US Gymnastics Olympic Trials

[JaneBanks]

1. It's unfair to other gymnasts who do perform consistently to take someone who might "peak late" who is performing completely lackluster - and who was completely lackluster in the event finals in 2012, too.

2. She's been making major errors in every competition this year, including almost dumping off the beam at Classic and P&G, and actually tanking it last night.

It looks to me like she was trading on her title to get on another team and her performance has just been meh.

I haven't been following that hard until this year as Aly Raisman is local so I see her on the news fairly often, but I watched the lead up events and Gabby doesn't have it.

None of the girls are hitting their peak right now. They may all be at 90% but definitely not 100%. They save that for the olympics so I wouldn't say it was unfair since all of the girls are holding back right now.

It's a little unfair to say that she was lackluster during event finals in 2012. She was never going to medal on bars if all of the girls hit. She did fall on beam but it's really not surprising since beam was always shaky for her. She hit her best sets ever during qualifying, team comp. and all-around. After going 12 for 12, it's not surprising she would be tired and not do her best.

I wouldn't say that she was trading on her title to make the team. It takes a lot of work to get into olympic physical shape. It's a lot of time, energy and money spent if you just want to rely on making the team for your title only. I think her come back is very serious or she wouldn't put in all of this work. Also, let's not forget that Gabby won silver at worlds last year behind Simone. It's not as if Gabby can't score well internationally. The international judges love her. She won Jesolo this year (which is an important meet in Martha's eyes) and won American Cup in March. She has the potential to get the scores needed to help the team which is Martha's main focus.

I'm not saying Gabby is performing to the best of her ability but despite her placement the first night of trials, she is consistently in the top 5 all around in the US. She also has a month to train and improve leading up to the Olympics. Every day counts in gymnastics and if you're not perfecting a skill today, it can be perfect in a week and Martha will see that at the training camps.

I know I sound like a Gabby cheerleader and maybe I am a little but it is so rare for someone to comeback (after 2 years in Gabby's case) and try for a second olympics and actually make it. I hate to see someone dismissed when she's really not doing all that bad. If she doesn't make the team, then she doesn't but Martha knows what she's doing so if she puts Gabby on the team than it is for a reason.

Here is what Martha had to say about Gabby:

On Gabby Douglas…In my mind, even with a fall on the beam she presents herself on three events better than in training…. I don’t know exactly the reason, maybe this transition with the coaching situation, but I am confident that all of these things will go in a good direction. We make the decision [Sunday] but I think her training wasn’t so perfect leading up to today. I want to tell you that last year before [the] World Championships at one moment we felt that she will not make the team and then she… from day-to-day improved, improved until we got to the competition, she finished second in the world, so those kind of things count.

On her current coaching situation and decision to have Christian Gallardo as her main person coach and whether it could be a distraction to her preparation…Yes, Gabby mentioned to me that she would like to have Christian [as her coach on the floor] and I personally feel that the chemistry—between the gymnast and coach—is very important. From my experience you need to connect. If she felt she is more connected to Christian, then definitely I could not be against it.

On what she said to Gabby after Night 1…We talked about more discipline training, if you will. You know, it’s more like [she needs to] take it more seriously—the training session. Every execution counts from this moment and she agrees with me. She kind of has a history of not peaking very early, so that’s also what we know about her.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

DD11 is a huge Gabby Douglas fan. My dad took her to see the women a couple weeks ago when they were in St Louis. And though Gabby had a tough weekend, DD still can't quit talking about the experience

 

[Unas]

I am in San Jose watching it all live. Simone is amazing and gabby kept herself apart 4 years ago too. But gabby has the 3rd best bars score behind Madison and Ashton (and with a fall on beam Ashton is not making the team). Aly hit an amanar so she was on the team for sure. Marta loves amanars. I think the team will be Simone, Aly, Laurie, gabby and Madison which ensures aa gold, floor gold, a vault medal, one or two bars finals spots, beam finals for at least Simone and floor finals for Simone and Aly. And Marta is all about getting the most berths (medal chances) as possible. Of course there is one more night and anything can happen but I think she knew the team long before trials started and this is just a formality.

Can you say that again. I just wish I could remember who was discussing that very topic with me over on the swim trial thread.

 

[elphaba91]

Marta knows that Gabby peaks late. Nobody would have guessed that Gabby would have won all around gold in 2012. Even at Olympic trials. Everyone thought it would be between Jordyn (who didn't even make all around finals) and Vika Komova of Russia. Then Gabby came along right on time...

However, Gabby was much further ahead at this point in 2012 - she beat Jordyn at trials and came a close second at Visas. This year she is not at that high standard and does not seem to be improving. MyKayla Skinner also peaks late and you can clearly see that that seems to be the case again this year with her results on day 1 of trials a big improvement on P&Gs.

