best to NOT make the Olympics

Andrew Thorton on Gymnast did an informal survey of the Best US Gymnasts to Never Make Olympic Team.

Reader’s Picks:

Best U.S. male gymnast to never make the Olympics: David Durante

Best U.S. female gymnast to never make the Olympics: Hollie Vise

Andy’s Picks:

Best U.S. male gymnast to never make the Olympics: Dan Hayden and Jay Thornton

Best U.S. female gymnast to never make the Olympics: Vanessa Atler and Ashley Postell

I voted for Dan Hayden. It was a blunder of the highest magnitude when the USA did not select their National Champion to the 1988 Olympics.

Vanessa Atler and Hollie Vise are great choices.

Hollie was the first WOGA gymnast to capture my imagination. She was World Bars Champion in 2003. Then did not qualify to the 2004 Olympics. Sad.

Click PLAY or watch a montage of Hollie Vise on YouTube.

Hollie was stunning as a Junior when she came to Calgary with the American Team long ago. I recall the main story of that meet from the training gym was that “Marta Karolyi was an idiot. Requiring far too much training from the girls prior to the meet.” There was a strong consensus on that point from everyone I spoke with.

Happily, she’s mellowed a lot since then.

For more commentary and videos on the best American Gymnasts to Never Make Olympic Team click through to Gymnast.