Women's Artistic Gymnastics

[TontoK]

i don't fully understand the individiual vs team spots, but if they lose an extra individual spot if Jade is named to the team that doesn't seem like the smartest choice to me. But, that being said, at this point its looking like Lee, Biles and Chiles on the team. Who else can sneak in for the last spot? McCallum or Skinner? Or the 2nd individual spot? Maybe Eaker or McCusker?

The selection committee should be looking at which four girls are most likely to return the highest three-up three-count scores in the final across four events.

If I'm Jade Carey, I'd want that Team spot, because I'd be a virtual lock for an OGM, and I'd be giving up nothing in terms of still being eligible to earn vault and floor finals and medals. The broadcasters kept saying that her individual qualification also meant she could compete in All Around, but I don't understand how that works. If she's not in the team event, does her AA spot mean that only one athlete can be selected from the official Team qualification? If she does compete on team, does that mean she has to forfeit the AA spot and try to earn it back via the qualification? That would be an acceptable trade-off in my book.

Also, if I'm Jade Carey, I'm not giving a hoot whether Skinner or McCallum got to go to the Olympics or not, if it meant I couldn't be on the Team. My good wishes and sportsmanship would not extend to giving either of those girls my most realistic chance at a Gold Medal.

I'd also be pulling out all stops to finish second so that I don't give a selection committee the opportunity to act as spread-the-wealth (spread-MY-wealth) do-gooders.

As for the second individual spot, it's a toss up between McCusker and Eaker. Both are talented, but have spit the bit at big internationals when the pressure is on. My bet is McCusker, because bars is the one event where USA wouldn't be big favorites, and she gives additional hope to sweep the gold medals, shoring up Suni Lee in this event.

 

[cohen-esque]

The selection committee should be looking at which four girls are most likely to return the highest three-up three-count scores in the final across four events.

If I'm Jade Carey, I'd want that Team spot, because I'd be a virtual lock for an OGM, and I'd be giving up nothing in terms of still being eligible to earn vault and floor finals and medals. The broadcasters kept saying that her individual qualification also meant she could compete in All Around, but I don't understand how that works. If she's not in the team event, does her AA spot mean that only one athlete can be selected from the official Team qualification? If she does compete on team, does that mean she has to forfeit the AA spot and try to earn it back via the qualification? That would be an acceptable trade-off in my book.

So, my understanding of the situation is this:

• Countries can earn a maximum of 4 spots (Team) + 1 spot (for the country, they can send whoever they want) + 1 spot (for a specific person, one person per country, and it’s *their* spot).
• One person can’t qualify to the Olympics two ways, which means that Jade can either go because of *her* individual spot or because she makes the USA Team (in which case her spot goes to the next best person instead.)
• So if Jade makes the team, then there will be 5 USA athletes, and if she doesn’t make the team, there will be 5 + Jade. If she hadn’t secured that spot for herself, USA would STILL only have 5 athletes in Tokyo anyway, and she would definitely have been sent— so some people online accusing her of “stealing” a spot if she makes the team are frankly stupid IMO. It’s not her fault if the other Americans who were unable to guarantee themselves an Olympic berth are kicking themselves over it now. If putting Jade on the team would get USA the highest scores, then I think she should be sent.

And...

• Literally any gymnast at Tokyo, no matter how they got there, are eligible to compete in the qualifying/prelim round for AA/Event Finals. But I believe that they do *not* get to skip the qualifying and go straight to finals. The competition itself runs like normal.
• So basically all the USA women, including Jade, can try to qualify for every event if they so choose. There’s nothing for her to “forfeit.”
• ETA: and the 2-per-country rule still applies.

