2012 US Olympic Team thread

[wandrewsjr]

The reality is that Sacramone didn't make the team
because she doesn't have enough difficulty to make
the team as an event specialist. If she had an Amanar
and a 6.9 D score on beam, she would have had a good
chance, despite her curves.

 

[gymnast695]

But Sacramone has years of experience under her belt and could have been an awesome person to have in the bunch while the girls are in London. And if ever needed, you can count on her for a rock solid performance, even if her difficulty isn't entirely there. I'm biased cause I love ASac, but still feel she would've been valuable.

 

[gymgurl]

I love ASac and really wanted her there but the fact remains we couldn't afford to bring a beam and vault specialist when the US if raining amanars and bars is in drought, Yes her experience would have been good and as far as i know there are no veterans on the team but honestly she wasn't of any more value than the others. Sometimes its about being more valuable than your competition

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Another unpopular opinion:

I hate the shady and dirty selection process. Maybe I'm holding onto things too long, but I'm still peeved over what happened to Kim Kelly in 92. If you read the book 'Little Girls in Pretty Boxes', there are additional details to that situation in the book.
Part of the reason why they pulled Kim was due to complaints about her curvy/womanly body. I wouldn't be surprised if that played in a factor in Alicia's fate as well. The FIRST thing my husband said when they announced the names and the girls were standing out there was "They all look like little girls" and he is right. They claim the 'little girl' look scores better internationally. Sad reality of the sport I guess.

Have you actually watched any of Kim Kelly's gymnastics... that is the reason she was left off the team. Why she is still bitter about it and feels the need to tear down some of the current gymnast just shows how delusional she is.

 

[Optionals United]

Well, one of the reasons they all look like little girls are because they are! Kayla is still 15, Gabby is 17, Jordyn is 18, Aly is 18, and Mckayla is 17. ANd the majority of them besides Aly and Jordyn are pretty petite. It doesn't matter if you are small to score better internationally, its if you have clean lines and are artistic.

 

[maryRS]

I don't necessarily think that Jordan, Ally and even Macayla look like "little girls." I think they look their age. I think Gabby looks a little young, but if I didn't know her and you told me she was 16 I'd believe you. I don't think she looks out of the realm of what is normal for a 16 year old. Kyla Ross and Sara Finnegan appear to have that smaller, tinier, younger look (at least in a leo when performing) that you see internationally. Elizabeth Price looks her age also.

Another unpopular opinion:

I hate the shady and dirty selection process. Maybe I'm holding onto things too long, but I'm still peeved over what happened to Kim Kelly in 92. If you read the book 'Little Girls in Pretty Boxes', there are additional details to that situation in the book.
Part of the reason why they pulled Kim was due to complaints about her curvy/womanly body. I wouldn't be surprised if that played in a factor in Alicia's fate as well. The FIRST thing my husband said when they announced the names and the girls were standing out there was "They all look like little girls" and he is right. They claim the 'little girl' look scores better internationally. Sad reality of the sport I guess.

 

[gymnast695]

Well, one of the reasons they all look like little girls are because they are! Kayla is still 15, Gabby is 17, Jordyn is 18, Aly is 18, and Mckayla is 17. ANd the majority of them besides Aly and Jordyn are pretty petite. It doesn't matter if you are small to score better internationally, its if you have clean lines and are artistic.

Actually Gabby, McKayla, and Jordyn are all 16, though Jordyn will be 17 in a few weeks and Gabby and Mckayla will turn 17 in December.

 

[Optionals United]

opps my bad. LOL. Gabby, Jordyn, and McKayla were all born in 1995 so they will turn 17 this year. Aly was born in 1994 and already turned 18,and Kayla was born in 1996 and will turn 16 in october after the olympics.

"They all look like little girls" and he is right. They claim the 'little girl' look scores better internationally."
My point is they all look like "little girls" because they are still very young compared to the team in 08 when everyone was 18-20s besides shawn. I think Jordyn and Aly look their age, and Gabby and Mckayla both look like the are 16 1/2 which they are. Kayla is the only one that really looks younger and mainly because she is more petite. So I wouldn't consider them little girls, just younger then the team in 08. The international look is one of clean lines and artistry it doesn't matter what size you are or how old you are. Sure it might be easier to achieve if you are longer and leaner, but people of every shape and size have achieve it as well.

"Part of the reason why they pulled Kim was due to complaints about her curvy/womanly body. I wouldn't be surprised if that played in a factor in Alicia's fate as well."
Alicia didn't make the team because she is a vault/beam specialist. The US is very deep on those 2 events. If she had floor yes she could have possibly been and alternate over Sarah Finnegan but she doesn't. If one of the all arounders were to get injured they needed people to cover those events. Even if it wasn't ideal we would have good enough gymnasts to cover vault, floor, and beam. We needed someone to be able to cover bars, and that is why Anna Li is the alternate because she is the next strongest bar worker. So Alicia not making the team had nothing to do with her curves, she just wasnt the right specialist to fit in the team this quad. Now if bars was our strongest event and beam and vault were our weakest that would be a different story.
I hope this cleared up my other post and some questions.

 

[bogwoppit]

Kyla Ross's Great Aunt stayed in the same hotel as us. She is not a big lady by any stretch of the imagination, I do not think Kayla is small she is just the size she is going to be. Different ethnicity's grow differently.

As to Kim Kelly, the reason was definitely not about curves. Alicia was a medalist with curves for years.

 

[marie83]

I love the team (I also predicted correctly) and I think they are going to be very hard to beat!

I was SO pleased Gabby got the Automatic spot. I love Jordyn, but that British thing of rooting for the 'underdog' really kicked in after Nationals! And let's face it, they were never going to leave Jordyn out!

