I think Mpal is right. I believe that the bylaws of the USFSA require that they send the national champion, but give them the leeway to choose other spots however they want to. In the past, AFAIK the only times that they have not sent the second- and third-place finishers (if they have three places) are when someone gets an injury bye, like Nancy Kerrigan in the 1994 Olympics. Or recently, as ChuckM points out, when a skater is too young for worlds (the Tara rule).Doggygirl said:Meaning the US governing body can ultimately decide who makes the world team regardless of placements at Nationals?
As I understand it, the justification for giving the gymnastics governing body some leeway in selecting the Olympic team is that it really is a team. So they need specialists in particular apparatuses, in addition to the strongest all-rounders.doggygirl said:I also don't like in Gymnastics how the national organization can overrule the results to pick the world team, although I can understand it - particularly if top competitors miss Nationals due to injury but are recovered by worlds. Unfortunate that those politics come into play.
I agree with this 100%. If you've already got two seasoned veterans to carry the ball, it seems like a good stategy to also prepare for the future.ChuckM said:It seems to me putting an ineligible on the podium is in a way announcing to the World: look out for this young 'un in the future and is not necessarily a knock on #4.