The second day of the trials in San Jose meant something different to each of the five women named to the team after women’s program director Martha Karolyi emerged from a closed door meeting with her selection committee to tell the women who would be the five gymnasts competing on an immensely strong US gymnastics team in Rio, who would act as the three alternates and who would go home.
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In general, Douglas’s trials and tribulations this year (she was fourth at nationals) underscores how hard it is to return to the Games as an all-around champion.
For the second straight competition she tumbled off the balance beam and lacked the iron confidence that has been her trademark. Hernandez (121.150) finished second overall, followed by Raisman (119.750) and Skinner (118.600). But it was just enough. Going back to the Secret Classic, Locklear’s bar average came out 0.02 ahead of Kocian, but the higher difficulty and the exclamation mark of the final routine gave Kocian the definitive lead.
Both Kocian and Locklear are considered specialists in the uneven bars. Kocian is a former world champion on the bars.
This year’s team is being touted as the most racially diverse in USA history. With her Rio-themed floor music, Biles all-but sealed her spot on the famous beaches of Rio with an impressive 15.550 to begin her competition. After all, Karolyi and Douglas have pulled this magic act off before.
It’s a sobering justification for taking Douglas to Rio.
Beneath that pragmatic reasoning, however, is optimism. She’s been undefeated in the all-around since 2013, and she’s head and shoulders above every other gymnast in the world. But underneath her recent struggles remains a boatload of potential.
Despite not claiming one of the five spots on the gymnastics team, Skinner performed well at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The Americans haven’t lost a major worldwide competition in six years, the gap between themselves and the rest of the world hardening along the way. Always a steady competitor, Raisman may be better than she was in 2012. This team will be the overwhelming favorite to win a team gold medal in Rio and there is also a chance for many other individual event medals.
Speaking of the Olympics, Caitlyn Jenner recently celebrated the 40-year anniversary of her gold medal win, covered in gold on the cover of Sports Illustrated. “It’s just nerve wracking”, Douglas said, about waiting for Karolyi to deliver the news.
“I feel like if we put Gabby in a regimented training with daily planning and daily assignments and training plans, then she will see improvement just like we did previous year before world championships”, Karolyi said.
Douglas was the USA’s big star four years ago in London when she won two gold medals. What you can’t see from this photo is that she’s about 10 feet off the ground.
You probably knew this hashtag was coming, but #SquadGoals. Simone’s like, ‘I know, I’m too young to die.’ I don’t think she realized she had her automatic spot.
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Now retired and serving as a volunteer assistant at UCLA (where she’s also a student), Wieber doesn’t believe she was overworked, calling her injury “inevitable” after thousands of hours in the gym. So, yeah, you could say she’s got the experience and what it takes.