I was actually really pleased that Finny was picked for alternate - I really like her style.

I could have cried for Bross and actually did shed a little tear when Nastia got her standing ovation! Two great gymnasts - I hope Bross somehow continues in the sport - she seems so lovely.

Did anyone see the note she gave to Maroney? It was on twitter, let me see if I can find it!

ETA - found it!

 

[nicci1999]

Though super happy about the team selection, I am a little dissapointed they didn't take Sacramone as an alternate, but Marta did say she wanted a young fresh team, and I think Raisman will be nominated as captain and step up where Alicia would have had she been chosen. Sad about Bross and Luikin, both are fabulous gymnasts, Bross is one of my favorites, but her head hasn't been in full since her knee injury....and who can blame her? Can't wait till the end of the month!

 

[Optionals United]

I saw that on twitter also! So sweet. Unfortunately I think she went pro when she was younger so she can't compete NCAA. Not completely sure though

 

[LiveLoveTumble]

Unfortunately I think she went pro when she was younger so she can't compete NCAA. Not completely sure though

Yeah, she did. I read it somewhere, can't find the link now. It's a shame, I would love to see her continue gymnastics, and I think she would do great in college.

 

[Optionals United]

15 in 15: Rebecca Bross | The Couch Gymnast
it talks about it somewhere in this article. It says she turned pro a long time ago when she was younger. Probably around 2009 when she was at the top of her game and supposed to be a lock for london

 

[txgymfan]

My point is they all look like "little girls" because they are still very young compared to the team in 08 when everyone was 18-20s besides shawn.


.

This has been a consistant misperception of the 08 games. Shawn was often asked how it felt to be the youngest of the team and she simply answered. The reality is that Bridget Sloan was the youngest of the 08 team. Bridget turned 16 in June of 08, (born in 1992) Shawn turned 16 in January of 08 (again born in 1992). So they were close but Shawn was not the only 16 year old on the team. Maybe people think Shawn acted younger than Bridget or they forget Bridget was on the team.

OK Bog ( and others who attended) , tells us the scoop, how was your trip? Who did you see? What did you see that we may have missed on TV? What was the best, and worst that you saw?

 

[JessLW]

15 in 15: Rebecca Bross | The Couch Gymnast
it talks about it somewhere in this article. It says she turned pro a long time ago when she was younger. Probably around 2009 when she was at the top of her game and supposed to be a lock for london

Yeah, it is really a shame that Bross gave up her NCAA eligibility so early. If my kids ever (hah) go into elite gymnastics they'll be holding onto that bad boy until at least the actual Olympic year. Gabby and Jordyn are both pro too I know, anyone know if Aly, Maroney and Kyla are?

 

[mustlovejumping]

I also wanted to add that I really don't see how someone could say everyone on the team looks like "little girls". I think they pretty much all look their age. And I'm pretty sure Alicia had curves 4 years ago and she was still put on the team.

 

[sportzmomov3]

Was at Trials - it was amazing! Much better in person because for one, you got to see EVERYONE compete. Sad that NBC only showed some of the girls and instead followed the girls on the sidelines while others were competing. Annoying that they didn't show Sabrina Vega, who was last to compete floor - instead they followed Jordyn on the sidelines - WTH? I haven't seen the broadcast in its entirety, but I heard they missed showing a lot of the girls.

Anyway, the atmosphere was incredible. Also saw men's finals - now I do understand and agree that men's have a completely different vibe - totally fun and relaxed. The men were actually cheering each other on (loud) - it was really fun to watch.

Overall HP Pavilion and USAG did a great job - the activities around the venue were fun and festive.

And Aly & McKayla are pro. Kyla is not.

And why are we dredging up past controversies? Can we all just enjoy the present and celebrate the accomplishments of these talented young ladies? There are politics in every sport, but the team that was chosen is the best one to represent USA, including the alternates. I LOVE Alicia but don't believe that there are any other reasons she wasn't picked other than the fact that the ones who were picked, are going to have better scoring potential - in today's current environment.

 

[DbacksMom75]

I actually cried for Bross while watching that bar routine. You could tell in her face before she even started that she had checked out. Even though she didn't make the team, I think Nastia went out the best way she could, her final beam routine was typical Nastia. I read an interview with Karolyi after the finals and he said they were pulling for her to hit that bar routine, if she had she would have been in. She may be done competing but I definitely don't think we've seen the last of her.

 

[Optionals United]

txgymfan-"Shawn was often asked how it felt to be the youngest of the team and she simply answered. The reality is that Bridget Sloan was the youngest of the 08 team. Bridget turned 16 in June of 08,"
interesting I did not know that! The things you learn everyday.

mustlovejumping-"I also wanted to add that I really don't see how someone could say everyone on the team looks like "little girls"."
I don't think they look like little girls either. All of them look their age, they are just younger(16-18). I think people are interchanging 'little girls" for "younger team", and they aren't the same thing.

Dbacksmom75-"I think Nastia went out the best way she could, her final beam routine was typical Nastia. I read an interview with Karolyi after the finals and he said they were pulling for her to hit that bar routine, if she had she would have been in. She may be done competing but I definitely don't think we've seen the last of her"
Being at trials I dont think Nastia could have gone out any better. You could see the fight in her to finish everything all the way through. She knew she wasn't going to make the team on Day 2 after she fell. But she still went out there to finish what she started and show that her comeback wasn't a waste of time. She saw the US needed helpon bars and she is good at bars. SO she tried to go out there and help make a better team not for her own glory. I also wish she would continue training and maybe comeback for worlds next year. But I dont think that is going to happen. She said in some interviews the she will be attending NYU in the fall or january(can't remember which one) to study sports management.