Fill in the slots for qualifications

[gymdog]

I think Martha will probably change her floor after Trials. But I think she probably lost some skills due to her growth sport. I had forgotten when she used to do an amanar, she also did a triple on floor (actually not just a triple, a 1.5 through to a triple) but someone just reminded me of that. Her double Arabian and full in are pretty good.

As for the turns I'm curious why she decided to try to add value there when she's relatively bad at turns, especially when she's comparatively good at leaps and jumps. Maybe someone can come up with a better floor routine for her. It seems like we should be able to use her on floor.

 

[profmom]

Yes, Gymdog! If she could add a jump, leap, or combo that would equal the value of one or more of the problematic turns and just get rid of at least one of them, that would be a smart change. Her leaps and jumps are still beautiful!

 

[Gymmommy71]

Could she be doing those turns so that we keep up w/ the other countries - so many other non-US gymnasts do them beautifully and here we are the best team and can't turn (except for our beautiful wolf turns ). Could it be something like that?

 

[munchkin3]

Ummmmm. Here with a stupid question......how does the Olympics work with the AA qualifiers? I remember the Jordan wieber debacle, but forgot how the whole thing went down.....can anyone refresh my memory?

 

[profmom]

In prelims, twenty-four athletes qualify to AA finals, I believe. They take the top AA finishers, but they only take two per country. So if your country has three in the top group, only the two highest scorers advance to the AA finals. In 2012, the US competed three athletes AA in prelims. Weiber was very high up, but she finished behind Douglas and Raisman, so she was bumped by the two-per-country rule.

 

[munchkin3]

Yes I remember.....so in prelims they also qualify for the event specialist? All at the same time?

 

[ayyyrial]

Yes I remember.....so in prelims they also qualify for the event specialist? All at the same time?

Yes, for event finals they take the top 8 on each event (so you have to compete that event at quals to qualify), with the top 2 per country rule as well.

 

[munchkin3]

Ok, so everything depends on qualifiers on the first day.....then everything is set in stone for AA, events......and team

 

[WillWork4Flips]

Exactly, due to only having 5 members it will be virtually impossible for 4 to even try to even try to qualify for AA. We already know Kocian will not qualify because she is primarily a bars specialist although they could put her possibly on beam. That leaves 3 girls that are all AA girls to fight out who will even get the opportunity (at the ranch), because we all know Without a doubt Simone earned it and has proven her AA status at every comp she's been at in the last 2 years or so. So who will the two others be. Aly who seems to be peeking nicely at the moment, strong on floor, US secret gold winner, so consistent...no surprises from her, also got higher than gabby in quals last olympics ( remember gabby beat wiener at quals but not Aly until AA finals) Hernandez comparable to 2012 gabby..very spicy, fun and has strong scores on all events no best event but very consistent overall, or gabby 2012 Olympic gold Champ, strong on bars, silver at worlds, 1st at att cup, internationally pleasing, when hits all 4 events...can pull those high AA scores, but has some serious mental blocks lately (amanor, switching coaches, beam debacle). Sometimes I think I'd like to see gabby focus on medaling on Beam (yes believe it or not) she made beam finals last olympics but freakin fell from what I recalled, id love to see her redeem herself pull in a bronze or silver their) And maybe get that silver or bronze in bars..I really like Gabby, She's on my shortlist of favs, I know she can come off aloof or detached, but I just get that type of personality. I just feel (not that she doesn't have it) but she is seriously stressed, I nearly cried seeing her at that water cooler so upset like that and the stupid camera people were filming her like that) I think if Marta just has her focus on beam and bars and set new goals it will relieve some of this pressure of trying to prove herself again and she will perform a lot better).

