London 2012 - 1 year to go!

In 366 days (2012 is a leap year) the games of the XXX Olympiad will be underway. The milestone is being marked by a number of events including Tom Daley making the first diive in the aquatics centre. The medal designs will also be unveiled and there will be a celebration in Trafalgar Sq where the world's athletes will be formally invited to London.

Covergirl Classic on Youtube

Youtube user and regular poster of gymnastics events, Olympicgymnastics2 has posted the full universal sports coverage of the Covergirl Classic from last weekend. Great news for those of us outside of the US who missed out on watching the live feed.



Part 1 (of 7)

Being Martha

It's about that time of year again, the time of year where we all like to put on our predicting hats and guess who Martha Karolyi will give a golden ticket to Worlds! Granted we haven't seen everyone out this season, and even fewer of those who compete all-around, have. But that's all part of the fun, right?

Here is the objective:
Tokyo, October 7th 2011
Six gymnasts required (NB for the olympics it will only be Five!)
Five compete on each apparatus in qualifying, Top four scores count.
The goal- Top 8 finish (ideally much higher) --> Olympic Qualification.


Anyway, if I was picking my world team, this is what it would look like...
(I got a bit carried away with this and had a bash at USA, GB, Russia, Romania and China.

Jordyn Wieber	VT	UB	BB	FX
Rebecca Bross	(VT)	UB	BB	(FX)
Chellsie Memmel	(VT)	(UB)		(FX)
Aly Raisman	VT	(UB)	(BB)	FX
Alicia Sacramone	VT		BB	FX
Another Bar Worker		UB	(BB)

 I haven't yet stuck my neck out and named the last member of the team, that's up to who puts out the best consistent bar routines at Nationals. My smart bet would be Mackenzie Caquatto as she already has worlds experience and is also a decent all-arounder, but it also might be an opportunity for a new face like Gabrielle Douglas or Sabrina Vega. 

The events in bold are my picks for the team final, where Team USA want to take advantage of Russian injuries and wrap up their normal pre-olympic team title. The good thing about this team is that it allows for the injury status of Rebecca Bross, If she is fit she could compete all-around but equally she would be a valuable asset on bars and beam only, with Aly Raisman or Chellsie Memmel both potentials for all-around competition.

Next year, as many have said, with one less person on the team Martha will likely have to choose between Aly Raisman's all around potential or Sacramone's shot at an olympic vault gold. Unless Aly's bars steps up several knotches there just isn't room for all of them.

I'll add to this post later with my picks for other teams.
What do you think Martha?

Covergirl - Results and Musings

Aly Raisman may be the USA's version of Hannah Whelan. Not the most virtuoso performer or standout on a single apparatus, but capable of consistently throwing out high all-around scores.

Raisman thought she might have waved goodbye to the all around title in Chicago last night after a disaster on bars, but upgraded strong tumbling and a successful amanar vault gave her the title and likely reminded Martha Karolyi and the fans not to rule her out for the national title in a few weeks time.

Likely the happiest camper though was comeback kid, 2003 World Champion Chellsie Memmel. Whilst the other members of the 2008 olympic team have tentatively dipped their toes in with one or two events, Memmel came back all guns blazing with a complete all-around performance. With all the pre-meet publicity being on Shawn Johnson, Memmel has again amazed us with her longevity in the sport and ability to rise to the occasion.

Third place went to the always lovely but often under-the-radar Sabrina Vega, top of all the debut seniors here. These are the new faces grappling to impress Karolyi and join the big guns in the world team selection battle.

As I mentioned before, Shawn Johnson didn't have the picture perfect return, having stumbled on her bars dismount she then had a wobbly outing on the balance beam, falling on her back layout somersault. Great however to see she still took it as a positive experience and is all the more determined to perform well at Visas in 3 weeks time. In all honesty the worlds this year may be a step too far, but she's a valued presence all the same.

Looking ahead the future is still difficult to predict. Jordyn Wieber is very likely to bring her A-game to the national championships in a few weeks time.  Rebecca Bross is still struggling with her injuries but will not want to be counted out. Mattie Larson and Bridget Sloan have been out of the scene since worlds but should never be counted out, and Chellsie Memmel has tasted success and wants more....

Roll-on Visa Championships!

