Jake Jarman, Harry Hepworth, Max Whitlock, Luke Whitehouse, and Joe Fraser
The beginning lists for the lads’s {qualifications} on the 2024 Olympic Video games have been launched, and we’re going to speak via every group and notable people primarily based on what we’re anticipating to see in every subdivision, together with any surprises and who may have the very best alternatives for finals.
TEAM NOTES
The highest group within the first subdivision is the U.S. program, which is able to see Brody Malone, Fred Richard, and Paul Juda competing within the all-around, whereas Stephen Nedoroscik will anchor pommel horse and Asher Hong will fill out the rosters on the remaining 5 occasions.
Nothing right here is stunning, with Malone and Richard at all times favorites for all-around spots, whereas Juda was the best choice for a 3rd spot provided that pommel horse is a energy for him and a weak point for Hong. Coming off of a bronze medal at world championships final yr, the U.S. group is definitely one of many favorites for the rostrum. Prior to now, they’ve tended to do their greatest work in {qualifications} solely to flop within the closing, however with the Russians banned, that is their time to reap the benefits of one much less high-difficulty group to fret about and hopefully they may save their greatest work for when it counts.
Their greatest competitors this quad has been Nice Britain, which gained the bronze in 2022 and completed fourth in Tokyo in addition to at worlds final yr. The group this yr hasn’t been fairly as strong, shedding gold to Ukraine at Euros and completely bombing ground and pommels at a pleasant meet in France final month, the place we noticed the Olympic squad plus alternate James Corridor competing.
If all goes in line with plan in Paris, all-arounders Jake Jarman, Luke Whitehouse, and Joe Fraser – solely lately again from harm – plus Harry Hepworth on ground, rings, and vault and Max Whitlock on pommels, parallel bars, and excessive bar ought to current a reasonably strong problem, however I do assume regardless of some huge standout particular person performances, they could be a bit too far behind as a complete on some apparatuses – like rings and excessive bar – to dig themselves out of a gap, and primarily based on what I’ve seen and what I anticipate to see, I’d give the U.S. males the sting.
Each Canada and Germany have been sort of surprises for final yr’s group closing, with Canada qualifying in a stunning fourth place to qualify a full group to the Olympics for the primary time since 2008 whereas Germany made it in an equally spectacular fifth place.
Canada will see Félix Dolci, René Cournoyer, and Samuel Zakutney, whereas Zachary Clay will specialize on pommels and parallel bars, and William Émard will spherical out the remainder. At worlds final yr, a part of the group’s success got here from having two pommels specialists to maximise their rating on that equipment, however whereas this group is a bit weaker there now, I feel Zakutney – who didn’t compete in Antwerp – shall be an excellent larger assistance on parallel bars and excessive bar than we might have gotten out of a second pommels specialists, and his personal pommels set – if hit – must be satisfactory sufficient to get them via.
The German group has had just a few accidents this yr, together with to 2023 worlds opponents Lucas Kochan and Nick Klessing, and likewise to nationwide champion Lukas Dauser, who harm his shoulder on rings on the Olympic trials and can solely compete ground and parallel bars in Paris. Timo Eder has actually confirmed himself as a prime all-arounder this season, so we’ll see him, Pascal Brendel, and Nils Dunkel on all six occasions in {qualifications} right here, whereas Andreas Toba rounds out the group on pommels, rings, vault, and excessive bar.
I do assume the Canadians have nice potential to earn a spot within the group closing, although a number of the groups that missed out final yr – like Ukraine and Türkiye – are coming in stronger this time round and can make issues troublesome. Whereas Germany is usually a group that surprises in {qualifications} to sneak into finals – one thing they did final yr and on the Olympic Video games in Tokyo – I feel this yr they might doubtlessly be a bit too far behind to make that magic occur, although I by no means rely them out.
ALL-AROUND NOTES
Each Malone and Richard of the U.S. might be legit medal contenders within the all-around competitors, whereas Jarman, Fraser, and Dolci also needs to do pretty nicely to land among the many higher-ranked contenders for the ultimate.
Outdoors of the groups, the one two all-arounders we’ll see are Diogo Soares of Brazil and Krisztofer Meszaros of Hungary, however each are incredible and must be in competition to make the ultimate.
FLOOR NOTES
The highest ground employee on this subdivision is Artem Dolgopyat of Israel, the reigning Olympic and world champion who’s more likely to make it occur once more right here, although he was bested at Euros this yr by a fab routine from Whitehouse, and he might face some further competitors within the closing, so nothing is about in stone.
