GB Olympic Team Selection

[GymFan02]

Just wondered what everyone's thoughts were on who they are going to pick for the GB team for London?

After the British this weekend, i am thinking

Beth, Hannah, Jenny, Rebecca Tunney & Niamh

Jenny really showed herself as an all rounder this weekend! And Niamh just seems to fit the voids in the team!

For Team finals GB can go,
Vault: Jenny, Becky & Niamh (3 x DTYs!!! from GB!)
Bars: Beth, Becky & Hannah
Beam: Hannah, Jenny & Becky
Floor: Beth, Hannah and Niamh (or Becky)

What does everyone else think??
I am a big Ruby Harold fan too though!

 

[marie83]

Your team is the one that makes the most sense to me too, however I don't know whether Downie's experience will go in her favour.
4 Liverpool gymnasts on the team would be awesome for the club!
I actually think all 4 of them are locks and the 5th person could be either Becky Downie or Niamh.
I am extremely gutted to say that I don't think Nush did enough - I blooming love her style and have been rooting for her since she competed her first competition at the age of 9! lol! However, I am pleased that she is off to do NCAA so at least we haven't seen the last of her!

 

[Flossyduck]

Daughter and I had a fantastic time at the national championships and I think the selectors will have a bit more of a headache than they expected :

First of all I will start off by saying that contraversially I would not have Jenni Pinches on my 'dream' team for two reasons - first being that, although she scores well on the british platform, she doesn't seem to be able to translate that in to good scores on the international platform. Second, if I include her I have to leave behind better scoring individual apparatus workers and I'm not sure we need a second 'all rounder'. Of course I realise that she has pretty much guarenteed her place, but...

I would go:

Beth - brilliant, in a different class
Hannah - not so good this weekend, but the solid team core
Rebecca - what more could she have done!!
Niamh - finally made everyone sit up and notice, exploding on to the vault and floor.

Before deciding a 5th I need to think it out:

Beam - Hannah, Rebecca, ?
Bars - Beth, Rebecca,?
Floor - Beth, Niamh, Hannah
Vault - Niamh, Rebecca , ?

So I need a bars, beam and vaulter. I don't think anyone is better qualified to do those three than Becky Downie. She had a mixed weekend (silver beam, vault good, bars got a bit lost), but she's got the big skills and done well in other qualifiers.

Like you Marie, I don't think Danusia did enough, but what she did was very beautiful!

Actually it's very hard to call and I can't wait until 4th July, exciting!

 

[GymCoach11]

Seems like everyone has the same problem! I really love Jenny and have followed her since the olympic dreams programme- despite her weaknesses I think she's a lock. I loved Danusia's work though too- argh what a tough decision! Was really impressed by Catherine Lyons Beam- how stunning was her spin !?

 

[marie83]

Heard a rumour that this is the team: Tweddle, Whelan, Tunney, Pinches and Cairns basically top 4 AA from the weekend and the absolute lock that is Beth!

So if that is correct:
Vault - Tunney, Pinches, Cairns (although Whelan scored higher than Cairns at the weekend)
Bars is probably gonna be Tweddle, Tunney, Whelan
Beam - Pinches, Whelan, Tunney
Floor - Tweddle, Pinches and Cairns

 

[Flossyduck]

Oh Nooooo! That makes no sense?!?! Why would you put Imogen on floor and vault ahead of the new British Champion on both pieces?! It just weakens the overall potential

 

[marie83]

Don't forget it's just a rumour!

I personally think Niamh deserves a spot!

Niamh beat Im on vault at all 3 trials, but they are pretty much neck and neck on floor.

Not sure if Im has competed 2 vaults for a while either, whereas Niamh has been and they are pretty solid from what I've seen.

Who knows! The rumour might be wrong, but Cairn's international experience may have gone in her favour!

 

[GymFan02]

It should be Niamh or Becky?
Probably Becky as she has more experience but i really would like to see Niamh there.
Wish that Nush had made a big enough impact too!

And i really do love Ruby!!!!

I am a Cairns fan too but she doesnt bring anything to the team except experience (and i dont think thats enough)

 

[Flossyduck]

Well today I have be told, from two completely independent sources (one of whom ought to know) the team you said is correct Marie. So it seems that Niamh is out and Imogen is in and no place for Danusia or Becky. We basically have a team of decent all rounders plus Beth.

If it's true, first of all I feel sorry for those girls who did as they were expected and sacrificed individual all round placing to concentrate their training on individual pieces where the team needed higher scores.

Secondly the team selection just makes me feel a bit flat, there's little fizz there... it's like buying a nice new car with speed restrictors - you know the max you're likely to get out of it and it's just not quite exciting enough

 

[marie83]

Hmph! I know what you mean!

I was kinda hoping it was just a rumour!

Although having said that, I am really pleased for all the girls and I think they have earned their place! Esp the Beth, Becky and Hannah - Love watching those 3 in particular!

 

[Flossyduck]

I agree they've all worked hard for their place, it's nothing personal!

Beth is obviously amazing and beyond question. Hannah and Rebecca too and I had just thought that with those two on team they could afford to be a bit braver and get in some specialists who could score big and show what we can. They played safe and I'm not sure what that gains in the face of big scorers from elsewhere.

Never mind, we will get behind them and love it anyway!