Andy Thornton on Team USA:
If I were picking the women’s world team…
… there are six gymnasts who I feel have proven themselves the most over the past year, and based on the U.S. Classic and Visa Championships, I’d have to make them my team. This team may not be the six that Martha picks, and it may not be the six that many fans would pick. But to me, it makes the most sense because I feel these gymnasts have earned their world spots the most. And I think the event scenarios work as well or better than any team I could come up with. My six are:
Rebecca Bross
Mattie Larson
Alicia Sacramone
Bridget Sloan
Aly Raisman
Kytra HunterI know this team doesn’t include a bars specialist. But the more I think about it, I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense to put a bars specialist in there; in fact, I’m not even really sure we really have a bars specialist. …
American Gymnast – Andy’s Angle
Click through to read the rationale. I’m convinced.
… They can put Alicia up on Bars. With her 2006 routine.
Andy questions the frequency and intensity of Martha Karolyi’s selection camps. But in a code where consistency is more important than artistry, a “Survivor’s Camp” might make more sense than ever before.
You must admit, American girls have been very consistent internationally.
13 comments ↓
whats this (rumour?) that mattie has injured her ankle at camp and is out of the running???
Cheslea Davis could be great on bars… and she did well at Visa’s. I would include her on the team.
If a bars worker adds more than Kytra, we should take the bars worker.
What about Mackanzie Cquatto or Cassie Whitcomb on bars, after watching some of the Russian and Chinese bar routines, I think Marta should be worried just a bit that we are lacking in that area so much. Alicia won’t be able to put up a strong enough score I don’t think, and Bross is going to really have to clean up her form to score big. Either way it should be interesting who she chooses to put on the team.
I personally would question Sloan’s spot. She is the world Champ, but by default imo. Yes she has had an ankle injury- but hasn’t had any full, let alone clean comps this year.
Yes – can anyone substantiate the Larson rumor? It’s frightening!
I see nothing on the blogs. If Aunt Joyce hasn’t mentioned it, … it’s not much of a rumour.
AUnt Joyce is not the know all of everything.lol
Andy makes no sense. Russia is going to have to strong bar workers, china 3 and they will have equal on the otehr events. If Russia hits teh US will be third. Andy’s team has tehm off the podium
I’m sure China will be easier to best than Russia.
… The USA is far more likely to “hit” than China.
It’s irrelevant if Russia or China is strong on bars. The only thing that matters is how we can add most tenths in a 3 up format. I’ve crunched the numbers and a bars specialist added a couple tenths. Hunter adds a half a tenth from one event where she is just barely better than Raisman. Zamarippa would have added a huge number of tenths, solely as a vault specialist, throwing the Cheng. Her not going is awful bad sportsmanship. ULCA should hang their crazy Val-excuse video head in shame.
I’m not sure the Chinese are going to need to hit everything in order to beat the US.
In Beijing we projected they could count two more falls than the Americans.
I’m not sure they’ve got that much of a lead right now, though. China might be back to completely inconsistent in major competitions by Rotterdam. … We’ll see.
I think the Chinese will have some fairly consistent line ups though. The key for them is if Deng is back from injury.
For example
Deng Linlin/ Sui Lu and Jiang Yuyuan thats a solid floor line up.
Deng Linlin/Sui Lu are solid beamers to for the most part. Even with falls.
Huang Quishang is very inconsistent but she’s been hitting her DTY and bars routine consistently. I’d trust Jiang and He Kexin to hit their bars too.
The coaches let a lot of girls get international experience but they normally go with the most solid lineups they can get for the major competitions. Kexin, Deng, Jiang and now Sui (she struggled in international meets at one time but was always solid internally and seems to gotten a handle on things internationally) are solid competitors.
They reportedly do have 3 DTYS too.
The US is really screwed on bars, and I think the Chinese will outscore them on beam. I’d point out that I don’t even think the US girls are solid at hitting their easier routines. The only bar worker for the US I completely trust is Bross. (Mattie had some issues too) that’s not a good thing for the US.
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