 

[TontoK]

So, my understanding of the situation is this:

• Countries can earn a maximum of 4 spots (Team) + 1 spot (for the country, they can send whoever they want) + 1 spot (for a specific person, one person per country, and it’s *their* spot).
• One person can’t qualify to the Olympics two ways, which means that Jade can either go because of *her* individual spot or because she makes the USA Team (in which case her spot goes to the next best person instead.)
• So if Jade makes the team, then there will be 5 USA athletes, and if she doesn’t make the team, there will be 5 + Jade. If she hadn’t secured that spot for herself, USA would STILL only have 5 athletes in Tokyo anyway, and she would definitely have been sent— so some people online accusing her of “stealing” a spot if she makes the team are frankly stupid IMO. It’s not her fault if the other Americans who were unable to guarantee themselves an Olympic berth are kicking themselves over it now. If putting Jade on the team would get USA the highest scores, then I think she should be sent.

And...

• Literally any gymnast at Tokyo, no matter how they got there, are eligible to compete in the qualifying/prelim round for AA/Event Finals. But I believe that they do *not* get to skip the qualifying and go straight to finals. The competition itself runs like normal.
• So basically all the USA women, including Jade, can try to qualify for every event if they so choose. There’s nothing for her to “forfeit.”
• ETA: and the 2-per-country rule still applies.

OK, I think I understand. Even though Jade qualified as an event specialist, she can still compete the All Around in qualifications. And if she is one of the top 2 Americans in qualification, she can go to the AA finals, presumably with Biles.

And I completely agree with you regarding Jade "stealing" a spot. That's BS. If she's given herself two opportunities to go to the Olympics, then good on her. Her individual qualification should have nothing to do with whether she is chosen for the Team.

As for the other athlete who would have their spot "stolen", well she should have worked harder.

But, in an ESPN article, the Team Coordinator, Tom Forster, said he "expects Carey to accept her automatic spot rather than try to make the five-woman US team." That's quite an assumption if he hasn't gotten word from Jade about her plans. I don't see any impediment to Jade making that call AFTER trials - I know I wouldn't make the decision until I knew if I'd made the Team. Why would she take herself out of the running?

 

[macy]

OK, I think I understand. Even though Jade qualified as an event specialist, she can still compete the All Around in qualifications. And if she is one of the top 2 Americans in qualification, she can go to the AA finals, presumably with Biles.

And I completely agree with you regarding Jade "stealing" a spot. That's BS. If she's given herself two opportunities to go to the Olympics, then good on her. Her individual qualification should have nothing to do with whether she is chosen for the Team.

As for the other athlete who would have their spot "stolen", well she should have worked harder.

But, in an ESPN article, the Team Coordinator, Tom Forster, said he "expects Carey to accept her automatic spot rather than try to make the five-woman US team." That's quite an assumption if he hasn't gotten word from Jade about her plans. I don't see any impediment to Jade making that call AFTER trials - I know I wouldn't make the decision until I knew if I'd made the Team. Why would she take herself out of the running?

i'd assume he likely knows something we all don't at this point. i'm sure he has a lot of involvement with the top gymnasts, especially if Jade has already earned a spot. she's going one way or another.

on the topic of Tom, one thing i've noticed is NBC doesn't spend hardly any time talking about him at all vs how they did with Martha. they showed and talked about her almost as much as the gymnasts, and i don't think they even mentioned Tom once in the nationals broadcast. just something interesting i noticed.

 

[moonvine]

I have a quandary. I really want to go to Olympic trials. They were sold out for eons but they moved the venue and now I can buy tickets. A cheaper ticket is $117, but can only be bought in pairs. A more expensive ticket is $292 and I can buy one in singles. I typically buy the cheapest seats because I sit in handicapped typically which has no relation to where the ticket is. Don’t suppose anyone wants a face value ticket?

 

[moonvine]

i wish it had been on Peacock since I get my subscription free through my internet provider, they broadcasted Classics.

Happy for Simone, as this is most likely her last nationals.

Gutted for Morgan Hurd. Not being named to the national team and having her Olympic dream taken away must be heartbreaking. she's struggled so much since her world title.

Very proud to be a Chellsie Memmel fan. Day 2 didn't go how she wanted but what guts and bravery to show up and compete on the national stage again after almost a decade. she's superwoman.

