My Favorite Vaults (Thru 2012)

5. Elena Produnova

It's probably not a surprise that Elena is on my (or other peoples) list. This vault of hers is incredible and no one has been able to execute it nearly as flawlessly as her. In fact, she is the only one who can look good and not like they're about to kill themselves. 

4. Alicia Sacremone

 

Alicia has the most world medals of all American female gymnasts and her impressive vaulting skills have a lot to do with it. She has a ton of power, sometimes even too much, those landings make you think she can add an extra half twist and still be good to go!

3. Oksana Chusovitina

Not only has Oksana had a ridiculously long career (and I think still going!) she has had an impressive resume as well! She has won many world and a few Olympic medals and in her late 30's is not slowing down.

2. Cheng Fei (CHI)

Cheng Fei was not the typical Chinese pixie that everyone was so used to. She had strength and power. I so wish that the 2008 Olympics would have went differently for her but she has still gone down in history as a legendary vaulter. And she even has a vault named after her!

1. McKayla Maroney

I'd have to dub Maroney the best vaulter ever. Period. This vault has to be as close to perfect as they come, it was flawless! McKayla is a fast runner and gets more air than anyone I've ever seen. Her Olympics in 2012 also didn't go as planned so I am hoping she can get her redemption in Rio.

Mckayla Speaks

Thoughts on Mckayla Maroney's Wednesday Gymcastic interview...

1. First off, though we all knew it was coming, I'm quite sad that we won't see her in competition. I think she really had so much to offer after London. If anyone could nail a triple, it would be her. I teared up a little bit when she said she just the other day was able to tell someone that she wouldn't be in Rio. That's got to be so hard for her. 
2. I was really impressed by the way she spoke. I think because of her other youtube videos that were very teenager, I was expecting something similar. Instead, she sounded very mature and adult. Underneath all of the "likes", she is very well spoken. 
3. The revelations about USAG and the thirty day nonstop pre-London camp...holy cow what? No wonder so many people get hurt before big comps if this is how they train them. And who was given a flashback to Abby Lee Miller of Dance Mom's screaming "Everyone is replaceable!" when Mckayla said no one is ever really on the team until they compete and how she was told she would be replaced if she was too hurt. 
4. The AOGA stuff. It must have been really hard for Mac to speak so honestly about her coaches but I could tell that it was important that she told her full story. There wasn't bitterness to what she was saying at all which was very impressive to me. Still, it really sucks that her coaches "messed her up mentally" like they did. It made me really sad to think of all of the other girls having fun on the bus and Mckayla not being allowed to participate. 
5. I'm so glad she finally feels healthy and it's inane to me that there isn't already a nutritionist working with these girls. And training with injuries as she did, that does so much harm. But at the same time, as she said, the team did achieve their goal. But at what cost? I can't help but wonder if she could still be competing if the methods of training hadn't been so harsh. 
6. The leotard line. Please Mckayla, no pink! I have high hopes for her though, because her leo from 2013 (the ombre peacock one) was really cool. 
7. The music career makes me nervous but I'll be rooting for her. She seems to be going about it in a good way. 

I met Mckayla at 2014 Classics and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. She was so nice to everyone and she asked to shake MY hand when I got up to get her autograph. I remember telling her that I was rooting for her to make it to Rio. And she said, "I'm going to try my best, I'm going to do it". I could tell then (and backed up by the interview) that her attempt to comeback was serious and she had so much fire! That's what makes me the saddest. But I know she gave it her all and some things just don't work out. I'm glad she is at peace with everything now and I wish her all the best of luck in the future!

Please excuse the scary smiley face but I'm anonymous so it is what it is!

Girls in Limbo

There are several girls in the USA that seem to have been in injury-limbo for quite some time. Being so close to the Olympics...I have to think that they'll either come back to competition this summer (Secret Classic, Nationals) or choose to retire. Or I guess they could continue to string along in hopes of making some sort of massive comeback in 2016. The third option is unlikely and not very realistic.

So, Peyton Ernst, Nica Hults, Mckayla Maroney and Sabrina Vega...what's it gonna be? I know Peyton had some sort of arm injury (elbow, shoulder?), Nica had hand surgery earlier this year and Mckayla had her knee issues and other health problems. I'm not really sure what's up with Vega, she was back at camp in December and maybe January but that was it. Did she give up? Or get hurt? At any rate, I want to know what the deal is. Truthfully, I think Mckayla is the only one who would have a real shot at making it to Rio and only if she arrives on the scene with a TTY. The others...I don't know. I love Nica's beam set but she's grossly underscored here in the US so I don't know how that wold work out internationally. And we have enough beamers.

I guess only time will tell.

FIG Rules...or not

I'm so torn about the new team rules for 2020...on one hand, it is great for a smaller country who is only able to send a specialist. It's also good that it will be 4 up 3 count. But, I have to wonder what kind of dynamic it will bring to have designated specialists that are strictly competing for themselves and not with a team.

I just think it's so strange to have one or two girls traveling with Team USA, training with them but not getting to compete for that team title. I can't see how a major divide won't happen between AA's and ES. If these rules had been in place for the London games, the team would have been without Maroney who would have been a specialist and if Nastia had managed to pull together a bar routine, they most likely would have brought her too. It's just weird!

And now, any girl who may be weak on one event, will have to consider dropping it and losing out on the opportunity to ever be part of that team. If these rules started for Rio, Aly's bars would take her out of the running. I just think it sucks that girls are going to miss out on a team medal just because they may not be amazing on each event.

It will be interesting to see what happens, that's for sure!

And, I apologize for my loooooong blogging break. I had surgery and then a semester to finish up so I totally failed. I want to blog at least once a week this summer!