Gymnastics Hopes for 2016

Holy cow, here we are folks! I remember watching the closing ceremonies in London and being soooo bummed it was over, I couldn't believe I would have to wait 4 years for another Olympics. And now, it's officially 2016: THE YEAR OF RIO!
I'm pumped, you?

So, with that in mind, here are my hopes for gymnastics in the coming year:

• I have an ideal team for Rio but there are a lot of variations that I'll be happy with so basically, I just want a team that's earned it and that deserves to be there. 
• Additionally, I really want Norah Flatley on that team. 
• I want Simone to make her Olympic mark and win the AA. 
• Way deeper fields everywhere, I don't want to already know the outcome for every event in advance. 
• Romanian redemption. 
• Someone in the US to really shake things up, a dark horse that no one saw coming. (Coming soon to a theater near you!)
• Good showing for the returning veterans (Ponor, Mustafina, Yao). 
• The new Seniors to come in and actually be in the mix for Rio. 
• Exciting competition during the Trials. 
• A lovely, feeling inducing, song to go along with the fluff montages during Rio. Hey, I'm still jamming out to Phillip Phillips "Home". 
• Leotards that are creative, especially in the US. In my humble opinion, the Under Armour ones from Glasgow left a lot to be desired. 
• Fair judging. 

And I guess that's all I can think of for now. Additionally, on a personal level, I really just want to have the time of my life at the Olympic Trials. I can't believe that I asked my mom to accompany me last spring and she basically said, "yes" with no hesitation! Now we're making a whole family trip out of it. I can't wait, I really can't!

What are your hopes this year??

The Trouble with Simone

Simone Biles is really at the top of her game (and the world!) right now. Still, I can't help but wonder how long her domination can last and if she can endure a year and a half more until the Olympics. In other words, is it possibly or likely that she could win the most prestigious title in WAG?

Simone has won the last two of US National Championships, Nastia Liukin did the same thing in 2005 and 2006 (and at the same point in the Quad). And despite losing to Shawn Johnson at the next two Nationals, she won the all around in Beijing. However, Nastia never won a world title, let alone one early on in the Quad.

Carly Patterson's career was relatively short lived and she only competed in one senior nationals before winning the all around in Athens. Same goes for Gabby Douglas who never even won a nationals but went on to nab the gold in London.

Going back even further, to Sydney, Andreea Raducan (the rightful AA winner) hadn't won a world all around medal before winning in Australia.

Now, to look at the women who, like Simone, did win world championships early in the Quad. Shannon Miller won at the same two time slots as Simone (1993 & 1994 vs. 2013 & 2014). Shannon went on to compete in Atlanta and only came in 8th place in the AA. Svetlana Khorkina won World AA in 1997, 2001 and 2003 but could never grasp an Olympic AA gold.

Chellsie Memmel won World AA gold in 2005 but injuries kept her from doing much at all in the 2008 Olympics. Bridget Sloan won Worlds in 2009 but never made her second Olympics in 2012.

Pretty much, what I'm trying to sum up is the fact that in the past 20+ years, no one who won Worlds this early in the quad has ever gone on to win the Olympic AA title. It's all about timing really, because if the Olympics were last year or today, Simone would win them without question. She is an amazing athlete and it would be a shame if she didn't get to showcase that at the biggest meet a gymnast can go to. However, if anyone can stand stand that test of time, I think she can.

Why not Jordyn?

Mckayla made her comeback in 2013, Gabby and Aly are due at the next camp and Kyla never really left. Jordyn supposedly was training for elite again about a year and a half ago but then it fizzled into nothing as she left for college. Now she assists with UCLA's gymnastics team where she is not allowed to compete due to going pro. This begs the question, why hasn't Jordyn Wieber, the FFer with the most to prove, trying to make a comeback for Rio?

Jordyn was at the top in 2011 and 2012, she won nearly everything she competed in and was world champ! Then, we all know what happened in London. I wish Jordyn had gotten a chance to do the all-around but be it her coaches or the judges fault, it wasn't to be. This was a MAJOR upset though and Jordyn was visibly devastated. I don't think there was person watching who didn't think she would try and find some redemption in 2016. And then...it didn't seem like it was going to happen,. Realistically, if Jordyn had wanted to have a fighting chance in Rio, she would have been seriously training for at least 6 months now.

So, is Jordyn's elite career history? I have to say, I think it is. I respect her decision to walk away from the sport, if that is what she truly wants. I suppose I just don't understand it. When Alicia Sacremone and Chellsie Memmel didn't have the Olympics they hoped for in 2008, they gave it another go for London. Even though neither made it, they still can say that they tried their best and gave it a shot.

I would love to see Wieber back in the playing field, I can't imagine that she is completely at peace with 2012 yet, though I hope she someday will be. I guess for me, if I were in her shoes, I wouldn't be able to settle with walking away from a sport that I still had a lot to offer and a lot to prove. Of course, it's not about me and I in no way know Jordyn's inner thoughts. I'm just giving my 2 cents.