It being Simone's last season (very likely) she is going to leave a huge hole that nobody can fill. I think the US will do just fine in the future, but Simone carried US women's gymnastics for seven years. We are all going to realize how spoiled and blessed we were to watch the greatest athlete of all time once she's gone! we will never see another Simone for possibly the rest of our lives.

I am confused. She’s been talking about coming back in 3 years and being a specialist.

 

[moonvine]

The selection committee should be looking at which four girls are most likely to return the highest three-up three-count scores in the final across four events.

If I'm Jade Carey, I'd want that Team spot, because I'd be a virtual lock for an OGM, and I'd be giving up nothing in terms of still being eligible to earn vault and floor finals and medals. The broadcasters kept saying that her individual qualification also meant she could compete in All Around, but I don't understand how that works. If she's not in the team event, does her AA spot mean that only one athlete can be selected from the official Team qualification? If she does compete on team, does that mean she has to forfeit the AA spot and try to earn it back via the qualification? That would be an acceptable trade-off in my book.

Also, if I'm Jade Carey, I'm not giving a hoot whether Skinner or McCallum got to go to the Olympics or not, if it meant I couldn't be on the Team. My good wishes and sportsmanship would not extend to giving either of those girls my most realistic chance at a Gold Medal.

I'd also be pulling out all stops to finish second so that I don't give a selection committee the opportunity to act as spread-the-wealth (spread-MY-wealth) do-gooders.

As for the second individual spot, it's a toss up between McCusker and Eaker. Both are talented, but have spit the bit at big internationals when the pressure is on. My bet is McCusker, because bars is the one event where USA wouldn't be big favorites, and she gives additional hope to sweep the gold medals, shoring up Suni Lee in this event.

I don’t think she’s making the team unless she finishes 2nd and gets the automatic spot. Just my opinion.

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

I don’t think she’s making the team unless she finishes 2nd and gets the automatic spot. Just my opinion.

Jade has now announced that she has "every intention" of accepting her individual spot, so I'm assuming she will not be on the team.
This means that the US can take a full compliment of WAG gymnasts (4 team + 2 individual).

 

[moonvine]

Jade has now announced that she has "every intention" of accepting her individual spot, so I'm assuming she will not be on the team.
This means that the US can take a full compliment of WAG gymnasts (4 team + 2 individual).

And I bought my ticket. It had previously sold out. I’m grateful they moved it to a larger venue, even though I spent more than I wanted to.

 

[iluvtodd]

And I bought my ticket. It had previously sold out. I’m grateful they moved it to a larger venue, even though I spent more than I wanted to.

Good for you, enjoy the trials! We were lucky to get to see the trials when they were held in Philly in 2008!

 

[moonvine]

Good for you, enjoy the trials! We were lucky to get to see the trials when they were held in Philly in 2008!

Thanks! I saw the men’s last year. Not sure they can beat that. But it’ll be fun!

 

[macy]

anyone else tuning into trials tonight? im so excited!

 

[TontoK]

anyone else tuning into trials tonight? im so excited!

I'll probably watch. I watched the men last night, and it was entertaining.

I like this new (to me) kid Brady Malone. He seems to take "laid back" to new levels. There are some similarities to figure skating... can the "old guard" hold out against the "up-and-comers."

 

[macy]

I think I'm now able to form a better prediction...

Team:
Biles
Chiles
Lee
Skinner/McCallum (although mykayla made a statement tonight)

Individual-
Carey
McCusker

 

[moonvine]

Wrong. While I was hanging out at disability services awaiting my chariot, they were practicing the team announcements. I didn't pay attention to all of them, but 2 of them were Maya Angelou and Rick Flair. You heard it here first.

And I'm all in for Mykayla. She got a minor standing ovation after beam. I haven't seen a non Simone standing o before (Simone got a big one).

 

[moonvine]

I'll probably watch. I watched the men last night, and it was entertaining.

