Name Your Favorites for the 2008 USA Olympics Women Or Men's Team

[hammy]

I believe you have to be 16 or 18 to compete in the olympics, but don't quote me on that. I'm not sure exactly who I'd vote for to be on the team; sadly I haven't been able to keep up with it very much. So, please feel free to fill everyone in and what not!

[littlegymchampsmom]

Hammy, it is def currently 16 yrs old - or you would have to be turning 16 in the current Olympic year.

[littlegymchampsmom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by gym law mom I don't think we'll see alot of "unknowns" on the US team at this Olympics. I think they'll go with the girls who have international experience and ranking..

actually all of the gymnasts mentioned by everyone that responded are all international elites... all incredible gymnasts and none are "unknowns". The US has a lot to choose from.

[littlegymchampsmom]

Here is an official news release on the 2010 Youth Olympics.... even though it will be a huge work in progress, I actually think this is a great idea and hope it works out.... I am anxious to see which sports will be included



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...070501965.html

[littlegymchampsmom]

How very exciting for the US... Shawn Johnson took Gold, Rebecca Bross Silver and Ivana Hong Bronze AA


... I was a little disappointed in Ivana'a bars .. she seems to be using the low bar less and less, but great job!!!

[Ingymmom]

ooops, I posted under the wrong ID last time.. habit

for anyone interested here is a montage I found on You Tube of Tessa Pama - she is so original in a lot of ways and just amazing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpt8xOY3zKU

[Ingymmom]

also here is shawn johnson's beam from the pan am games in case some have not seen it - she took gold in the overall AA comp. I know her lines were not as clean as nastia's but her level of difficulty WOW!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5eUCkmXKIE

[Ingymmom]

another article I found about the "junior" olympics from a San Diego newspaper & a discussion of the current age limits for world competitions ... it would be such a shame to change the current age limits.


DOING IT FOR THE KIDS: The IOC's decision to start a Junior Olympics is causing some head scratching in gymnastics circles.
The Junior Olympics, which will begin with summer games in 2010, are geared toward elite athletes ages 14-18, about the same age span in which female gymnasts hit their prime in the senior circuit.
In 1997, FIG ruled that girls must turn 16 during the calendar year of the competition to compete in senior events, including the Olympics. The only exception is the year before the Olympics, when girls who turn 15 – and thus, will be 16 during the Olympic year – can compete at the world championships to get experience.
All other years, girls who turn 15 cannot compete as seniors.
Now, FIG has to conjure up a plan to mesh with the IOC's decision to include gymnastics in its Junior Olympics program.
“If an athlete at the Junior Olympics is 14, are we going to say to them the following year, 'You're the Junior Olympic champion but you're only 15, so you can't compete?'” said Slava Corn, vice president of the International Gymnastics Federation. “We haven't had time to go through all the stages and the discussions yet, but it's ongoing.”

[maddiekate]

Shawn Johnson (!)
Nastia Liukin
Shayla Worley (she has personality)
Alicia Sacramone
Chellsie Memmel (maybe)
Ivana Hong

[rutterja]

What a great thread!

Alicia Sacramone (she is a must! If only she could get a bar routine, she would be a great all arounder)
Shayla Worley
Shawn Johnson
Nastia Liukin
Chelsie Memmel
Jana Bieger

I wish Tessa Pama were an option but with her injuries and lack of international exposure...I just don't think it's going to happen.

Go Team!