Along with Whitehouse, we’ll be each Jarman and Hepworth from the British group for spots within the closing, whereas Richard might have potential for the U.S. group, and Canada might have Dolci and Émard as outdoors hopefuls, although I don’t see any of the Germans as having the potential to qualify.
Meszaros is unquestionably a person to be careful for right here, and I’m additionally eager for specialist Aurel Benovic of Croatia. Each have really pretty work on this equipment and in the event that they do what they’re able to in {qualifications}, we might see
POMMEL HORSE NOTES
The pommel horse discipline in Paris is unbelievable, and three of the largest medal hopefuls within the discipline will compete on this subdivision, together with Nedoroscik and Whitlock, each able to huge problem and a number of the greatest scores we’ve seen this quad.
We’ll additionally see specialist Ahmad Abu Al Soud of Jordan, the bronze medalist at worlds final yr who went 15.5 on the Doha World Cup to safe his spot in Paris. Coming in as the primary athlete to symbolize Jordan on the Olympic Video games is historical past in itself, so making the ultimate or medaling could be an unbelievable feat and he’s one of many athletes I’m most excited to control right here.
RINGS NOTES
Amongst these competing on groups, there might doubtlessly be some probabilities for Malone or Whitehouse to make appearances within the closing, however general this discipline is so sturdy and skilled, I actually don’t see any outdoors hopefuls or bubble athletes getting in. You by no means know!
Essentially the most notable athlete on this subdivision is clearly the legendary Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece, the 2016 Olympic champion and three-time world champion who has seen some competitors from the Chinese language males over the previous few years, however I feel must be strongly in place for the silver medal if he misses gold.
VAULT NOTES
Jarman and Hepworth must be two of probably the most thrilling vaulters on this discipline, with Jarman’s sticks a number of the most spectacular gymnastics I’ve seen this quad. They’re each among the many prime athletes when it comes to the extent of problem they’re doing, whereas additionally displaying a strong stage of consistency to offer them tons of potential for this closing.
That is the place Hong has quite a lot of potential for a person closing as nicely, particularly if he’s doing his greatest work, although his Ri Se Gwang may be hit and miss so it’ll come right down to how he’s feeling in quals. Among the many specialists, Benovic has a greater shot right here of sneaking right into a closing than he does on ground, and I’m additionally excited to see what we get from Mahdi Olfati of Iran and Audrys Nin Reyes of the Dominican Republic, each of whom also needs to be squarely within the combine relying on what they and others do in {qualifications}.
PARALLEL BARS NOTES
High to observe from the group opponents will in fact be Dauser, the reigning world champion. His harm could also be a bit limiting, I suppose, however I feel not competing on a lot of the different apparatuses ought to assist him hold his physique and thoughts in form for his specialty equipment.
Fraser tends to shine right here so I’d hold him on my shortlist. The 2 greatest U.S. guys on this equipment have been left off of the group. Hong made the ultimate at worlds final yr, however whereas he’s able to finals-worthy scores he doesn’t at all times make them occur. Don’t rely him out, I suppose? And the identical can in all probability be stated for Dolci, although I feel he’s a lot much less more likely to make it.
This occasion is fascinating general, because it’s the place we are likely to see extra all-arounders stand out and a lot of the specialists who’ve certified are good, however not essentially medal and even closing contenders. Each Robert Tvorogal of Lithuania and Andrei Muntean of Romania predict to compete on this subdivision, however I wouldn’t name both an actual risk except they’ve their very best performances in {qualifications}.
HIGH BAR NOTES
In considerably current historical past the U.S. has struggled on this equipment, however Malone and Richard are absolute aces right here and with their greatest work each are undoubtedly eyeing the rostrum. I don’t see any of the Brits making the ultimate occur, except Fraser has one among his higher units wherein case he’d be on the bubble, and once more the identical can in all probability be stated for Germany and Canada, for whom Toba and Dolci could be most certainly to shock (although that is in all probability wishful considering).
The specialists on this subdivision are all excellent, with Tin Srbic of Croatia and Arthur Mariano of Brazil each standouts, whereas Tvorogal stunned for a medal at Euros this yr and has the scores able to making an even bigger worldwide closing right here. Nin Reyes can be making an look on this occasion along with vault, however each routines I’ve seen him do that yr have been tough, and I don’t assume we’ll see him convey sufficient problem to get into an already stacked group.
All begin lists can be found by way of the FIG.
Article by Lauren Hopkins
