Official Team Posted

[gymcoach1]

Representing Team USA in Glasgow will be:

Simone Biles
Gabby Douglas
Brenna Dowell
Madison Kocian
Maggie Nichols
Aly Raisman
MyKayla Skinner

 

[Terry]

bailie Key and Alyssa baumann are non traveling alternates. I guess the traveling alternate will be named after podium training.

 

[txgymfan]

I have to admit I was hoping Baile would make the team. It will be interesting to see who the final alternate will be. Good Luck to all of them. I'm hoping Simone gets her Threepeat.

 

[duyetanh]

Skinner is in! I got something right in this crazy sport...
for once.

 

[Terry]

I am close to certain that Maggie Nichols will be the traveling alternate. I think Marta has already made up her mind on that, barring injury or some dramatic incident during podium training.

 

[Paint A Melody]

I hope not. Maggie could be used in the all around finals and do well.

 

[profmom]

So happy for Brenna Dowell!

 

[amiandjim]

The "problem" Maggie has is that even though she is a solid all arounder, she probably can't bring home an event medal, unlike the other girls. Sure, she could win the silver in the AA, but so could Gabby and Aly. I think Martha is out for individual medals. Having said that, I can also see Dowell as the alternate because of her inconsistency.

 

[Terry]

The "problem" Maggie has is that even though she is a solid all arounder, she probably can't bring home an event medal, unlike the other girls. Sure, she could win the silver in the AA, but so could Gabby and Aly. I think Martha is out for individual medals. Having said that, I can also see Dowell as the alternate because of her inconsistency.

exactly. The alternate will either be Brenna or Mags. Marta is definitely looking for EF medals and I am just not sure which way she will go. Does she want Dowell and Kocian both on UB? Then maggie is the alternate. Is she too worried about brenna and her lack of consistency? Then Brenna is the alternate. we shall see.

 

[Flyaway]

I thought this was a great recap: Link Removed

Fascinating that for the first time ever the whole team is older than 18.

 

[Paint A Melody]

I still think Maggie would be more useful than Gabby. Gabby doesn't have a good chance of medaling individually on any event, and Maggie is better than her in all around.

 

[Terry]

OK. What about this. There is a 6-5-4 format. And with the various skills, there is essentially a built in Alternate. Marta can name Brenna as the Alternate and just not even use her if one girl is out. The only person on this team who is truly not replaceable is Simone. But Aly, Maggie, and Gabby are all strong and pretty much AAers. Kocian brings her strength on UB and I believe Marta wants MyKayla for Vault.

 

[Empowered]

My money, and I have none so take that for what it's worth, says Brenna will be the alternate and will step in as a bars specialist if and only if something happens to Kocian. She would be the second best shot on bars, if she hits, but unless she's been injected with consistency, she can be all over the place.

I think Marta is a very smart woman, and with the Olympics on the horizon (and the ultimate goal), I don't think she would sit Maggie knowing she could be an integral part of the team for Rio. I think she will get a lot of time on that floor for the experience and to see how she holds up.

 

[Terry]

Here is my bottom line -- I totally trust whatever Marta does. So I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

 

[gymdog]

exactly. The alternate will either be Brenna or Mags. Marta is definitely looking for EF medals and I am just not sure which way she will go. Does she want Dowell and Kocian both on UB? Then maggie is the alternate. Is she too worried about brenna and her lack of consistency? Then Brenna is the alternate. we shall see.

There's a much better chance that Brenna's the alternate in any scenario. Love her, love her passion and determination but she's had some competitive setbacks. This is just the realistic situation. Maggie is one of our strongest gymnasts right now. Brenna also hasn't really scored higher than her on bars, although she does have a higher D score, that's not really all that matters when she's not putting down routines in competition. It's really not likely at all Maggie's the alternate, and definitely not close to certain.

 

[Terry]

then why take Brenna at all?

 

[gymdog]

Based on P and G's and various issues, I would guess she was next in line. They could have also taken Alyssa but maybe Brenna was doing better at camp (she does tend to do well). Not sure I can read that far into it. I will be delighted for her if she makes it. But I don't really see her making it over Maggie. Yes, Brenna is good at bars, but realistically on her hit night, she scored about a tenth or two higher than Maggie, then messed up the second night and scored points lower. I'm not sure Marta will really be swayed by that. But if Brenna makes it, I hope she has her moment in the sun and I'll be holding my breath that she does.

 

[Terry]

OK, Simone posted on her ask page that they have an alternate and it is NOT Maggie. I think this makes it almost certain that Brenna is the alternate.

 

[GymSurvivor]

However, Simone could have said alternate thinking in terms of the non-traveling alternates, Key and Baumann.
In every other case Marta had never chosen a traveling alternate this early.

I could be completely wrong and Simone was in fact talking about the traveling alternate but just wanted to through this out there.

 

[Seeker]

I have been thinking that it's gotta be Brenna too, but I also agree it's a bit early to say. I thought that she said a decision would be made after podium training. So...I think it's too early.