Category: Gymnastics

next generation of Canadian gymnasts

Athletes from these teams will be selected to represent Canada in competitions in Europe and South America this fall, including the Junior Pan American Championships in September. The athletes will also come together for training camps at various times during the year. Espoir status has been provided to one athlete on each team, indicating they are currently on a watch list and could be added to the National Team and be asked to represent Canada at an international event. …

Junior:
Jade Chrobok, Gemini Gymnastics, Oshawa, ON
Haley de Jong, Flicka Gymnastics, North Vancouver, BC
Victoria Jurca, Gym-Fly, Chateauguay, QC
Ana Padurariu, Gemini Gymnastics, Oshawa, ON
Enya Pouliot, Taiso Gymnastics, Lower Sackville, NS
Sayge Ubran, Dynamo Gymnastics, Cambridge, ON
Espoir: Montana Fairbairn, Stampede City Gymnastics, Calgary, AB

Youth:
Kyra Cato, Calgary Gymnastics Centre, Calgary, AB
Rachel Grenke, Capital City Gymnastics, Edmonton, AB
Ilka Juk, Omega Gymnastics, Coquitlam, BC
Jillian Langille, Taiso Gymnastics, Lower Sackville, NS
Quinn Skrupa, Brandon Eagles Gymnastics, Brandon, MB
Leah Tindale, Manjak’s, ON
Espoir: Juliette Chapman, Tumblers Gymnastics, Ottawa, ON

Gymnastics Canada

JR_YT_coaches_2016-woodward_500px

Maggie Nichols – Floor

Maggie would be the BEST gymnast on almost every Olympic team in the world. But Team USA selectors could not rank her in the top 8 for Rio. 😦

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Laurie Hernandez – Olympian

I don’t think there are any doubters left. Laurie is the real deal. And a real threat for an Olympic AA medal.

Her Beam precision matches the best of the Chinese gymnasts. I don’t anticipate USA being weak on Beam in Rio. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Gabby Douglas – Vault

Gabby has never been the strongest vaulter. (I still have nightmares about her disaster at Pacific Rims years ago.)

But this one is very good.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

No Amanar, please. USA does not need it.

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.