OT Artistic Gymnastics

[DancerDude0118]

I don't follow international gymnastics. What little I've seen, it seems that other countries do more turns on beam and America pretty much just tumbles. Is there a reason other countries don't tumble as much, or America doesn't turn as much?

You sort of answered your own questions. U.S.A.'s strength is in acrobatic skills, so they'll attempt to max out their D-score by performing them. In the case of Sanne Wevers and a lot of other gymnasts, their strengths are on dance elements such as jumps, leaps and turns. Unfortunately, the highest a dance element can be valued is "E", so they'll have to perform a lot of those in connection with one another to be competitive.

Basically it doesn't matter where you're from, your routine is built according to the skills you can execute well. Acrobatic skills such as a tucked full twist or arabian are valued higher than the maximum on a dance element; higher risk, higher reward. I notice wolf turns are very popular in the U.S., mostly because they're valued higher than other turns and you get to check-off the turn criteria on the list of required elements to be performed.

 

[AScheer]

Ok, I can't be the only one that thinks the warm-ups are hideous. They look like the US astronaut team.

The Today show had the Magnificent Seven back together yesterday Dominique Moceanu: What life is like after you win Olympic gold at 14 - TODAY.com

ETA: I JUST realized that Amanda Borden (the woman on all the ESPN cheer broadcasts) was a gymnast on the magnificent seven team.

 

[cheerKT]

If anybody missed it, Maggie Nichols officially retired from elite after Trials. So depressing but I just know she's going to kill it in NCAA at Oklahoma. I'm assuming Brenna will head back to Oklahoma too. They are stacked. Kyla will be at UCLA, where Jordyn Weiber is now a senior and volunteer coach.

I'm curious if anyone else on the National Team will "retire" and head to college. Alyssa Baumann and Rachel Gowey have committed to Florida and MyKayla Skinner to Utah. I believe I read that Ashton Locklear intends to continue training elite.

 

[gofriars610]

If anybody missed it, Maggie Nichols officially retired from elite after Trials. So depressing but I just know she's going to kill it in NCAA at Oklahoma. I'm assuming Brenna will head back to Oklahoma too. They are stacked. Kyla will be at UCLA, where Jordyn Weiber is now a senior and volunteer coach.

I'm curious if anyone else on the National Team will "retire" and head to college. Alyssa Baumann and Rachel Gowey have committed to Florida and MyKayla Skinner to Utah. I believe I read that Ashton Locklear intends to continue training elite.

Ashton was supposed to go to Florida but her body is literally falling apart so she's probably done after this.

 

[Beans100]

Ashton was supposed to go to Florida but her body is literally falling apart so she's probably done after this.

I'm shocked that Ashton is still training at all. Kudos to her for sticking with it, but I'd hate to see her destroy her body in hopes of making 2020. Without all 4 events, she doesn't have a chance.

Overall, I'm excited for the Olympics. Even though I would have chosen other gymnasts over Gabby, I see why she is there. I still think Ragan has a shot at the 2020 Olympics, and hopefully she'll mature a bit. I can also see Laurie sticking it out; she honestly seems to just love gymnastics.

I'm hoping that they give Aly, Laurie and Simone the AA spots. Sorry Gabby, you had your shot.

 

[ashscott41]

I'm shocked that Ashton is still training at all. Kudos to her for sticking with it, but I'd hate to see her destroy her body in hopes of making 2020. Without all 4 events, she doesn't have a chance.

She has a much stronger chance of making it in 2020 because the format is changing. The team will consist of 4 members and countries will have the opportunity to qualify up to two additional specialists through World Cup competitions. If that were the case now, she and Mykayla would more than likely be going. I believe this format change in addition to her back problems are the reason she's continuing with elite rather than going to NCAA.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cheerKT]

I'm shocked that Ashton is still training at all. Kudos to her for sticking with it, but I'd hate to see her destroy her body in hopes of making 2020. Without all 4 events, she doesn't have a chance.

Not necessarily due to the rule changes. In 2020 countries will take a team of four all arounders plus qualify two specialists

 

[FlexyTumblerMom]

She has a much stronger chance of making it in 2020 because the format is changing. The team will consist of 4 members and countries will have the opportunity to qualify up to two additional specialists through World Cup competitions. If that were the case now, she and Mykayla would more than likely be going. I believe this format change in addition to her back problems are the reason she's continuing with elite rather than going to NCAA.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also, she may have more longevity as a gymnast cause bars and beam involve significantly less pounding on your body than vault and floor.

 

[russmin]

Also, she may have more longevity as a gymnast cause bars and beam involve significantly less pounding on your body than vault and floor.

One of the main reasons I feel Becky Downie and her former teammate Beth Tweddle were able to last so long in the sport

Edit: and even more impressive how chusovitina has managed to stick around

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Beans100]

Not necessarily due to the rule changes. In 2020 countries will take a team of four all arounders plus qualify two specialists

Ah, I was unaware of the 2 specialists. I thought it was just a team of 4.

I always wonder what Marta says to the women in that room where they announce the team.

2020 should be interesting- new format and a new coach.

 

[j4z0n]

One of the main reasons I feel Becky Downie and her former teammate Beth Tweddle were able to last so long in the sport

Edit: and even more impressive how chusovitina has managed to stick around

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ikr? Plus she's gonna be doing a Produnova on top of that! Such guts

 

[cheerKT]

For those who want Laurie in AA, how would you set up your bars in qualifications? I would love to see Laurie get an AA shot too, but I just can't see how it would work out given the bars situation. (Which is why I think the third AA will be Gabby)

 

[SparkleSpankies]

For those who want Laurie in AA, how would you set up your bars in qualifications? I would love to see Laurie get an AA shot too, but I just can't see how it would work out given the bars situation. (Which is why I think the third AA will be Gabby)

I am with you. Aly does not have a hard bars routine, but it is consistent. Masidon will be on bars, Gabby will be on bars, Simone will be on bars. Unless something majorly changes in training camp, I think we are looking at Aly lead off, Simone, Gabby, Madison.

 

[j4z0n]

I think Laurie will play Kyla's role back in 2012.

 

[cheerKT]

I am with you. Aly does not have a hard bars routine, but it is consistent. Masidon will be on bars, Gabby will be on bars, Simone will be on bars. Unless something majorly changes in training camp, I think we are looking at Aly lead off, Simone, Gabby, Madison.

Agreed. Aly certainly won't do bars in team finals, but she will have to in qualifications to be given a shot at AA, just like she did in 2012. Bars is one of the main reasons Gabby is being brought to Rio, you can't leave her off in quals, especially since she has a chance at making bars finals (but might need some help along the way). Simone is a lock for AA, obviously, so she will be on bars in quals, and Madison....duh.

Given all of that, I don't see room for Laurie on bars that round and therefore no AA shot. I'm curious how people who think she will do AA would put up on bars in quals. I guess you would have to pull Aly out of all around.