All Gymnastics, All the Time

In this section of “In the Running” I will talk about all the majoy stars from 2011, that will defintley be big players next year for the team.

Jordyn is defintley not even a question for the team. The only thing that will keep her away from the Olympics, is an injury, and it would have to be a pretty significant one. She can contribute significantly to the team on all four events, and is the world champion. She can qualify to 3-event finals. And well basically you’ll see her in London.

 
Alexandra Raisman had an amazing showing in 2010, and even better in 2011. Unforentley it’s been her bars, that have kept her from truley breaking her into an “all-star” spot in the world. Floor is defintley her best event, and her beam and vault are ok. The amanar we’ve all been promised hasn’t really been delivered, and many are wondering if it will ever happen. Floor’s her best event, but ultimatley the US has plenty of great floor workers. They need help on bars, and with the spots she’s fighting others with…it might not happen. Sacramone and Maroney both lack bars, and it’s going to be tough to have more than 1 person on the team who doesn’t have “team final worthy” bars. She’s a true question for the team.

Maroney, despite her being a world champion, she will have a tough time getting on the team also. Her amanar is absolutley gorgeous, but she’s going to need more than just that on the team. Her floor is “ok” and while some of the best in the nation, there is some room for her to clean up her tumbling and maybe upgrade. Beam and bars are defintley her weakness, and she probably shouldn’t focus on that, but it would help her to clean them and make them “useable” if there was an emergency. While I would love to see her get a TTY and Cheng, I’m really not sure. She’s had back problems, and peaked just in time for the Worlds, but it will be interesting to see how she holds up.

Has been a fabulous junior and never gotten much attention. I’ll admit I was never a big fan, until I started to truley look at her gymnastics. She is so clean in everything she does, her tumbling is fantastic. She doesn’t have a single stand-out event, but is a true all-around gymnast. She is upgrading to an Amanar, which would really help her in the coming year. The only thing that scares the gymnastics fans, and possibly the selection committee, is that she doesn’t have much international experience, well with tough competition. She’s always been a poised and confident gymnast, and rarely makes mistakes. She has a lot going for her next year.

Sabrina Vega surprised many when she landed herself on the World Team, and when she performed as well as she did. Typically Sabrina is a pretty consistent gymnast. She doesn’t have a stand out event, but isn’t a spectacular all-arounder either. Her lines are beautiful, and she has pretty clean form. She is truley an amazing all-arounder, that could step in wherever needed. But her chances at being on the 5 member team…are pretty slim.

Gabby Douglas is defintley an amazing bar worker, and one of the best in the world. But that is really the only place she can help the team. And with a 5-member team it becomes difficult to bring a gymnast for just one event. Her beam misakes at Nationals made many people doubt her. Her floor and vaults are “ok” but defintley not something to take er to the olympics for. Next year will be interesting for her, but I don’t see her making the team.

Realisticly any of these girls could make the team, and they all could be great in London, but the only one who is basically guareenteed, is Jordyn.

Coming up Next: Dark Horses for 2012

Source: fantasticgymnastics

Source: fantasticgymnastics

While I was over on the IGF forum I realized how deep the US team is right now for the Olympics. Realisticly they could probably send 3 full teams that could medal. So I’m going to start a breakdown of the gymnasts that could make the team. (Realisticly or not…)
In Part 1, I will focus on the come-back gymnasts. And what they’re chances are if healthy and ready.

Alicia is defintley one of the most interesting. I would adore to see her on this team, she desereves the redemption, and the chance to show the world how amazing she truly is. Alicia can obviously help on Vault and Beam, and probably floor. Realisticly she at least needs to have a prelim ready floor for the team. Her beam and vault need to be great. While I think the routines that she’s performed for the past quads are difficult and good enough to get her on the team, if she can get her upgraded vaults back, she could absolutley and defintley make the team, and get another vault medal.

Johnson is defintley the biggest question for many. While many are doubting her thinking she’s not “ready” or whatever. I believe that she will be. She came back in a very short time, from the only injury she ever really had. She’s still adjusting to her new body, ASac and Memmel never had to do that, they were done growing. Johnson is defintly benefitical to the team on beam, and surprisingly enough bars. While I think she could probably upgrade more than she did this year, her bars are actually better than I expected. Her DTY is good, and she defintley could upgrade to the Amanar again. I think if she gets back an ‘08 era floor routine (skill level wise) she will defintley be in the big picture of things, without a great floor, well who knows, we can’t read Martha’s mind. But it will be tricky for more than 1 or 2 non-all arounders to make the team

Memmel impressed many at Classics and Nationals, while I admired her for giving it one more shot, and looking fit. Her difficulty was no where near where it will need to be for her to make the Olympics. And where she would make the team is for her bars skillls, well with Wieber, Bross, Liukin, Johnson and so many more that scored higher than her this year at Nationals (or could score higher) she needs to up her difficulty majorly on bars, and in every single other event. And she’s coming back from some pretty major shoulder surgery. Honestly, I have great admiration for Chellsie, but I think her peak was ‘03 and ‘08.