 

[winterwhite]

None of the girls are hitting their peak right now. They may all be at 90% but definitely not 100%. They save that for the olympics so I wouldn't say it was unfair since all of the girls are holding back right now.

It's a little unfair to say that she was lackluster during event finals in 2012. She was never going to medal on bars if all of the girls hit. She did fall on beam but it's really not surprising since beam was always shaky for her. She hit her best sets ever during qualifying, team comp. and all-around. After going 12 for 12, it's not surprising she would be tired and not do her best.

I wouldn't say that she was trading on her title to make the team. It takes a lot of work to get into olympic physical shape. It's a lot of time, energy and money spent if you just want to rely on making the team for your title only. I think her come back is very serious or she wouldn't put in all of this work. Also, let's not forget that Gabby won silver at worlds last year behind Simone. It's not as if Gabby can't score well internationally. The international judges love her. She won Jesolo this year (which is an important meet in Martha's eyes) and won American Cup in March. She has the potential to get the scores needed to help the team which is Martha's main focus.

I'm not saying Gabby is performing to the best of her ability but despite her placement the first night of trials, she is consistently in the top 5 all around in the US. She also has a month to train and improve leading up to the Olympics. Every day counts in gymnastics and if you're not perfecting a skill today, it can be perfect in a week and Martha will see that at the training camps.

I know I sound like a Gabby cheerleader and maybe I am a little but it is so rare for someone to comeback (after 2 years in Gabby's case) and try for a second olympics and actually make it. I hate to see someone dismissed when she's really not doing all that bad. If she doesn't make the team, then she doesn't but Martha knows what she's doing so if she puts Gabby on the team than it is for a reason.

Here is what Martha had to say about Gabby:

She's also with a gym that is nowhere near the standard of the one she was with in 2012. She got kicked out of that one for not being serious enough about training and spending too much time doing promotion/endorsements.

It shows now when she isn't as good as everyone else. Laurie Hernandez is first year out of the juniors and is wiping the floor with her.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I agree about Gabby her heart isnt in it. Lori will be a force to be reckoned with as she gets older. She has so much personality. I personally dont think Simone is as good as everyone think she is.
I wish they went just on scores and not Marta faves.

 

[LisaR]

I agree about Gabby her heart isnt in it. Lori will be a force to be reckoned with as she gets older. She has so much personality. I personally dont think Simone is as good as everyone think she is.
I wish they went just on scores and not Marta faves.

Admittedly, I am a fair weather gymnastics fan. I don't pay any attention until the Olympics are around the corner. I watched the P&Gs and the first day of trials. From my untrained eye, I felt the same way about Simone. I had heard the buzz and couldn't wait to see her perform and I just didn't see anything to get overly excited about. I did love her floor in trials, but felt underwhelmed by the rest of it.

Gabby looks like someone who wants to be absolutely anywhere but there.

Love Laurie! Such a great personality.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

It drives me crazy in any sport when someone works their whole life to make their first Olympics, then thinks they can be back in shape for their second Olympics in a couple years after they take a break and realize they miss their sport. In sports where you get to be in the Olympics because of some quantifiable standard like time or points, if you make your comeback then fine, you earned it. But in sports like gymnastics where the team is determined by someone's opinion it is aggravating to see someone make the team because of what they did 4 years ago instead of what they can do at the new Olympics. Especially in women's gymnastics. When they stop the intensive training their bodies start to change. Then they decide they miss the sport and want to get back to an elite level, but don't realize they have to learn to make their changed bodies do what their Olympic shape bodies did.

 

[JaneBanks]

I agree about Gabby her heart isnt in it. Lori will be a force to be reckoned with as she gets older. She has so much personality. I personally dont think Simone is as good as everyone think she is.
I wish they went just on scores and not Marta faves.

I can't get over this. Simone is doing the hardest skills in gymnastics right now and can do even harder skills. She is compared to the most decorated man in gymnastics right now and is actually a better vaulter than him. She is miles ahead of everybody else in the world. Her floor routine alone shows how good she is. Her last pass is so hard that someone would usually use it as their first pass and have no where near the energy to do it as a middle or ending pass unlike Simone who could probably still do more. She is being called one of the greatest gymnasts to ever compete.

 

[JaneBanks]

Can you say that again. I just wish I could remember who was discussing that very topic with me over on the swim trial thread.

It was me and I said it was obvious to anybody who watched this quad who 4 of the 5 girls would be on the team, not just Martha. And it was only obvious by the results of the competitions, not who Martha decided just because she likes them. She doesn't work that way, she wants gold so she will take who she thinks can get it. So far, the top girls this quad are pretty much it.

