Year: 2016

Madison Kocian – Olympian

I do like Maddie as the Bar specialist for Rio. This way Simone mostly likely won’t have to compete Bars in team finals.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Ashton Locklear is almost as good a choice. If Madison is injured or ill before the Games, certainly Ashton will replace her.

USA Olympic Team 2016

I do like the way Team USA announced each of the 5 official team members on Twitter.

Gabby did not have a particularly good trials. Falls on Beam each day after parting ways with her Beam coach Kittia Carpenter immediately before the competition.

It could be that USA did not want to face the media barrage if Gabby was not selected to the A-team. She’ll have to prove she deserves the spot every single day at Camp.

“I feel like if we put Gabby in regimented training, with daily planning and daily assignments, we will see improvement – just like we did last year,” Karolyi said Sunday night after the Olympic team was announced.

“We have nine days of training camp, which is long, and we really put big importance on this training camp.”

Translation: That trip to Karolyi’s ranch next week is not going to be a vacation….

Nancy Armour

Biles, Hernandez, Raisman, Douglas, Kocian

Your U.S. Olympic team for Rio 2016. Awesome.

Rio logo

Alternates: Skinner, Smith, Locklear

Certainly Maggie Nichols should have been at least an alternate, as well. I guess they couldn’t name 4 alternates. 😦

Don’t be surprised if the team changes over the training camps to come. Any small injury or inconsistency could still have a gymnast replaced by one of the fantastic reserves. After missing Beam both days, I’d say Gabby’s spot is most at risk.

Biles, Hernandez, Raisman

1. Biles 123.25
2. Hernandez 121.15
3. Raisman 119.75
4. Skinner 118.6
5. Smith 117.75
6. Nichols 117.6
7. Douglas 117.45
8. Kocian 117.05
9. Hundley 116.85
10. Powell 116.6
full results

No question. The top 3 AA should be selected first.

The next two and alternates based on contributing scores. … I’m glad I’m not a selector.

Vault

  1. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 32.200
  2. MyKayla Skinner, Gilbert, Ariz., 30.950
  3. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 30.450

Bars

  1. Madison Kocian, Dallas, Texas, 31.650
  2. Ashton Locklear, Hamlet, N.C., 31.450
  3. Gabrielle Douglas, Virginia Beach, Va., 30.350

Beam

  1. Lauren Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J., 31.200
  2. Ragan Smith, Lewisville, Texas, 30.200
  3. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 30.050

Floor

  1. Simone Biles, Spring, Texas, 31.250
  2. Alexandra Raisman, Needham, Mass., 30.500
  3. Lauren Hernandez, Old Bridge, N.J., 30.000

on CONSISTENCY in Gymnastics

Breanna Whitman:

ConsistencyA word that encapsulates a string of weighty qualifications, it refers to strong performances no matter the circumstances, to mental toughness in the wake of joy and adversity, and to rock solid scores despite growing media and fan attention; focused routines in a sea of cameras and noise.

By this point, any fan even half following the coverage of the 2016 US Olympic Trials in San Jose, CA can probably tell you what the selection committee is looking for in its soon-to-be-announced 2016 Women’s Olympic Team: CONSISTENCY! …

GNN

Marta could select Simone and any combination of contenders at Olympic trials and still (probably) win the team competition in Rio. The main worry is team USA making mistakes when it counts in Rio.

More important than scoring potential is consistency. I recall being shocked Marta put Aly Raisman on the team at 2010 Worlds. She had many weaknesses. But Aly has always been consistent. I’m sure the selectors are looking at consistency in competition. Consistency in training. I’m betting Aly is #1 even over Simone.

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, U.S. gymnasts Aly Raisman, right, and Simone Biles stretch before a training session at the Karolyi Ranch in New Waverly, Texas. Stardom, the kind that truly changes a life, awaits Biles. The two-time defending world all-around champion will go for a three-peat at the 2015 championships in Glasgow, Scotland starting this weekend. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
FILE – In this Sept. 12, 2015, file photo, U.S. gymnasts Aly Raisman, right, and Simone Biles stretch before a training session at the Karolyi Ranch in New Waverly, Texas. Stardom, the kind that truly changes a life, awaits Biles. The two-time defending world all-around champion will go for a three-peat at the 2015 championships in Glasgow, Scotland starting this weekend. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

USA Olympic Trials

The most important meet of the quadrennial in many ways. U.S. trials are a tougher competition than the Olympics themselves.

Pressure is on Gabby to hit Bars and Beam. There are a number of very strong alternate picks who could step into her spot on the named team.

Click PLAY or watch the Inside Gymnastics preview on YouTube.

Lauren likes Simone, Aly, Laurie, Madison and MyKayla for the named team. But expects Gabby to get the call over MyKayla.

Magnificent Seven in San Jose

Heart this photo on Twitter.