I will be honest Sloan has defintley never been my favorite gymnast, and I think she has always taken advantage of others mistakes and injuries. And the fact that she hasn’t competed in a world all-around competition since 2009, defintley doesn’t help her case. She had an injured ankle in early 2010, where she still messed up on bars, then she hurt her peck before Nationals, and still fell on beam. I don’t even know what was wrong with her in 2011, but she didn’t compete at Nationals, and she didn’t impress at Pan Ams. She needs to up her game big time if she hopes to make the team. But I think she’ll be over looked because she really doesn’t have what it’s going to take to make this team right now. It’s too deep and she seems to keep getting injured. And in the past 2 years, she really hasn’t hit when it’s counted.

The biggest question of all, she truley surprised many when she announced her comeback, and you know I feel very Shannon-Miller-esq with this comeback. While the team could absolutley use her bars, and her beam would be a nice boost to the team also, no one really knows what she’s up too, or what she will look like. In recent pictures from her twitter, she has been looking fit and fabulous, and I have to admit, I really want to see this Travis Wall floor routine, that could possibly put her on the team.

Realisticly I don’t see Memmel or Sloan making the team. Alicia, Shawn and Nastia all of a legitimate shot though. :)

Next Up: Stars of 2011

In the spirit of Thanksgiving tomorrow I thought I’d do a post about the gymnasts through out the years that I have been extremely thankful for! (And yes I have the annoying obvious ones…:) )

• Mary Lou Retton: While many say her all-around gold was a “fluke” or that she didn’t deserve it, that doesn’t matter to me. And this isn’t about her just getting gold, but how much national and international attention she brought to the USA gymanstics program. Without that stage being set, I don’t think the program would have been as successful as it is now.
• Tatiana Gutsu: Now this is more of a selfish reason, and I’m not thankful for her becuase of her fantastic ability anything, I’m thankful for the fact that she pushed Shannon Miller, and could very well be part of the reason we saw the amazingly talented Shannon in ‘96.
• Shannon Miller: Obvious. She was a fantastic gymnast, and while I wish she would have won gold in ‘92, I’m at some points glad she didn’t. Without that I don’t think she would have continued onto ‘96, and I don’t think we would have seen the amazing self confidence she had, and the beam gold that everyone was so proud to see her win.
• The Mag. 7: DUH! They are the ones who really brought the USA gymnastics program to such an amazing place that it is today. No more explenation needed.
• Svetlana Khorkina: She brought a reveloution really to the sport. She had inovation and unique new skills. While I never really liked her attitude, she did bring something different(especially in the ‘04 quad) you saw the other side of the sport than the little girls smiling. So I didn’t like her attitude, but I did like what she brought to the sport. She was also one of the first gymnasts to show that you didn’t have to be a 16 year old, 5 ft gymnast to be successful.
• Chellsie Memmel: The thing I love about this girl is that she never gave up. She is a true fighter, and said there is no such thing to her as a “career ending” injury. She has unique skills, and while I’ve never been her biggest fan, I do admire her courage and determination in this sport, and it’s shown a different side.
• Nastia Liukin: Her gymnastics brought back a lot of the artistry that people said was lacking. During the all-around final she was the best that day, she had barely any flaws the entire day and had the grace and poise of a champion.
• Alicia Sacramone: She fought and fought to make it to the Olympics, and when she finally did she made uncharacteristic mistakes. It was heart renching for me to watch her make those mistakes, and the courage it must have taken her to come back, I admire this women, and she is an even better gymnast now than she was. Her winning vault gold was the icing on the cake. I really hope she heals really quickly!
• Shawn Johnson: She was really the gymnast that caught my eye in 2008, and is what got be hooked on gymnastics. It was the start of my gym, addiction, and it’s really becuase what is there not to love about this girl? Her beam flight series still continues to be one of my favorite gymnastics skills ever. Her beam always seemed so amazing and effortless. I love how happy she always seemed to be.
• Mackenzie Caquatto: Something about this gymnast I have loved since 2009 Nationals. Even though she fell in that competition, with her only air time, I don’t know I just loved her. She has gotten so consistent over the year, and I love that she has such unique and fun skills. I hope she has great successes in her future
• Rebecca Bross: So many people nitpick about this gymnast, but she absolutley astonishes me. This is the gymnast my mom refers to as “the really muscular one” I absolutley love her gymnastics, and while people consider her non-artistic and boring to watch, I don’t care. She is a brave gymnast who has put on a brave face and worked hard for years. I really hope she can comeback for next year.

