All I Wanted Was a Fair Competition

And thank God, we got one.

So, ok, the bar finals thing is mega screwed up but ALY IS IN THE AA! The idea of this not happening has been stressing me out for so long and I feel like I can sit back and really enjoy Rio now. Granted, she hasn't won her silver medal yet but I have confidence that she'll stay her usual consistent self on Thursday.

As I mentioned before, I was on an island all weekend and I had a nice time. But every now and then, as I was laying on a raft or eating a steak or reading on a porch swing. I would remember the qualifications happening Sunday and literally shudder.

One, I was nervous about getting home in time to watch them (no livestream on the island so I was counting on good ole NBC broadcast). And two, what if Aly didn't make it?? Ugh, the suspense.

Happily, someone else had to get off the island at an earlier time on Sunday so I didn't have to be the one to make a fuss about getting home in time. And I would have made that fuss too. No shame, no game.

Anyhow, we rolled in around 6:30 and I had time to eat dinner and move the comfy chair right in front of the TV (I'm slightly visually impaired, don't judge). Can I just say that I hate how NBC won't just show the whole darn thing at once??? Why did I need to sit through two hours of swimming? And I like swimming, but not for two hours.

Enough about my sad life, back to gymnastics.

I pretty much thought Aly had it in the bag after floor and vault. No, I'm totally kidding, I knew nothing is counted on until the last event which happened to be the ominous balance beam. Gabby's floor, I have to say, looked terrible. The afterthought of a back tuck, the horrible choreo and the lack of passion...just bad. Sorry not sorry. But other than that, she competed ok but Aly did great on all but that blasted near-fatal balance check on beam. I felt like I was going to vomit while waiting for that score.

But it was enough! Go Aly! Redemption is here at last!

Two last things:

• People saying Gabby was being a better sport than Jordyn in 2012 freaking pisses me off. First of all, the two situations are so completely different that it's laughable to even compare them. Second of all, Jordyn was anything but a brat or a diva, while (ahem) I can't say that about the former. 
• FINALLY WE HAVE A LEOTARD THAT AMERICA CAN BE PROUD OF. It was a thing of beauty (totally reminded me of Kyla's from 2015 nationals by the way). It was so lovely that I'm worried they can't top it for team finals. I hope they don't show up in some another snoozefest of a red leotard tomorrow. 

See you all then!

I Can't Even...

That was...terrible.

Brenna's bar meltdown, Aly's fall and underscoring on beam. Gabby's fall and still makes the AA. I'm dying inside. Dying.

Poor Maggie Nichols is all I have to say. SHE should be in the AA and rightfully so. Poor Mykayla Skinner too! As much as I love Brenna, she should have been alternate because that bar routine is such a hit or miss and today it was a big giant Rebecca Bross trials miss. And poor Bailie Key too, sitting at home for no reason at all when she would have competed a heck of a lot more solid than some of these girls.

I blame nerve for Aly's issues She started off with some problems on floor and then let it get to her on vault and bars but she hit beam and I really thought it would put in her in the AA. No such luck, Mihai, fill an inquiry please.

As for Gabby, I was giving her the credit she deserves after nice landings that horrid floor routine (the choreo...smh). And then she hit a nice vault and a decent bars and I thought, hey the best competitor on this very day gets the spot so it's only fair. But then she melts down on beam, big time, and somehow still gets the spot. I'm not pleased. Nichols or Raisman should be the second AAer, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

Bright spots were Maggie's floor, Brenna getting the front pike named for her, Simone's vault and Maggie on beam. To be honest thought, we didn't look too hot in general. I'm sure we'll pull it out for team comp but still. This has got to be the worst qualifications in a looooong time for the US. And it's the worst for me too.

Because of all of the screwing over.