The always excellent Polish101- Gymnastics blog posted the best wrap-up I’ve seen:
Is This Process of Naming the Olympic Team Too Exhaustive For the Gymnasts?
With two major injuries (three if you count Memmel) happening at the camp, all signs seem to point to yes. While having three pressure-packed meets will do very well for the gymnasts’ mental toughness and confidence levels heading into the biggest meet of their lives, the potential for injury, as proven at the camp, runs at an all-time high.
It was said by most insiders that five spots to Johnson, Liukin, Memmel, Sacramone, and Peszek were sewn up at trials and having them compete at this camp meet could indeed backfire on the USA team who wants to send a team that is not only the best possible team, but in the best possible shape.
However, Martha K. was definitely intelligent to wait to the last minute to select this team. In the end, Bridget Sloan was unquestionably the best pick for the last spot, but would anyone have said that back in Philly? Surely not.
Worley’s injuries cannot really be blamed as much on this selection process, as she didn’t compete at Nationals. But in her case, she could’ve easily been named had her leg held up and thus might’ve been able to have competed great UB routines at the camp.
Had the team been named in Philly, than there would be no Sloan or Worley on the roster and Bieger would’ve most likely been picked, and as the camp showed us all Jana really wasn’t peaking at the right time. If I were to change how this selection process were to go down, I would say hold Nationals around or maybe a tad bit earlier than when Olympic Trials would usually be held (mid to late June) and hold an Olympic Trials in mid to late July, in front of a packed house and all, and decide the team right then and there. I think that would cover the needs for picking the team as close to the games as possible, and eliminating the camp meet entirely would do well for the girls staying healthy and in peak form in preparation for the Olympics.
there’s much more – It Is Now Official – Polish101- Gymnastics blog
National Anthem
more photos from Karoli camp – USAG – via Live.Breath.Love Gymnastics
related: Kris Robinson – “how I feel right now about the Olympic Team Results”
The girls, I think, handled the intensity. I’m feeling very good about their chances, especially in Olympic Team Finals.
So long as they are intelligent in the “taper” before Beijing, I don’t believe they have “peaked” early. These young women must be tough as they must endure travel and jetlag, as well. China does not.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 