 

[sce]

Exactly, due to only having 5 members it will be virtually impossible for 4 to even try to even try to qualify for AA. We already know Kocian will not qualify because she is primarily a bars specialist although they could put her possibly on beam. That leaves 3 girls that are all AA girls to fight out who will even get the opportunity (at the ranch), because we all know Without a doubt Simone earned it and has proven her AA status at every comp she's been at in the last 2 years or so. So who will the two others be. Aly who seems to be peeking nicely at the moment, strong on floor, US secret gold winner, so consistent...no surprises from her, also got higher than gabby in quals last olympics ( remember gabby beat wiener at quals but not Aly until AA finals) Hernandez comparable to 2012 gabby..very spicy, fun and has strong scores on all events no best event but very consistent overall, or gabby 2012 Olympic gold Champ, strong on bars, silver at worlds, 1st at att cup, internationally pleasing, when hits all 4 events...can pull those high AA scores, but has some serious mental blocks lately (amanor, switching coaches, beam debacle). Sometimes I think I'd like to see gabby focus on medaling on Beam (yes believe it or not) she made beam finals last olympics but freakin fell from what I recalled, id love to see her redeem herself pull in a bronze or silver their) And maybe get that silver or bronze in bars..I really like Gabby, She's on my shortlist of favs, I know she can come off aloof or detached, but I just get that type of personality. I just feel (not that she doesn't have it) but she is seriously stressed, I nearly cried seeing her at that water cooler so upset like that and the stupid camera people were filming her like that) I think if Marta just has her focus on beam and bars and set new goals it will relieve some of this pressure of trying to prove herself again and she will perform a lot better).

But your plan put Madison up on floor and vault and still takes either Laurie or Aly out of the AA in order for Gabby to do bars.

 

[IreneKa]

Yes, if Gabby does bars and beam, she might just as well do AA. There is no point in putting Madison on vault or floor, she won't qualify in those events.
Which means Gabby gets to do AA, while either Aly or Laurie is out, and that is terribly unfair. But the more I think about it, the more it seems like the most likely scenario.

 

[profmom]

I think Gabby and Aly are battling for the third AA spot in quals. I very much dislike the idea of bumping Aly from AA, but it is what it is. They are both mature and experienced, so I'm sure they will deal with whatever comes with good grace.

 

[WillWork4Flips]

Yes, my prediction does, but that wouldn't, be my plan. When I used to coach I was very much just as concerned with gymnast's mental game too! Mind you I just coached the babies 4s, and 5s. These are elites so I doubt they are equally concerned with stress and the mentality though. I think it is very likely that my prediction could play out, but I'd honestly like to see Lauren and Samone and possibly Aly go for AA being that their mental game is on point from what I perceived. Yes gabby could compete AA, but personally as a gym fan I'd love to see the girl redeem herself on beam and not be overly concerned with proving herself to fans, Marta ect. Sometimes less focus on 4 things and extreme focus on less does the trick.

 

[WillWork4Flips]

Yeah, with the whole bars thing, I doubt that the ideal thing will happen. I'd like to see something similar play out where gabby does not have that AA pressure on her ideally. I'd love to see Laurie AA as a fellow Jersey girl! She seems emotionally constant as well.

 

[z2akids]

Thanks for all of the posts explaining how qualifying/finals work.

One more question that I am not clear on. Does an athlete have to do the qualification round in order yo do tram final? I think that answer is no, but I want to be sure I understand.

Does Gabby have a decent chance of medaling individually on bars?

 

[profmom]

Yes, an athlete can sit in quals but still compete in team finals. Maggie Nichols did not compete bars in quals at worlds but did in finals. But as noted above, the qualification round determines who goes to event finals, so no individual event finals for anyone who doesn't compete that event in quals.

I think Gabby has a chance at a bars medal but others would have to make mistakes and she'd have to go clean. Either Kocian or Locklear has a much better shot at a medal. However, Gabby has a good chance of being the second US qualifier to a bars final behind Kocian.

 

[z2akids]

Thanks. That is what I thought, but I often find that what I believe and what makes sense about gymnastics is not always true.

Is it likely that any of our other Olympians would qualify for bars finals if Gabby sat out for qualifications so that Simone, Aly and Laurie can all try for AA? Would any of them have a chance of medaling?

 

[profmom]

Kocian has a good chance of making the podium. Aside from her, I think Gabby's our best shot at another bars medal.