No Amanar for Gabby

[Empowered]

Article just posted says she will stick with the double. I am disappointed, I won't lie.

 

[gymcoach1]

Seems like Marta is disappointed as well

 

[LindyHopper]

Seems like Marta is disappointed as well

How do you know? Not challenging you, but curious as to how you can tell.

 

[Empowered]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...81d6b0-4449-11e6-bc99-7d269f8719b1_story.html

I'm sure Martha is thinking, what changes between today and Rio as well as, do you really bring it back the first time on the Olympic podium?

 

[flippingtogether]

Thanks for posting the link to the Post article - I had not seen that yet.
Is it just me, or is that a really thorough and well-written article, esp. for a mainstream publication? It seems much better researched, explained and written than the vast majority of the industry articles I have seen this week on the upcoming trials....

 

[Flyaway]

Is this really a game changer? Is the amanar that important for Gabby?

 

[Gymmommy71]

I don't know if it's a game changer, but it may increase the consideration/attention the AA girls who have amanars but aren't in that top 5 get at trials - for instance Mckayla. Is Maggie going to be able to do her amanar?

 

[Empowered]

I think it's important for her individually. Not having one lowers her AA stock for Rio. As for selection, if it held no importance, Martha wouldn't be so openly frustrated. How much importance remains to be seen.

 

[bookworm]

Douglas didn't do herself any favors tonight...that gift of a score for her floor routine that was horrible ( for a "reigning Olympic AA champion"), no Amanar, fall on a full turn on beam, finishing 7th behind the likes of Kocian, doing her 2nd AA meet since 2013 and Skinner....and add to that, she dumps her main coach Kittia right before trials to supposedly have a male coach (Gallardo) who "can spot her"....thinking you shouldn't be needing a ton of spotting heading into Olympic trials...

 

[Natasha]

I agree. Even without the fall on beam she barely would have made it into 4th place, only by .10. And she seemed off at Championships. And the whole coach change at last minute seems like a red flag to me...

 

[Flyaway]

Gabby seemed off to me. But then there were unusual Simone bobbles too... And a funky turn on bars for Laurie. Hopefully Sunday will look better.

 

[Gymmommy71]

I wonder what's going on w/ all the coaching changes w/ gabby. I will say I got a vibe from that footage at P&G that she didn't like/get along w/ that female coach.

Again w/ the cameras in the faces of girls after they mess up. Them filming Gabby's back at that water cooler when she clearly was trying to avoid them - wow was that awkward.

My heart was breaking for Ashton - I really didn't want to see her cry like that on top of it all .

 

[vagymmomma]

Oh Gabby. So much talent, so much mental baggage. I know they won't leave her off the team but it seems very unfair when some of these girls are fighting so hard to make it. She did try to smile though and I definitely give her credit for that. DD said something about her behavior with coaches without any input from me.

Other thoughts:

Ashton - I was tearing up with her. I love her bars so much, but she knew what that fall meant (stupid cameraman though - get out of her and gabby's face).

Mykayla - good for her. Can't believe I am saying this, but why not her over Gabby? They don't need her beam. And she could compete for an individual medal on vault. Let's see what she does night 2 though.

Ragan - I still don't think she's ready.

I miss 2012 Gabby.

 

[Empowered]

Supposedly Martha said, "Nothing about tonight changed her team" which includes Gabby. AYFKM? I'm very disappointed in her objectivity. Gabby is moving in the wrong direction fast.

I agree with @bookworm thst floor is maybe a 14.3 if anyone else does it. Her bars and vault were very meh and where is the fight on beam? I was glad Nastia called her on it. She didn't even try to save that turn.

What I saw from her tonight was a performance that said, I'm on this team no matter what so whatever. If she has a similar performance Sunday, Martha putting her on this team is a slap in the face of her own rules and is disrespectful to every other kid on that floor. Her past performances and reputation are "earning" her spot, certainly not the days she's had at Nationals & Trials.

 

[flipster]

Isn't consistency one of the must-have qualities required to make the team? Gabby is anything but ..

 

[Empowered]

Consistency and recent performances are supposed to be the strongest driving factors. Obviously they want you to hit and they want who's peaking at the right time. Gabby is doing neither, but I guess she gets a pass cause Gabby...

And if I hear Martha defend her one more dang time with this "she peaks late" crap, codswallop... This kid peaked, 4 years ago. Time to move on and give a kid who's truly fighting for a spot a chance.

Sorry for ranting all, but I'm all fired up today. I thought we'd finally moved past mid 90s, where politics outweighed ability. Guess not.

 

[wandrewsjr]

Even with a bad night, Gabi was still 5th on vault, 3rd on bars(which is like 2nd since both 1st place girls aren't making the team) and 6th on floor. The reality is she is primarily on the team because of her bars and solid vault that could be used. Team final beam and floor are Hernandez, Biles and Raismann. Team final bars are Douglas, Kocian and Hernandez(possibly Biles if Laurie not completely consistent). Team final vault is Biles, Raismann and Hernandez or Douglas. Nothing about first night of trials changed that being the strongest lineup.

MyKayla did everything she possibly could to make her case. She is without a doubt the lead in the alternate race right now, what a night for her. If something completely unforeseen happens night 2, she is really the only one in position, in my opinion, to move onto the team.

 

[Empowered]

But numerically it is not the strongest lineup. The math is black & white. The top three options, that all get the US over 185 don't include Gabby. Obviously one of those are off the table with the highest being taking the 2 bar workers.

We're talking tenths with a team that wins by a mile, but still, Martha created her standards. She's been preaching what she expects and wants to see for years and the rules are being changed for Gabby. It's not right.

 

[wandrewsjr]

But numerically it is not the strongest lineup. The math is black & white. The top three options, that all get the US over 185 don't include Gabby. Obviously one of those are off the table with the highest being taking the 2 bar workers.

We're talking tenths with a team that wins by a mile, but still, Martha created her standards. She's been preaching what she expects and wants to see for years and the rules are being changed for Gabby. It's not right.

I agree that using both bar specialists give a higher team score(which like you said isn't going to happen). And know Mykaylas vault would add a couple tenths. What is the 3rd team lineup that would score higher?

 

[Empowered]

See attached. These are working off averages for the three meets so far and going for highest score among the combos.

I find it kind of funny that on paper, the anointed team is the lowest. Again yes tenths, but still.