How Mykayla Skinner Made Me a Fan

You won't have to scroll far on this blog to find that I did not used to like Mykayla Skinner's gymnastics. The skill chucking and bad form just annoyed the crap out of me. I can't lie, I rooted against her. It sounds mean, but I just preferred other athletes who had better technique.

Fast forward to now. Here is what I've realized, Skinner works HARD. She has cleaned up her forms, she does extremely difficult skills and she's managed to stay at this level of gymnastics for the entire quad. She doesn't give up, she's mostly consistent and she's giving it her all for Rio.

Let's just say, that in a world where certain girls don't appear to be giving it their all, both in training and competition, I admire Mykayla Skinner for killing it in the gym and giving her best effort. If she can redeem herself at Trials, I think she deserves a spot in Rio. In fact, I would not mind a team of Aly, Simone, Laurie, Maggie and Skinner. Stock up the all-arounders and we will be FINE> Yeah, bars won't be great but Simone, Laurie and Maggie can more than get the job done. Beam, floor and vault are SET. We won't make the bars final, but who cares? We'll make all the other finals and maybe take home tow vault medals!

Anyway, that was the story of how I become pro-Skinner.
The end.

Nationals Imperssions

Here we go:

Aly Raisman punched her ticket and I couldn't be happier. This is the sort of competition she's been waiting for since her comeback.Steady, solid and hitting all events. Her new floor routine is inferior to the old one but her tumbling is still world class and awesome to watch. I can't wait to see her in Rio.

Simone Biles, give this girl a rest. She doesn't need two more competition days, we all know how awesome she is. But I highly doubt they'll let her sit out trials. Great meet for her though, minus the last beam set.

Maggie Nichols is about to give her a heart attack. If she is healthy, and ready on all four events at trials she will be the one giving Gabby a run for her money. I so badly want her to make this team, she deserves it and has comeback from two major injuries now, still managing to regain her difficulty. She didn't perform well, that was clear, but it was her first time out and I'm betting nerves had something to do with it. I want her to KILL IT at trials.

Laurie Hernandez. Ok, I'm not her biggest fan but she definitely hit so I'm cool with it. I mean she is better than others so she deserved her spot. I guess my issue with her is that I just find her gymnastics clunky and her floor is way overrated. But, she's a chipper girl with a nice attitude so I can't complain.

Madison Kocian didn't really help her cause on night one but her day two routine was great for her. I think her being able to compete AA will absolutely give her the edge over Locklear.

Alyssa Bauman. Girl makes me sad. I don't think there is a need for her on the team at all. Her beam is lovely, but inconsistent and Aly, Simone, Laurie and Maggie are all solid beam workers. Maybe she'll get an alternate spot.

Ragan Smith killed me. She's like Sarah Finnegan. Super hyped up beam and floor worker that just needs more time. Well, maybe time in a different sense. With Sarah, she hadn't had a whole lot of international competition experience. But Ragan has. I think her issue is nerves and maybe also polishing up here and there. Ultimately, I don't see her being named as anything other than alternate. Even if she hits at Trials, I don't think it will be enough.

Gabby Douglas had a bad meet. There is no other way to say it and I'm sick of commentators trying to excuse it. She had several big errors and didn't even make top three anywhere. The thing is, without Maggie being her usual self, there isn't anyone who can take the Rio spot from Gabby. I don't think she deserves to go at all but if Swaggie isn't ready, who else would they take? Ragan is headcasing and her bars wouldn't fill that gap. Hundly doesn't have the difficulty, Bauman doesn't have the consistency. Douglas will go no matter what really, even if Maggie does rock it. The odds have been skewed in her favor for a long time now. Sigh.

The team will be (and I know this is the popular opinion): Biles, Raisman, Hernandez, Kocian and Douglas. Smith, Skinner and possibly Bauman (or Gowey?) as alternates. Not at all who I wanted but this is what we're going to get.

Ah well. 

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Bailie Key is out for Rio. I'm heartbroken.
Kim said this is not the end for her so Bailie and Norah for 2017 Worlds it is!

Trials Euphoria

Guys, my tickets to Olympic Trials came in the mail this past week. I'm pretty sure I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to meet Olympians (as they are having that giant reunion, I'm sure I'll stumble upon some!), go to the chalk talk, the parade and of course, see the competition!

The fact that my mom and I will be in that arena when the team is announced is just mind boggling. I keep thinking of when I watched the trials in 2012 and the confetti came down and it was just SO exciting and unforgettable. I'm pretty certain I'm gong to have the time of my life.

In related news...

I'm bummed that Flatley is out for Nationals and of course, Rio. I've been a fan of hers for years and it sucks that injury is putting her out of the running. I think she's extremely talented and had loads of untapped potential so I hope she'll stick around.

With Norah out, I'm basically just rooting for Bailie Key. Ok, it's not as though she's the only one I like and want on the team. I like Simone of course, and I want Aly and Maggie is fine too but Bailie is someone whose gymnastics I really appreciate and enjoy. Plus, the girl has been majorly screwed over in the past and who wouldn't love a little redemption. Gosh, I would just love it if she totally killed it at Nationals and trials. She deserves a spot far more than some others.

We shall see.

Classics and Key

• Juniors Morgan Hurd, Deanne Soza and Emma M (not going to attempt to misspell her last name:) are my favorites. Chiles too if she can get her act together in competition. 
• Aly did herself a big favor by pulling it together for the rest of her night but the bars have never been her friend and I fear she won't be put up on them in Rio if she gets there (bye to the all-around for her)
• Brenna just competing beam was a head scratcher but you know, if the girl wants to just compete and see what happens, more power to her. She obviously likes training elite and is giving Rio her best shot even if it's a long one. 
• Hardly any all-arounders did make the night a bit dull. Gabby on beam is a mess but at least she stayed on. Simone's looked good enough save a few wobbles.
• Let's talk bar workers: Ashton and Kocian looked about the same to me but the gap was pretty big scoring wise. One thing that Maddie K has going for her is that her beam set is better than Locklear's but it's still questionable. I'm not impressed with Laurie on bars at all, she looks heavy on them, sort of like Kyla at the end of her career. 
• Rachel Gowey getting second place was nice. I've been a fan of hers for awhile, maybe she'll get an alternate spot, who knows. I wish she had gotten to go to worlds back in 2014 when she was at her peak. Alas...

And Bailie Key, my new underdog to root for. Her bars looked good in PT and word is that she's training an amanar. After getting screwed over, I would really like it if she could make it onto this team. With her consistency and clean routines she certainly deserves a spot over certain others.