wore that day :)

I included this video because I believe that this is THE BEST beam routine she's ever done, even better than in the Event Finals, where she won gold. There is not ONE SINGLE WAVER anywhere in it. The judges only gave her a 15.9, which was WAY too low.

Shawn on BB during qualifications.

Team Final

The United States was poised to take the gold medal until they hit Balance Beam in the third rotation. Even with the Alicia Sacramone fall and a few other missteps on Beam, the Americans still scored higher overall on the apparatus. Unfortunately, Shawn, Nastia, and Alicia all stepped out of bounds on one or more tumbling passes in the last rotation of FX, so the United States ended up winning the silver.

All Around

I will never ever forget the night of the All Around. I was so so excited to finally see Shawn become the number 1 gymnast in the world at the Olympic games. I was so nervous the entire competition and I could not believe it when she was about to go up to do her floor routine and the commentators said there was no way that she could score high enough to beat Nastia. I felt so badly for her, I seriously cried. Yet she then went out and gave the FX of her life, even though she knew she couldn't win. That is what I love the best about Shawn, she never ever gives up. The images on the screen of her after completing her FX and hearing the final scores broke my heart. Of course she was disappointed and very upset. I can't even imagine what must've been going through her mind. However, of course she was her classy self and gave Nastia and Valeri both congratulation words and hugs and of course was happy for them even though inside she was hurting. I would never wish to change what happened, after all it made her who she is today, but I do have to say that the judges were scoring her much too low, I believe, and I included this fabulous montage that I found that even shows it. (Thanks Ashley, your montages are amazing!)

Shawn's All Around story.

All of Shawn's routines from the All Around competition.

Floor Exercise Event Final

Shawn was the reigning World Champion on FX coming into the Olympics Floor Exercise event final. She performed first and put up a very good number of 15.5 that everyone else would have to try and beat. Again, I was nervous as ever, just hoping so much for her to win that gold medal that she so much deserved. I was nearly ready to celebrate when Sandra Izbasa came up and hit a wonderful routine and knocked Shawn down into second place! I was happy for her that she won the silver but I just knew how badly she wanted a gold medal, and she only had one shot left at getting one.

Shawn on FX during Event Finals.

Balance Beam Event Final

Balance Beam was Shawn's last chance to win a gold medal. I remember watching the competition and seeing a lot of wavers and even a few falls (I believe China's Cheng Fei had a pretty bad one and she was crying :( I felt so bad), and thinking to myself that this is totally possible if she hits her routine. She came out and nailed her routine, but I remember being nervous about the judge's scoring since they'd been so harsh with her the whole games. 16.225 flashed up on the screen and I swear I screamed out of both excitement and nervousness because Nastia was up next. I died waiting for Nastia's score and finally it came up 16.025, less than Shawn's I was so relieved! Finally it was over and Shawn could celebrate. To this DAY I love the coverage on NBC when the commentator says (after the final scores are in) "Shawn Johnson, come get your gold medal." Like CHILLS I swear!

Shawn's gold medal winning BB routine.

2010-2011 - The Comeback

Shawn was asked many times after the Olympics if she would be back to train for London 2012, but she never decided one way or the other until she tore her ACL and MCL skiing in January of 2010. That made her decide that she wanted to make a try for London and wanted gymnastics back in her life. I will never ever forget the day I heard that she was coming back. It made my whole day so happy, I could not wait to see her in competition shape again and get to watch her compete again. I bought tickets to her first meet back -- the Cover Girl Classic in Chicago.

*2011 Cover Girl Classic*

Shawn's first meet back was the 2011 Cover Girl Classic. I was fortunate and lucky enough to be able to attend this meet and as excited as I was back then, I'm even more grateful and thankful today that I was able to see Shawn compete in one of her final competitions - I will always remember that day and how excited I was and nervous for her and seeing her live, I just cannot even describe how much that meant to me. I am hoping to go to one of her stops on her book tour also, but nothing compares to being able to see her do gymnastics. 

At the Cover Girl, Shawn definitely had some things to work on. On bars she had a mistake on her dismount and she actually fell twice on the balance beam. In spite of all that, it was a big step in getting back into competitions and I could not have been more proud of her<3

Shawn on UB at the Classic.

Shawn on BB at the Classic.

*2011 Visa Championships*

Day 1

On Day 1 of the Visa Championships, Shawn showed much improvement on both beam and bars, and also performed her first vault since her comeback. She did the double twisting Yurchenko, and was so happy to have completed it. 

Shawn on UB Day 1.

Shawn on Vault Day 1.

Day 2

On Day 2, Shawn improved even from Day 1 on all 3 apparatus, and looked especially impressive on Balance Beam. I saw more and more of that wonderful smile that I loved so much and I felt so happy for her when she was announced as a member of the National Team. She ended up placing 6th on UB and 4th on BB. She had come so far so fast, and I knew that she could go even farther. I was hoping so much that she would make the Worlds team and she came SO CLOSE, being named as the non-traveling alternate. 

Shawn on BB Day 2.

Shawn fluff from Day 2.

*Pan American Games*

Team Final

In October, Shawn headed with the rest of the Pan Ams team to the Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Team USA ended up taking gold in the team competition. Shawn unfortunately got a very low beam score, falling on her back with a full that she had recently added back into her routine and again on a leap.  However, I feel that winning again with Team USA in international competition was a very big deal for her, I could see the excitement on her face and I was so happy for her and happy that she was chosen as a member of the team.

Shawn on BB during Team Final.

Uneven Bars Event Final

Scoring a 14.4 on the Uneven Bars was good enough to qualify Shawn to the Event Finals! I will never forget her tweet the day of competition .. something like "Headed off to the event finals for BARS! Who would've thought?"because in the past, Shawn mainly qualified for Event Finals for BB and FX. She ended up winning the individual silver on the UB, behind teammate Bridgey Caquatto. So sad that this was her last competition ever :(

Shawn in the UB Event Final.

Shawn was supposed to compete at the 2012 Secret Classic as well as the 2012 Visa Championships and hopefully move on to Olympic Trials, however, her knee was giving her too many problems and she had to call it quits. I made this post to dedicate it to her career and to have for myself to always look back on the amazing memories and inspiration that this athlete has given to me. I will support her in anything that she chooses to do, I have already bought and read her book, and it is absolutely inspiring. I will never find a gymnast I love watching as much, and I'm so happy that sites like YouTube exist so that I can look back on those performances anytime I want ... that is something I will always have.

Good luck Shawn, may all of your future dreams come true.
Thanks for the memories. 

Everyone should buy and read this amazing book.