I admit I don't know much about event specialist at any level. I just know what I've witnessed at DD's gym. At her gym competing anything but JO AA has always carried with it an unspoken(& sometimes spoken
) negative stigma
. JO AA=good, Event Specialist or Prep-op=bad. Let me make it clear I DO NOT agree with that line of thinking. Thankfully the tide is turning a bit. Taking alternate routes is a little more accepted. But it is clear to them that the ultimate goal for a gymnast at DD's gym is competing JO AA & progression through JO levels. Even if it takes sometime doing alternate options to get there. So Prep Op & event specialist are treated as "stages" along the road back to JO AA and not a permanent long term options.
The girls I know who have competed as event specialist, have done so because it was their last resort. They were not trying to take an easy road to winning. But rather just trying to continue progressing where they could, rather than quitting. They are generally embarrassed to NOT be competing AA(that part breaks my heart
). It is always clear that their goal is to hopefully get the needed events & go back to competeing AA ASAP. They still practice all 4 events just the same as the rest of the team. Event Specialist & Prep Op & JO all practice right along together, with the same amount of hours.
I applaud the event specialist I know for sticking with the sport! Especially when they face their own personal adversity(whatever is stalling their progress) & the negative stigma they may feel from not competing AA
.
I agree with Happyfacetwin on this point. That being able to progress & compete where they can, helps keep them motivate to keep trying to overcome whatever obstacle is keeping them from competing AA.
I would like to see event specialists more widely "accepted". It's a wonderful route to keep gymnasts in the sport who might otherwise give up totally & quit. If more rules are needed, to keep it fair to the AA gymnasts, I think that that would be fine. And I believe the gymnasts & coaches I know would support such rules. The gymnasts I know would be horrified to hear that anyone thought they were "taking the easy path" because it's NOT easy for them!!! They are usually fighting many battles just to be still in the sport. They want to be able to stand proud & not be accused of taking anything away from the AA gymnasts.
I admit I'm not very knowledgeable about USAG rules. Can you give me some more examples of rules that might make event specialist more accepted & still be fair to AA gymnasts??? Is there such a way to make it fair??? I really hope so for all involved.