I like this new (to me) kid Brady Malone. He seems to take "laid back" to new levels. There are some similarities to figure skating... can the "old guard" hold out against the "up-and-comers."

I really really wanted Donnell to pull a Chris Brooks from last trials and hit 12 clean routines and just refuse to allow them to leave him off the team but that’s not going to happen. Maybe Mykayla will pull it out on the ladies side.

 

[moonvine]

Well to be honest this has been pretty depressing. I keep seeing my FB statuses from trials 5 years ago and how much fun I had.

 

[macy]

what do you guys think of the team? i am so happy for Mykayla Skinner. she worked so hard since she came back from collegiate and it's paid off for her. she deserves it.

i am a bit confused by how many vault/floor gymnasts they are taking. Carey and Biles will no doubt be in event finals kicking Skinner out unless something unusual happens so her chances of coming home with a medal are slim. The last couple Olympics they have usually had a couple bar/beam specialists in each team, but this time there's really only Suni. Chiles and McCallum and pretty decent across the board with no stand out events.

i'm gutted for McCusker. I'm surprised she wasn't an alternate. What an unfortunate turn of events with her when she injured her foot at Classics. She endured so much abuse at Maggie Haney's hands for so many years and then is faced with this, something that is completely out of her control. i hope she continues and comes back strong. she can do it. Biles will be done after Tokyo and gold medals will be up for grabs, plus the next olympics are only 3 years instead of 4. i think she can do it, especially now that shes in the right environment.

 

[moonvine]

First I have to say I just watched the first 3 episodes (all that are available right now) of the Peacock Gymnastics documentary featuring Konnor, Laurie, Mykayla, Morgan and Suni and it is AMAZING. Just gripping. I sat for 3 hours and watched it with no phone using or anything. I feel like I respect these athletes so much more. I already loved Mykayla but now I really love Morgan. She’s often gripped by anxiety and unsure of her identity but so tough.

The Internet is as confused as you (and I) am about the team. No one knows why 2 vault specialists were picked. So sure, Mykayla and Jade get to go to the Olympics, but neither will win a gold like the team undoubtedly will. They’ll get to compete I guess. But the dream and pretty much expectation among young gymnasts aiming for the Olympics isn’t just competing. Not since 1996 anyway. Speaking of 1996, one of the Executive Producers of the Peacock documentary is Dominique Dawes. I wish they’d do one on MAG and figure skating.

 

[moonvine]

what do you guys think of the team? i am so happy for Mykayla Skinner. she worked so hard since she came back from collegiate and it's paid off for her. she deserves it.

i am a bit confused by how many vault/floor gymnasts they are taking. Carey and Biles will no doubt be in event finals kicking Skinner out unless something unusual happens so her chances of coming home with a medal are slim. The last couple Olympics they have usually had a couple bar/beam specialists in each team, but this time there's really only Suni. Chiles and McCallum and pretty decent across the board with no stand out events.

i'm gutted for McCusker. I'm surprised she wasn't an alternate. What an unfortunate turn of events with her when she injured her foot at Classics. She endured so much abuse at Maggie Haney's hands for so many years and then is faced with this, something that is completely out of her control. i hope she continues and comes back strong. she can do it. Biles will be done after Tokyo and gold medals will be up for grabs, plus the next olympics are only 3 years instead of 4. i think she can do it, especially now that shes in the right environment.

It’s so easy to say “it’s only 3 years” but it’s 3 years of 40 hour a week training with no guarantee at all that you’ll make the team. If Trinity hadn’t been injured she might have been in this conversation as well. I’m glad Mykayla proved it could be done - moving from college back to elite - maybe more of these athletes will do it.

Simone has floated the idea of going to Paris as an event specialist. But I agree she’s probably done. If the media would leave her alone for half a second it might be different. She looked really bad the 2nd night of trials. Not her gymnastics but her face. I thought she might be ill. But I think it was the extreme stress she’s pretty much constantly under.