That’s the debate.
Both had one fall at American Cup. Who should have won? (results)
It’s close, but a majority of experts will agree with Aunt Joyce, the World Champion should have won, narrowly.
On the other hand, the routine of the meet for me was Jordyn’s Beam.
I blame coach Alexander Alexandrov, actually. He and the Russian program don’t have the discipline any longer to decide what their gymnasts will compete.
When he told Aliya to do her easier Floor routine for the easy win, she insisted she’d do the new, more difficult set.
… Actually she fell on the relatively easy pass, not the new 3 1/2 twist. But Mustafina still gave away the win on the last routine.
Wieber on Floor had 6.0 difficulty, 9.0 execution, and 0.1 out of bounds. Mustafina had 5.8 difficulty and 7.866 execution including 1.0 for the fall.
Mustafina is the better gymnast right now, mainly because of Bars. This embarrassing loss may be good motivation for Aliya. … And result in some improved discipline in the Russian team.
USA is organized and disciplined. Russia not.
No doubt Team Russia will try to make this all about whether or not a gymnast from the host country should be able to replace a last minute injury, as happened with Wieber and Dalton.
That’s a separate issue.
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