Anon Gators new recruits - mixed feelings

[Anonymous (b8f5)]

It is an exciting day for many future college gymnasts! I am looking at Gator’s new recruits and all four trained elite. I have had mixed feelings about elites going to college. One side it really opens doors for high level gymnasts; on the other side, it kinda makes a common girl’s dream dimmer. We are not at an elite gym or in an elite generating state, tops/hopes/homeschooling is all rarity around us, it just seems so much harder to entertain the thought of college gymnastics nowadays. Please tell me I am wrong.

 

[Anonymous (cf53)]

It is an exciting day for many future college gymnasts! I am looking at Gator’s new recruits and all four trained elite. I have had mixed feelings about elites going to college. One side it really opens doors for high level gymnasts; on the other side, it kinda makes a common girl’s dream dimmer. We are not at an elite gym or in an elite generating state, tops/hopes/homeschooling is all rarity around us, it just seems so much harder to entertain the thought of college gymnastics nowadays. Please tell me I am wrong.

You are wrong, I am telling you. Look at the #1 class this year, Oklahoma, there are plenty of L10s in that class. And there is nothing "common" about being a L10 gymnast. These girls train just as hard and are just as capable as elite gymnasts. Just from a numbers standpoint, there are not enough elites to fill the college ranks. But also, you have to remember, elites compete under a different code, meaning they are judged differently so their training focuses on different incentives to score higher. At its most basic level, elites focus on difficulty over form, where DP focuses on form over difficulty. The college code, which college gymnastics is judged on, is the DP code with some modifications. Therefore, there are plenty cases/opportunities where L10 gymnasts perform better in college than elites. While elites in theory have no issues doing the college skills since they are less difficult, sometimes because of their training, its harder for them to "downgrade" their skill AND execute form. For example, Jordan Chiles has struggled through college vaulting between a rare Double Yurchenko that is more difficult than is required and has many deductions because it is hard to stick cleanly and a Yurchenko which already has a 0.05 deduction for lack of difficulty. They have tried a variety of different vaults for her throughout her college career, but hopefully you get my point.
So, long answer, you are wrong , being a L10 gymnast with good form will present plenty college opportunities.