All-Star 2011 Worlds ... Gymnastics That Is.

[cheermommaRN]

A good board to check out in regards to gymnastics is the Chalkbucket, some of the moms of these girls are actually on there and give a good perspective into what these kids are going through.

 

[icequeen]

Nastia wasn't on a World Champion Team. I am a huge Nastia fan, even bigger fan of her father. However, Team competition is different that individual (yes, its gymnastics which is more individual than cheer) however, the U.S. hasn't won a World/Olympic team title in a while. We just won, why not stick with what's working?

2007 team won gold

 

[yojaehs]

Ok, 2007 was a great win but was several years ago, we are in a different rotation of athletes and a new Era as far as scoring, so the "sport" has changed significantly. I am in way AGAINST any talented athlete giving the U.S. a chance to win. I see the side of the debate that everyone is focused on is not my point. I am in NO WAY against Nastia or Alicia or the other LIST of amazing gymnasts the country has to offer. My point is this group of athletes that was put together, won. Should those athletes that worked together to WIN have no loyalty given to them? This is a cheer forum and often times from a "cheer" perspective the team with the best "chemistry" often times beat the more talented team is my ONLY point and that is mainly what I wanted to ask. Thank you for everyone's replies their were many great points, I hope that people don't think I am against your thoughts, I was just curious if anyone thought like me, lol.

 

[icequeen]

Ok, 2007 was a great win but was several years ago, we are in a different rotation of athletes and a new Era as far as scoring, so the "sport" has changed significantly. I am in way AGAINST any talented athlete giving the U.S. a chance to win. I see the side of the debate that everyone is focused on is not my point. I am in NO WAY against Nastia or Alicia or the other LIST of amazing gymnasts the country has to offer. My point is this group of athletes that was put together, won. Should those athletes that worked together to WIN have no loyalty given to them? This is a cheer forum and often times from a "cheer" perspective the team with the best "chemistry" often times beat the more talented team is my ONLY point and that is mainly what I wanted to ask. Thank you for everyone's replies their were many great points, I hope that people don't think I am against your thoughts, I was just curious if anyone thought like me, lol.

This isnt new in gymnastics out of the 2003 Gold team only Courtney, Carly, and Terin made the olympic team. Out of the 2007 Gold team only Nastia, Alicia, Shawn, and Sam made the team. Is it unfair to the other people who wasn't on the Worlds Championships team to not make the Olympic just because last year team won? No. If they out perform the other gymnasts they deserve the chance. Not arguing just saying.

 

[imrichhowboutu]

I think this is going to be the hardest year to date to pick the girls that will be going to the olympics. There are going to be several girls on each event that could be swapped with no score differences.

They are going to be looking at consistency and experience.

 

[chyeeaaa69]

Ok, 2007 was a great win but was several years ago, we are in a different rotation of athletes and a new Era as far as scoring, so the "sport" has changed significantly. I am in way AGAINST any talented athlete giving the U.S. a chance to win. I see the side of the debate that everyone is focused on is not my point. I am in NO WAY against Nastia or Alicia or the other LIST of amazing gymnasts the country has to offer. My point is this group of athletes that was put together, won. Should those athletes that worked together to WIN have no loyalty given to them? This is a cheer forum and often times from a "cheer" perspective the team with the best "chemistry" often times beat the more talented team is my ONLY point and that is mainly what I wanted to ask. Thank you for everyone's replies their were many great points, I hope that people don't think I am against your thoughts, I was just curious if anyone thought like me, lol.

I see where the chemistry matters, but at the same time, it's not a team sport. Yes there is a team competition, but these girls will shine on individual events regardless of the chemistry with the girls they are competing alongside. I may be slightly wrong, a gymnast may let negative relationships with the other girls affect them on the event, but it will make no difference, in all likelihood, to Jordyn Weiber's performances in London (using her as an example) if Nastia replaces Anna Li (just using another random example)

 

[kristenthegreat]

I'm gonna wait until Pan Am is over before I make my final cut of contenders, but I think at least 2-3 of the 'specialty' Worlds girls (Anna Li and Gabby, Sabrina Vega maybe) could easily be swapped out with more all-around veteran girls for Olympics. We'll see in a day or so..

 

[chyeeaaa69]

I'm gonna wait until Pan Am is over before I make my final cut of contenders, but I think at least 2-3 of the 'specialty' Worlds girls (Anna Li and Gabby, Sabrina Vega maybe) could easily be swapped out with more all-around veteran girls for Olympics. We'll see in a day or so..

I agree with this mostly, however I don't think it's a matter of them being all around, I just really don't think Anna Li or Gabby (Anna more than Gabby) will be on the Olympic team. Anna ONLY does bars (she's capable of a pretty darn good beam routine, though, if she starts working on that), but even then, Nastia is doing both of those events. Gabby puts up some decent scores, but even Shawn Johnson could outscore her on her main strong factor (bars), and Shawn puts up far higher beam, vault, and floor scores (when she's at her best)

 

[PghxCheer2]

I guess I understand what you're trying to say, but I guess I also just disagree with it. I think Nastia and Shawn have been extremely loyal to USA Gymnastics. Nas was part of the selection commitee for the 2011 Worlds Team! You don't get to posses that kind of power by not entirely dedicating yourself to an organization. For somebody like Gabriella to stay on that team, as a one event specialist, she NEEDS to be bringing in not just a high score on bars, but the HIGHEST score on bars. If Nastia comes back to the level she was at in 2008, she will be bringing in mid to high 15's on bars. The US NEEDS a world class performer on bars, because right now the Russians have two.

