Heading to Classics!

Yay! I'm super excited to be heading to the Secret Classic very shortly. Though I'm really disappointed that Norah and Victoria are out, there is still plenty more to look forward to!

Predictions:
AA: Simone, Bailie, Aly or ???
VT: Simone, Skinner
UB: Locklear or Dowell (if she comes through), Kocian, Key? Ross?
BB: Key, Biles, Aly?
FX: Biles, Skinner, Nichols ?

Eh, I'm not really sure. It's up in the air for a lot of this.

What I'm most excited about;
-Aly's comeback
-Brenna's return to elite
-Sabrina Vega returns!
-Bailie Key's first national meet in 2 years!
-Seeing all of this in person!

I will most definitely write a recap of my experience when I get back!
-G-

Underrated

I decided to put together a list of underrated routines by women in the US right now. Be it by judges or fans, these are sets that I think need more recognition or higher scores.

1. Nica Hults: Balance Beam

Nica is so clean on this event. She has a nice steady rhythm and great execution. I don't know why she doesn't score higher but she should.

2. Kyla Roos: Floor

Ok so I might be in the vast minority but I actually love Kyla on this event. I know her movements have a slight robotic quality to them and not everyone is partial to her dramatic music but all of that works for me in some strange way. I like the way her choreography looks and I like how she executes it.

3. Brenna Dowell: Vault

Brenna's best event is vars for sure but I always thought she had great potential on vault as well. She's fairly clean in the air so with a neater landing, she could score even better. If she were to gain a second vault even, that would help her quest to Rio.

4. Norah Flatley: Bars

Again, this is not the event Norah is most known for but she does a great job. I love her easy swing and clean lines and that layout dismount-wow! The inbar work is fabulous and with some cleaning up and upgrades she'll really be a contender.

5. Maggie Nichols: Floor Exercise

I like that Maggie has fun with this and that her choreography seems to really match her personality. I'll be interested to see if she has a new routine this year, I think she does? Anyway, I hope she sticks with something fun because I think it's what she's best suited for.

What do YOU think are some underrated routines?

Pan Ams Selection Camp

From USAG: The eight members of the Pan Am training squad are Nia Dennis, Westerville, Ohio/Buckeye Gymnastics; Madison Desch, Lenexa, Kan./GAGE; Rachel Gowey, Urbandale, Iowa/Chow's Gymnastics; Felicia Hano, San Gabriel, Calif./Gym-Max; Amelia Hundley, Fairfield, Ohio/Cincinnati Gymnastics; Lauren Navarro, La Verne, Calif./Gliders; Emily Schild, Huntersville, N.C./Everest Gymnastics; and Megan Skaggs, Marietta, Ga./Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta.

That's 8 girls for 5 spots...hmm. If the past is any indication, none of these girls really have a shot at Rio, at least the ones who end up making the team. If that is indeed the case, then I want Gowey home because I'd like to see her as at least a Rio alternate (and I selfishly want to get to watch her at Classics :).

I actually have no real predictions about who will make the team because I have a feeling that it will be heavily based on performances at this camp. We'll see!

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.

Team Brenna

I'm a fan of Brenna Dowell. I wasn't always...in fact I remember bashing her a little bit to my younger sister when I was watching some meet. But that was before I really knew much about her. Upon further research I came to appreciate her unique, innovative bar routine that was amazing-when she hit. Of course, that is the most important point. If you can't hit in competition, it's pretty much all for nothing. And Brenna, she wasn't always the most consistent (usually due to injury). But, I saw past that and focused on her potential. I even sent her a "fan letter" and she wrote me back the nicest response.

Furthermore, I was angry when she was screwed over at the 2013 worlds, I was biting my nails for her during last years disastrous Secret Classic performance and I was bummed when she announced her retirement from elite in favor of college.

After a great first NCAA season, Brenna is now going elite again in hopes of making it Rio or at least this years Worlds. I'm hugely excited about this but sadly, I don't think she has much of a chance. Al Fong has never been exactly in Marta's good graces and then there is that consistency issue. If Brenna can get herself a new coach (Gym-Max?) and stay healthy, I think she at least has a shot at some more international assignments.

Either way, Brenna if you are reading this, I'm rooting for you!

Going to The Secret Classic! Again!

Yay! In a last minute twist of events, I am headed back to Chicago at the end of July to attend SC's and I'm pumped. I literally had the time of my life last year! Among other things, our seats were super close, I got to meet Mckayala Maroney (was #299/300 in line!) and got a bunch of autographs. It was my first live viewing of a meet and they are so much better in person. This time, my whole family will be coming too (as opposed to it just being my mom and I last year) because apparently, no one can stand to miss out on the fun. And, my best friend goes to school in Chicago so I will get to see her too. All in all, it should be a pretty good trip! Oh and I'm hoping to NOT forget my camera again and get some good pictures as opposed to the grainy ones snapped from my iphone.

The Pan Am squad won't be competing (I don't think) but the big Rio frontrunners will be there and it will be Aly and Gabby's bit debut since London. I'm hoping to meet more athletes and get some more autographs to expand my collection which I will be posting very soon.

Oh and I did a guest blog book review over at Gym Truth Teller, check it out!

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!