 

[JaneBanks]

She's also with a gym that is nowhere near the standard of the one she was with in 2012. She got kicked out of that one for not being serious enough about training and spending too much time doing promotion/endorsements.

It shows now when she isn't as good as everyone else. Laurie Hernandez is first year out of the juniors and is wiping the floor with her.

She left Chow's because Chow wanted a contract to guarantee a percentage of Gabby's earnings and that she couldn't leave Chow's for another gym until after the Olympics. USAG put an end to that and she went to Ohio.

Until the first night of trials, Gabby was either winning or top 4 all around in the US. Even when she's not doing her best, she is still a top girl. That says a lot. If Gabby (or any other girl who isn't top 3 in the country) were competing for any other country, even Russia and China, she would be their star gymnast.

 

[murmer]

I agree about Gabby her heart isnt in it. Lori will be a force to be reckoned with as she gets older. She has so much personality. I personally dont think Simone is as good as everyone think she is.
I wish they went just on scores and not Marta faves.

If you want to know how good Simone is take a look at her e score. That is the old 10 point scale for perfection. She typically gets above 9 in all those areas including almost 10 on her vaults at times. And the judges are picky!!! She does the hardest moves in the world and does them almost perfectly (compared to skinner who does the hard tricks but have e scores in the 8 due to crappy form). That is why Simone is so good. She does hard gymnastics well (most of the time). Even her worst event bars she is 4th at trials so far.

 

[ashley0139]

I'm in San Jose attending the competition this weekend. It's been amazing and electric. Can't wait for tonight!!

 

[poohfriend77]

I'm in San Jose attending the competition this weekend. It's been amazing and electric. Can't wait for tonight!!

Jealous! Please come back and share your thoughts tonight!

 

[Rhie]

I wish NBC wouldn't give the girls' mistakes quite so much coverage. When Gabby Douglas had a rough final routine, the camera followed her around instead of showing someone else's routine. Four years ago Gabby was always smiling. Her smile really lit up the room. Now she keeps changing coaches, like changing horses mid-stream. It's been said that the US women's gymnastics could field three teams of medal-contenders, and of course that makes the road to Rio that much tougher. Defending gold medalist Ali Raisman says it's a good night for her when she's "only" a point behind Simone. The girls are under so much pressure. I feel bad when someone messes up, or gets hurt.

I know! And they absolutely play favorites. They clearly don't want Gabby to make it, and just as clearly want Simone to make it. I know there is no such thing as neutral reporting, but they could make it a little less obvious. And stop sticking cameras in their faces when they cry.

I also thought they had to be 16 to compete in the Olympics, but Regan is only 15 and in the trials? Laurie and Simone are the most fun to watch, in my opinion, and are technically excellent.

And I know gymnastics has been changing some of its rules recently. I think with Marta what is happening is that there is a committee, but everyone defers to her. She and Bela Karolyi are legendary coaches. Bela Karoyli has been banned/self-exiled over allegations of abuse and misconduct. I suspect the allegations are true. But, people can be blind to crime coming from a sports idol. And so, what matters to the committee is that Marta is a legend, and knows her stuff, which is also true.

 

[bcla]

I know! And they absolutely play favorites. They clearly don't want Gabby to make it, and just as clearly want Simone to make it. I know there is no such thing as neutral reporting, but they could make it a little less obvious. And stop sticking cameras in their faces when they cry.

I also thought they had to be 16 to compete in the Olympics, but Regan is only 15 and in the trials? Laurie and Simone are the most fun to watch, in my opinion, and are technically excellent.

And I know gymnastics has been changing some of its rules recently. I think with Marta what is happening is that there is a committee, but everyone defers to her. She and Bela Karolyi are legendary coaches. Bela Karoyli has been banned/self-exiled over allegations of abuse and misconduct. I suspect the allegations are true. But, people can be blind to crime coming from a sports idol. And so, what matters to the committee is that Marta is a legend, and knows her stuff, which is also true.

Looked it up, and one must turn 16 by the end of the calendar year to be eligible for senior-level competition. Sounds like she's just one day shy of 16 when the competition starts.

As far as Bela vs Marta, I've definitely heard about it even though I'm not into gymnastics. Wasn't he accused of hitting his trainees? His wife was supposedly known for being less harsh.

 

[brittanidp]

I've loved Aly since 2008! I hope she makes it! Simone is amazing!

 

[superme80]

Is it streaming on any site?

 

[superme80]

Just realized once again I am unable to watch the Olympics. So beyond mad!

 

[lilia78]

So was is the team you expected? Happy? Thought? I'm excited to watch Laurie at Rio, she just seems so full of spunk and energy, I love it! I was also happy to see Madison make the team, I enjoyed watching her as well. I'm not 100% sure about Gabby, I do hope she does well. I'll be cheering for these girls from north of the border!