 

[imrichhowboutu]

I guess I understand what you're trying to say, but I guess I also just disagree with it. I think Nastia and Shawn have been extremely loyal to USA Gymnastics. Nas was part of the selection commitee for the 2011 Worlds Team! You don't get to posses that kind of power by not entirely dedicating yourself to an organization. For somebody like Gabriella to stay on that team, as a one event specialist, she NEEDS to be bringing in not just a high score on bars, but the HIGHEST score on bars. If Nastia comes back to the level she was at in 2008, she will be bringing in mid to high 15's on bars. The US NEEDS a world class performer on bars, because right now the Russians have two.

I completely agree. They won't take a specialist when an all around girl has a higher score on the same event. They may take some all around girls that have strong specialties though.

I think we can all agree that Maroney, ASac, and Wieber Fever would make a bomb vault combo. However, that would only allow 2 more athletes. Nastia will most likely only come back if she can produce the highest scores on bars and beams. Because of that. She would be in. So really all that they would need is someone to do a phenomenal bars routine.
Floor and beam could be handled by the 4 girls above.

 

[chyeeaaa69]

I completely agree. They won't take a specialist when an all around girl has a higher score on the same event. They may take some all around girls that have strong specialties though.

I think we can all agree that Maroney, ASac, and Wieber Fever would make a bomb vault combo. However, that would only allow 2 more athletes. Nastia will most likely only come back if she can produce the highest scores on bars and beams. Because of that. She would be in. So really all that they would need is someone to do a phenomenal bars routine.
Floor and beam could be handled by the 4 girls above.

I have an odd feeling Maroney won't make the Olympic team, or maybe it's because I don't think she should. Alicia (who is now training an Amanar and a front handspring double twist) and Jordyn can kinda handle vault, with Shawn coming in, in all likelihood, with an unclean Amanar or a perfect DTY, but still most likely putting up high 15, MAYBE a 16 (but as we saw with Maroney at the Visa's, a 16 with an Amanar appears to be a bit more difficult, as she performed it much better than Shawn did in Beijing and Shawn got .05 more). Floor, I'd say Jordyn, Alicia, and Shawn can obviously put up the highest scores there. It's a shame Nastia wasn't coming back to floor, she wasn't the greatest floor worker, but obviously still capable of a good routine that scores rather high. Beam, I'd say Shawn, Nastia, and Alicia (maybe Jordyn?) will be putting up the best scores, and they're consistent (providing Alicia can learn to hit that damn mount..). So then you're left with bars. Jordyn can put up a decent score, but other than her, it's all high 14s, low 15s, which as it stands is not as competitive as they need to be. That's where I'd say Anna Li may come in. Nastia is definitely going to be putting up a high 15, possible 16 or higher, with her bars routine if she gets back in good enough shape (and I have faith that she will). Shawn can put up an alriiiight score on bars, and if she works a bit harder could put up a pretty good mid 15s score, but I think the USA may consider Anna here as she consistently can put up a low to mid 15 score. Just my opinion, however the USA is then left with only 3 floor routines, so it's a bit difficult. I guess we're counting out Chellsie, who could take Anna's place in what I just said, and compete a pretty good floor routine.
(assuming Chellsie goes in)
Floor: Alicia, Jordyn, Shawn, Chellsie
Vault: Alicia, Jordyn, Shawn, Chellsie(?) the situation I described really leaves only 3 vaulters. I wish Nastia would come back with a sick 1 1/2 again..
Beam: Nastia, Shawn, Alicia, Jordyn
Bars: Nastia, Chellsie, Jordyn, Shawn

 

[imrichhowboutu]

This would be a lot easier if each country could take 6 gymnasts. Having 5 gymnasts on the team with 4 competing in Quals and 3 in finals, it is going to make it a little harder. We had it easy at worlds since some of the countries were missing their major players, Mainly Russia with Mustafina.

 

[chyeeaaa69]

Just to add to my earlier post, I don't like Rebecca Bross' gymnastics, she's VERY talented, I just don't like it, and also don't think that she would take away a spot from Nastia, Alicia, or Shawn even with the fact that she's a good all around, if she makes the team, it would probably be her over Maroney (which I don't see happening as most likely she will be competing a 1 1/2 on vault)

 

[PghxCheer2]

I agree rich. Only having 5 was been a huge setback to team USA in both 2004 and 2008. Regardless of how the US sets up 5 of their 6 members on any apparatus, Romania and China still win. Both those teams totally out performed Team USA in their respective years. As much as I hate to say it, the US is lining themselves up to take yet another silver medal if they don't set the 2012 team up perfectly. I just want perfect scores from perfect girls throwing perfect routines from peaking at the perfect time, which also happens to be the most important/stressful/exciting/emotional week of their lives. Is that so much to ask????????

[insert sarcasm smiley]

 

[Emily Jane]

I know this isn't particularly constructive to the conversation, but I will be happy if Jordyn, Aly and Alicia (if she has recovered) are on the team :)