- May 20, 2020
- 7
- 7
Watched Whitney Bjerken's most recent video, and in it she stated that she is 5' 8", almost 5' 9"... I was FLOORED. She is obviously tall for a gymnast, but I always assumed she was in the 5'4"/ 5'5" range at the absolute tallest, and she just looked tall standing next to the other girls because they are all short. I believe her goal (if she can get her elbow healthy again) is still to qualify elite, and she looked beautiful on bars earlier in the year, before her elbow injury issues and second surgery. It really did seem like an attainable goal based on where her skills were at. Looked like she had been focusing on high value dance elements in combination on FX and BB and her vault and floor skills had been improving despite her growth, but she was looking very good on bars. Definitely seemed like she was on her way to being able to qualify elite at least...
Now I am wondering, is it even possible for her to compete elite, given her height? Have there been any successful elite WAGs her height? Who is the most successful 5' 8" or 5' 9" gymnast that you know of? In NCAA I know it isn't as unheard of especially for event specialists, but in the elite world I cannot recall ever seeing a gymnast of that height competing at the elite level. Would bars be in issue in elite because of her height? Is she practicing on bars that are farther apart than would be allowable in elite competition?
It is possible that her goals have changed and she is no longer aiming to become elite, but focusing on her NCAA goals instead, but I do not believe she has ever expressed that change of goals publicly if she has.
Would love to hear insight and perspectives from those who know better than me.
Now I am wondering, is it even possible for her to compete elite, given her height? Have there been any successful elite WAGs her height? Who is the most successful 5' 8" or 5' 9" gymnast that you know of? In NCAA I know it isn't as unheard of especially for event specialists, but in the elite world I cannot recall ever seeing a gymnast of that height competing at the elite level. Would bars be in issue in elite because of her height? Is she practicing on bars that are farther apart than would be allowable in elite competition?
It is possible that her goals have changed and she is no longer aiming to become elite, but focusing on her NCAA goals instead, but I do not believe she has ever expressed that change of goals publicly if she has.
Would love to hear insight and perspectives from those who know better than me.