A Comprehensive Look at Why Gabby Douglas Should Not Have Made the Rio Team

Ok, I've about had it.

One week ago, after the team was named, I got into several "arguments" on the comment section of a yahoo article entitled, "Biles, Douglas Headline Rio Team". I know, right?

My point is, Douglas isn't headlining ANYTHING. I'm sick of trying to explain why to a bunch of uneducated and hostile four year fans.

So I'm putting it to bed right here and now.

They say: I trust the selection committee, what makes you think you know better than them? Marta Karolyi has been successfully doing this for years! 

Refute: With all high power comes corruption. And there has been a crap ton of it under MK's rule. With the USA being so ahead and deep in talent, it gives the committee a lot of leeway to pick who they want, rather than who is actually best for the job. The fact is that the USA could win gold with many five person team combinations but that doesn't make it ok to not include people who have proven they are at the top of the pack. Gabby is not at the top of the pack and she was not chosen for her talent. The selection committee is taking her because it makes a good story and USAG will make money of her. Simple 

They say: Gabby is going because she is one of the best bar workers, we need her in team finals. 

Refute: Gabby is the third best American on bars, behind Locklear who we left at home. If we really wanted someone for bars, we would have taken Ashton who has a chance to actually medal in event finals. At any rate, we don't actually need either one. A few tenths on bars (all that Gabby can offer) is nothing to us. We are that ahead. So no, Gabby is not going for bars. 

They say: Why don't you have a little faith in Gabby! She is the AA champion after all, she won in London!

Refute: So freaking what? She won a medal four years ago and look how far she has fallen. It doesn't mean ANYTHING that she is the reigning AA champ at this point. She is seventh in the country at this point, not top three on anything except bars (her "best event") and adds nothing to this team. Why don't we all look at history and see how far being the AA champ from last quad gets you. Just ask Nastia Liukin. 

They say: Gabby will be great in Rio, she just needs time. 

Refute: Time? Tell me why Gabby was given the benefit of "time" when Maggie Nichols was tossed aside like garbage? Explain why Maggie, who literally came back from her injury like a boss, was not even considered when she not only beat Gabby Douglas, but was an Amanar away from being in top form again? And she had the Amanar in training but was just told not to compete it! Maggie is not only a more reliable gymnast than Gabby but she outscores her, so explain why Gabby was given time but not Maggie? You can't? Right, because there is no logical explanation. 

They say: Gabby won silver at worlds last year, she's still one of the best in the world. 

Refute: Ahh this one really gets me. Here you go: Nichols outscored Douglas at worlds but was simply not given the chance to compete AA. Lordache should have beat Gabby had she not been underscored and Aly Raisman had one bad day in qualifying. So, no Gabby should not have won that medal at all, another example of her being favored over others. And, clearly, she can't even be argued to be top in the world at this point because, hello, she came in seventh in USA alone. 

They say: Gabby is such a hard worker, that's why I admire her. 

Refute: JOKE. Gabby is a notorious slacker, ask Marta herself who has literally said so multiple times. And can't you see how it shows? She has DECLINED. While others have IMPROVED. She did not bring it at trials where it counted and that should have been what mattered. Skinner brought it, Smith brought it, Locklear brought it where it counted, Nichols sure as heck brought it, save one mistake. So tell me why, two fall, seventh place Gabby was favored over the former? Cricket, cricket. Right. 

Because Gabby Douglas shouldn't have been anywhere near this team except as an alternate.

Does everyone get it now? Ok?
Case closed.

Being an Adult Gym Fan is Like Being a 25 Year Old Model, but Less Glamorous

You know how on America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks is always stressing that age 25 isn't old in the real world but it's old in the modelling world?

That's sort of how I feel being a 22 year old gymnastics fan.

I mean, I'm a young adult and in the grand scheme of life, I'm young, period. But holy cow, among the 19000 people at the trials, I'm pretty sure I was in the one percent of adults that were not there as parental supervision.

