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

[littlegymchampsmom]

I thought it would be fun to name our picks or "dream team" for the 2008 Olympics... My faves for the womens USA team right now would be:

Shawn Johnson
Ivana Hong (if she is old enough)
Shantessa Pama
Nastia Liukin
Shayla Worley
Jana Bieger


*** my very favorite up & comer is Jordyn Wieber, she is an amazing little powerhouse, but she is too young for the 2008 Oympics & if they raise the age requirements to 18yrs next year she will be too young for the 2012 Olympics as well .

[purpleterah]

I really like Shantessa Pama and ivana. I have grown weary of Nastia. She is a wonderful athlete but she is over done. she may wind up like the Michelle Kwan of gymnastics, All titles except the gold!!!
Danielle

[littlegymchampsmom]

danielle, I tend to agree with you on Nastia - (and I actually feel this way about jana as well)... I do think she is a beautiful gymnast but she does not have as much power as most of the others... that said I feel that nastia & jana have done their time and deserve a spot just the same + tons know them already, great for ratings... but I feel they will limit the team as a whole - make sense? nic

[ZJsMom]

I hope Chellsie is able to come back for Beijing, but it may be long shot. My team would be:

Shawn Johnson
Nastia Liukin
Chellsie Memmel
Alicia Sacramone
Shayla Worley
Sam Peszek

[littlegymchampsmom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by littlegymchampsmom but I feel they will limit the team as a whole - make sense? nic

boy oh boy, except I forgot how beautiful Nastia can be on beam, and someone reminded me how consistent she is on bars as well... she is a must have

[krazykidzmom]

18? I thought they moved it from 16 to 15....do you have any info? That would be a huge mistake.

[littlegymchampsmom]

just a rumor? perhaps, but it is no secret that FIG president bruno grandi has wanted to raise the minimum age... his bid to raise the min age to 17yrs was rejected in the past, however it is currently my understanding - boy oh boy don't quote me lol - that at the very least from 2009 a gymnast will have to be 16 yrs to compete @ Worlds, no exceptions.... which seems to leave little room for a 16 yr old to compete at the Olympics... ok so now the IOC wants to introduce the youth olympic games in 2010 - for ages 14yrs -18yrs ... why not 14 - 16 yrs??? well, my guess is that the objective here will be to raise the min age all the way to 18 yrs for the actual Olympic games.

[littlegymchampsmom]

article on the US gymnasts chosen for the Pan Am games, pending approval....


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app...PORTS/70704015

[gracefulone]

Nastia Liukin
Chellsie Memmel
Shawn Johnson
Jana Bieger
Shayla Worley
Alicia Sacramone

[gym law mom]

I tend to agree with Gracefulone's "team." Maybe Natasha Kelly if one of those girls are injured or just not hitting routines. 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. As much as Nastia may be overhyped, she has gorgeous lines on bars and the Russian style in working beam/floor that pleases many of the international judges. Still a year to go, but I think if the girls who have been mentioned here are healthy, then it will be a close call who ultimately goes.