Covergirl Classic Results

1.	Alexandra Raisman	Brestyan's	6.5	15.100	5.7	12.450	6.2	15.000	6.2	14.700	57.250
2.	Chellsie Memmel	M&M	5.0	14.200	5.6	14.400	6.1	14.700	5.3	13.650	56.950
3.	Sabrina Vega	Dynamic	5.8	14.600	5.7	13.500	6.1	14.500	5.7	14.250	56.850
4.	McKenzie Wofford	Zenith Elite	5.0	13.150	5.9	14.600	6.3	14.800	5.1	13.050	55.600
5.	Sophia Lee	WOGA	5.0	14.100	5.6	13.200	5.6	14.250	5.1	13.400	54.950
6.	Bridgette Caquatto	Legacy Elite	5.0	14.200	6.1	14.900	5.6	13.350	5.5	12.300	54.750
7.	Jessica Howe	WOGA	5.0	13.650	5.3	12.900	5.4	14.300	5.1	13.200	54.050
8.	Casey Jo Magee	Capital	5.0	13.650	4.7	13.200	5.9	14.200	4.8	12.100	53.150
9.	Brandie Jay	GK	5.8	13.800	6.0	14.200	5.2	13.150	5.1	11.650	52.800
10.	Hallie Mossett	West Coast	5.0	14.100	5.0	13.100	5.3	12.900	5.2	12.700	52.800

Sad times...

2 falls for Shawn Johnson and no live feed in the UK for me.

Not the most successful evening then...

Bonne Nuit!

Classic - Jr Results

2010 US Junior Champ Kyla Ross took the title in the Junior Ladies event at the Covergirl Classic.

(Photo- Greg Long)
Follow the Senior event on Twitter and blogs with the Couch Gymnast and Gymnastics Examiner who are actually there, as well as Full Twist and yours truely who will be doing the nightshift (UK time) watching in the comfort of our own homes!

Twitter: @Going4GoldBlog
 @Full_Twist
@Double_Front  
@Gymcoaching 
@GymExaminer
The Couch Gymnast on Facebook. 

Sadly the reigning US champ Rebecca Bross pulled out of the competition earlier in the day.Tt doesn't look like that ankle is fully back on form yet.  The All Around title is open for the taking. Smart money would be on Ali Raisman (Jordyn Wieber is due to only do bars and beam) but there is plenty of buzz about the return of Chellsie Memmel, as well as youngsters Gabrielle Douglas/ McKayla Maroney making their senior debuts. 

Can't wait to see Shawn Johnson either!.....

Here are the junior results (USA Gymnastics)
1. Kyla Ross 58.850
2. Lexie Priessman 58.050
3. Katelyn Ohashi 57.950
4. Sarah Finnegan 56.650
5. Brenna Dowell 55.350

USA's big names come out to play this weekend.

Martha Karolyi is very protective of her team USA gymnasts. They generally only appear on the international scene for Worlds and a few other select competitions. For the american girls the bulk of their years competition takes place on home soil, starting this weekend with the Covergirl Classic, the largest qualification/warm-up event for Nationals.

Last year the covergirl classic marked a return to competition for 2008 Olympian Alicia Sacramone, who translated success at home to a world vault title and banished a few consistency demons along the way. This year it is the turn of Beijing AA silver medallist and beam champion Shawn Johnson to make her anticipated return to competion for the first time in 3 years.

There has been an ongoing saga with the Beijing girls hinting at returns to the competition floor, Spurred on by Sacramone's success in 2010, Johnson will also be joined by Chellsie Memmel, who has been undecided whether or not to leave gymnastics behind in recent years. The only 2008 team member who still keeps the world waiting on her decision to return is leading lady Nastia Liukin. There have been plenty of hints and maybes coming from the Liukin camp, but no solid evidence of a return yet.

However - heres a 'short' list of some of the familiar faces kicking off their season at Covergirl this Saturday.

American Cup champ Jordyn Wieber (pictured - above)
McKayla Maroney - a new senior with a BIG Amanar.
(pictured - right)
2010 US junior champ Kyla Ross
Strong bar-working sisters Brigitte & McKenzie Caquatto,
UCLA grad and NCAA champ Anna Li
Comeback kids Shawn Johnson & Chellsie Memmel
Brestyan's Alicia Sacramone & Ali Raisman
Artistic new senior Sabrina Vega
Cincinnati's Amanda Jetter
Johnson's training mate Garielle Douglas
Reigning US champ Rebecca Bross

With Russia's biggest names still on the mend from injury, the never-ending depth of the Team USA may be a big asset in their quest to win back the world team title this October