Honorable Mentions
Ivana Hong, Courtney McCool, Jordyn Wieber, Ana Porgras, Lauren Mitchell, Elizabeth Seitz, Hollie Vise.

I feel like there are so many more gymnasts I want to put on this list. But most of all I’m thankful for gymnastics. This sounds weird but I’ve never been a gymnast, or know anyone who’s a gymnast, but I’m obsessed :)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families, and enjoy your turkey! Happy Holidays!

My newest montage! Alicia Sacramone!

This is something new I’ve decided to begin doing, every week (or every few) I will pick a new gym and do a spotlight post on them! Pros, cons, star gymnasts, etc. So leave any requests for a gym that you’d like to see me do a post on below! Enjoy!

Texas Dreams is owned by Kim Zmeskal-Burdette and her husband, Chris. The gym has only been open for about 10 years, but they have quickly made a name for themselves across the gymnastics community. They have seemed to create a lovley program, where the focus is not only on training hard, and doing well in gymnastics, but ultimatley, having fun! They have a very young team, and while many aren’t stars now, most of them defintley are up and comers for next season, and the next quad.

The elite program at Texas Dreams, or the “Dream Team” contains 10 amazing gymnasts (3 of which are on the junior National Team.) Ariana Guerra, Claire Boyce, Peyton Ernst, Bailie Key, Macy Toronjo, Kennedy Baker, Dare Maxwell, Kiana Winston, Nica Hults and Ashton Kim.
Boyce, Baker, Maxwell, and Winston, are all 2012 Olympic Eligable. While many are dark horses for the team, they could very well find themselves on the team, or in an alternate postition.
This team has some really amazing raw talent. One of the most noteable, that many have talked about, is Nica Hults. While she’s had a few setbacks from injuries, she has some amazing talent showing that she could have an amazing career ahead of her.

I’ve not heard of many people that have NOT been satisfied with this gym, most have loved the friendly, atmosphere, and the focus seems to be on reaching your dreams, while having fun still.
Overall this seems to be an amazing, up and coming gym, with raw talent and crazy potential.

Below are videos of the “Dream Team”:

Nica Hults-Balance Beam-2011 Covergirl Classic(1st Place!)
Arianna Guerra-Floor Exericse-2011 WOGA Classic(4th Place)
Claire Boyce-Floor Exericse-2011 Orlando Elite Qualifier(1st Place!)
Peyton Ernst-All-Around-2011 Orlando Elite Qualifer(2nd Place)
Bailie Key-All-Around-2011 Orlando Elite Qualifier
Macy Toronjo-Balance Beam-2011 Nationals:Day 1
Kennedy Baker-Uneven Bars-2011 Nationals:Day 1(4th Place)
Dare Maxwell-All-Around-2011 Orlando Elite Qualifier
Kiana Winston-Balance Beam-2011 Nationals:Day1 1(7th Place)
Ashton Kim-Balance Beam- 2010 National Elite Qualifier

Is it bad to say that I really don’t want Nastia to make the Olympic team? While I admire her gymnasts, and think she is such an incrediable an amazing gymnast. I feel like she’s had her time to shine…What else is there for her to get? A gold on Uneven Bars? That’s about the only thing she dosen’t have.

While some also question Shawn, I dont’ feel quite the same way about her, while she had amazing success in 2008, she also did have a disapointment, she didn’t get the AA gold she desired, and she realized that she never really gave up or stopped. She knew that she had so much more to give, and her mind it wasn’t over for her, shenever dragged out a comeback(at least I don’t feel she did) And she’s not trying to be the same person she was. And I don’t know, but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for her, and Sac.

But for Chellsie and Sacramone, I would love to see them get the success they deserved. Chellsie while I’ve never been her biggest fan, I think she did have major success in 2003, and 2005. I really think Sacramone would be the one gymnast I would pick if I had to, only one vet.

She was such an amazing gymnast, that just made mistakes at the wrong times. I wish people would shut up and stop talking about Beijing. She’s a completley different gymnast now, and I think she’s better than she was in ‘08. If only she hadn’t tore her achilles. I think she has the most to prove to the world, the fact that she isn’t the gymnast they all saw in Beijing, she’s better than that, far better than that.

Sloan, while I’ve never been a fan of her, I just think she has been hampered by injuries, and becuase of the incredable depth that the US has right now, I can’t see her on the team

Ultimatley though I would like to see Johnson and Sacramone on the team, while I don’t know if that will ever happen, it’s defintley possible.