tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
Seems logical that the USA send Riley to specialist Worlds 2021 in Japan.
Could she do that and still start at Florida this autumn?
I would think so.
There’s a very good argument that Riley should have been chosen for the Olympics spot over McKayla Skinner. Since that didn’t happen — Riley should get first priority on the Worlds assignment, should she want it.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
“It’s good they didn’t peak now,” added Shane Wiskus.
“Not concerned,” Mikulak said. “Never lose faith in the girls.” …
Sports Illustrated
The story of the day is Russia deservedly defeating USA in the qualifying round.
That happened.
On the other hand, no medals are awarded in qualification. I’m expecting Simone and team to come back with aggressive routines in the Team final. They’ll be far better.
USA qualified the maximum number of Finals positions. I would have loved to see Riley in the Bars final rather than Simone, however.
National Team Coordinator Tom Forster gets too much blame when things go wrong. And too much credit when things go right. That’s in the job description.
Certainly communication has been poor.
But let’s wait until Tokyo is over before analyzing team performance.
Eventually USAG could decide mistakes were made. There’s not much time before specialist Worlds 2021 in October, however.
He tours the Olympic village on his day off.
The ASICS shop is cool.
Rhys is happy so many of the top guys made the final. He wants Pommels to be an EXCITING event. 🙂
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
A case study in artistry for judges.
Can they score higher than 10.0 at UCLA? 😀
She’s one of the reserves for the Floor final.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
14.1 and into the Final.
6.3 start. Third highest in the competition.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
Despite having a surprisingly off day in prelims, #Simone still qualified to all 4 apparatus finals. She has 6 medal chances in Tokyo.
Vault
Finally. Rebeca Andrade has long been one of the best gymnasts in the world, but had 3 ACL tears, limiting her chances in the past.
She qualified 2nd in the world in the AA and to both Floor and Vault apparatus finals.
Bars
The showdown we wanted. Nina v Suni.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
Beam
Beam judges were slow. And also bad. What they are doing now makes Olympic Gymnastics look bad to the general public.
China put on a Beam clinic with 5 of the top 11 scores.
It was wonderful to see Larisa hit. Romanian Beam like past Olympics. Sadly she hurt her ankle on the triple twist dismount.
Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.
Floor
30-year-old Vanessa Ferrari was one of the last qualifiers to Tokyo. And finds herself in the final ahead of unbeatable Simone Biles. Congratulations. Also — vindication for 2010 Worlds where she should have been #1 on Floor, but judges ranked her 6th.
Alternates Lieke Wevers (32nd, 53.365), Eythora Thorsdottir (36th, 52.899), Georgia Godwin (37th, 52.865), and Hatakeda Hitomi (39th, 52.732).
As always, you have to feel badly for those gymnasts who had a fantastic meet but still did not qualify because only 2 / nation go to the final. Jade Carey and Mykayla Skinner are two of those.
Russia had a fantastic meet to finish ahead of Simone Biles’ USA. Congratulations.
The other big, happy surprise is Belgium finishing 5th.
Team final will be 3-up, 3-count. No room for mistakes.
Nancy Armour:
In Rio, Ait Said’s left leg snapped on his vault landing during qualifying, the sharp crack echoing throughout the arena. As he rolled over, clutching his leg just below the knee, his foot and the lower half of his shin dangled in the opposite direction of the rest of his leg.
It was not the first time his Olympic dreams had been disrupted by injury. He missed the London Games after suffering three fractures in his right tibia at the European championships. But this was a particularly gruesome injury, one that has ended the career of other athletes.
Even as he lay in a Brazilian hospital, his leg immobilized, Ait Said vowed that he would return for Tokyo. …
Opinion: French gymnast Samir Ait Said’s resilience a reminder of the power of the Olympics
Gymnastics Coaching.com 