Take my experience in the Carly Patterson autograph line. There were two girls in front of me, they looked like college students maybe. I kept hearing the taller one literally giving a comprehensive explanation of USA gymnastics in the past ten years or so and my heart soared. Finally someone I could carry on an educated, gymnastics conversation with! We chatted for the duration of our wait while my mom talked about non-gymnastics things with the shorter friend. After I got my (blurry, thanks mom), picture with Carly, the four of us wished each other well and parted ways.

Then my mom said, "Do you know how old those girls were?"
I guessed, "I don't know, eighteen?"
"Fifteen!"

Sheesh! And fifteen is even old for the demographic of the crowd! I mean, show me a girl in the audience who had graduated middle school and I'll be happy to attempt a double double.

Ok, I get it. Gymnastics has sparkly leotards and pretty hair and cool flips and yada yada yada. I get why it attracts little girls. And really, you can't be very old and actually do gymnastics, so unlike basketball and soccer and baseball, us older fans can only spectate.

But it was maybe a little bit disheartening, and slightly embarrassing to feel so old every time I go to an event. I shouldn't have to be embarrassed about being a fan of a sport that I love! So what if I'm 22 and have only ever donned a leotard for a Halloween costume! So what if people probably assume I'm 12 because I've never made it to the mythical five feet (ok, I've never made it to 4'10 either).

I'm just to keep on doing my thing. And if there is an autograph line to get into, you can bet I'll be proudly standing between eight year olds who don't even know who Carly Patterson is.

Dear Shannon Miller, I'm sorry you had to touch my sweaty back...

Ok, a little backstory:

Ten years ago I had back surgery. Somewhere during the titanium rod welding to my spine and the failed lung collapse, my kind surgeon did a bit of nerve (gland?) damage. The result is that on my abdomen and back, I only sweat on my right side and to compensate for the left, I sweat twice as much. TMI? Nah. It's not as though it happens all the time, but when I'm hot or nervous or working out or whatever, I've been known to soak through one side of a camisole. Cute.

Well, I found myself both hot and nervous before day one of the Olympic Trials because I'd a), been out in the sun for hours and b) been wearing a heavy black leather backpack. Then I was nervous because, hello, there was Shannon Miller! My all time favorite! But I wove my way to her (no one else even noticed her but for two little girls. Like, get with the program people!). Anyway, I went over and told her how much I admired her, and loved her book and blah blah blah. She was very nice and happily obliged when I asked her to take a picture with me. Unfortunately ,the side of my body that her arm ended up going around was my right side.

The sweaty side.

Oh well. Such is life.

More Olympic Trials memories to come!

Today is the Day!

Well folks, here I am in San Jose! Tonight is the big night and I'm pumped. Honestly, all I hope for now is a fair selection process. We shall see.
I'm having the best time and have had such amazing experiences! I can't wait to detail them when I get home.
Just under ten hours and we wil know the team! Bring on the confetti!

Leaving for the Trials!

The time is finally upon me! I can't believe that the year and a half since I first bough the tickets has gone by so fast!

I have so many hopes for this trip, I just want to experience everything! I've only ever attended the Secret Classic and this is a much bigger deal so I'm prepared to be overwhelmed with gymnastics excitement!

Even though the team is pretty clear at this point, the actual naming and subsequent confetti fest in the arena will be something unforgettable and I can't wait! I also hope to score some more autographs and meet Shannon Miller. It's not such a lofty goal as she'll be there with Hershey's. Chocolate and my favorite gymnast, not a bad combo.

At any rate, I won't be bringing my laptop with me. I'm a writer and I have three and a half books written and saved on this computer so I would probably have a heart attack if my luggage got lost along with my laptop. Truly, I would need medical attention.

So, my ipad will be my sole companion. I may attempt to update little blurbs but I'm not sure. I would like to but I don't know if I'll have time or feel like braving the touch-pad keyboard horror. I do however, promise to extensively write about my time at the Trials upon my return. Expect pictures and fangirling galore. I know everyone will be on the edge of their seats!

Signing off for now! See you all in a few weeks when the Rio team has been confirmed! Crazy stuff!