At the moment’s the day we identify one other Olympic group.
Now greater than ever:
What began as 16 qualifiers is now 13 gymnasts left in rivalry following the accidents to Skye Blakely, Kayla DiCello, and Shilese Jones—three of the seven main contenders to make the group heading into the competitors.
Which means we’re left with 4 main contenders—Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles—and a fifth random lottery win of an Olympic spot that’s large open to be received by somebody who actually wasn’t in critical rivalry till about 11 seconds in the past. I do know who I’m choosing.
Following the primary day of competitors—amongst these athletes who’re nonetheless within the combine—the highest-scoring group can be Biles, Lee, Carey, Chiles, and Tiana Sumanasekera on 173.000. That’s Sumanasekera in by .025 over present Fifth-place AAer Josc Roberson. Groups together with Leanne Wong, Hezly Rivera, and Kaliya Lincoln are all lower than 4 tenths behind.
Chiles and Carey haven’t essentially run away from the pack too far, although they’ll be thought-about anticipated group members till one thing tells us in any other case in the present day. I’m not betting your entire household farm on it, but it surely’s definitely the probably final result. If we assume Biles, Lee, Chiles, Carey, then right here’s the place we stand with the others.
Tiana Sumanasekera — A beam race fits her. When you’re completely happy locking in Biles, Carey, Chiles as your three on vault and flooring, Biles, Lee, Chiles as your three on bars, and Biles and Lee on beam, then you definately’re simply on the lookout for a beamer. Sumanasekera was 2nd to Lee on beam on day 1.
Joscelyn Roberson – Although she’s not as identified for beam, Roberson was solely .025 behind Sumanasekera on beam on the primary day. If she will be able to hold one thing in that neighborhood up, after which maybe use her Cheng to realize a pair extra beneficial hundreths on the Chiles DTY, perhaps bounce forward of somebody on flooring, you might very simply see her being on the trials highest-scoring group. She was additionally Fifth AA on day 1, whereas Sumanasekera was ninth, and we all know how a lot USAG loves AA.
Hezly Rivera – What the choice course of in 2023 taught us—with deciding on Leanne Wong for the group somewhat than Kaliya Lincoln (who made up the higher-scoring group however was a riskier prospect for equipment protection)—is that having backups for backups for backups for backups is a big consideration. Rivera has the beam to win a beam race (her 14.100 from nationals day 2 is the height beam among the many contenders), however she additionally has a really usable backup bars. If the choice committee is anxious about placing Jade Carey on the identical group as a weaker bars gymnast like Sumanasekera, Roberson, or Lincoln for worry of what occurs if Biles, Lee, or Chiles get injured, then Rivera is the choose.
Leanne Wong – Wong’s occasion protection argument from 2023 stays, although decrease scores on beam and flooring on day 1 have dented it in comparison with different athletes. It might now be the Cheng—which beat the Roberson Cheng and the Chiles DTY on day 1—that presents the most effective team-score argument for her.
Kaliya Lincoln – Lincoln’s flooring scored 14.150 on day 1, forward of Chiles and Carey, and that was with a serious deduction on her remaining move. Particularly if persons are dropping their minds on beam in the present day with an Olympic spot on the road, Lincoln’s flooring might find yourself being the factor that augments the group rating probably the most.
They didn’t do any adjusting to the rotation teams with all of the accidents, so we’re going to have one actually large rotation group with all of the WCCs, and one which’s carried out in 15 seconds.
Rotation 1
Sumanasekera – VT – very stable DTY, solely small motion, some leg crossing. 14.350, up two tenths on day 1.
Rivera – UB – weiler 1/2 – toe full to stalder shap to ricna, hit – pak – maloney, some leg break into tkatchev, stable – 1/2 activate excessive – FTDT, step again. Stable hit. 14.300, additionally up on day 1.
Roberson – VT – Cheng is hit, step again, after which momentum takes her for an extra step again, leg crossing, however chest up pretty nicely. 14.500 is a giant deal rating for that Cheng. Forward of Sumanasekera and will give her a bit edge there.
Roberson VT 2 – DTY, deeper, will get it round, bounce again after which one other hop salute
Rose – UB – stalder full, late however hits it – maloney to clear hip to Ray, good peak on Ray – stalder 1/2 to yezhova – van leeuwen, legs collectively nicely – DLO, holds the stick. Good one.
Lowe – VT – Y1.5, hits it, medium hop ahead and a few knees. 13.675
Wong – UB – clear hip 1/2 to jaeger, good – toe full to bhardwaj, hit with Owen in the way in which – maloney to pak, easy – van leeuwen, hit – DLO, pretty, little hop again. 13.900
Chiles – VT – DTY, good peak, little leg crossing, bounce again however not too giant – ought to go up on day 1 rating. 14.500, prevents Roberson from utilizing vault to realize something on a group whole.
Chiles – VT 2- Lopez is clear, comfy for her, good leg type, medium bounce again
That’s half 1 of rotation 1. Most important growth there was Chiles matching Roberson’s vault whole on each days. Rivera reached her high bars rating of the method, a 14.300, which can also be higher than Chiles’ day 1 bars whole, presenting an opportunity for a bars case for her.
Molomo – VT – Y1.5, good peak, medium hop ahead, stable total. 13.850
Lincoln – UB – weiler 1/2, will get by it, small pause however finishes vertical – stalder full – stalder shap to tkatchev, excessive, foot flexing – Ray to pak, hit, straddle within the pak – toe on to van leeuwen – quick hs on excessive – FTDT, almost caught, small motion and a few chest place. 13.450
Carey – VT 1 – Cheng, hits with a medium bounce again – giant straddle on her block, normal type moments. 14.675, she’ll retain the vault benefit.
Carey VT 2 – Amanar, very quick, simply does reserve it to her toes, giant lunge again and a stagger to keep away from the autumn
Lee – UB – Nabieva to bhardwaj, hit – van leeuwen – jaeger to pak to maloney to gienger, easily carried out – big full – FTDT, caught touchdown. That’ll work. 14.875.
Biles – VT – YDP, giant stumble again this time, a number of giant lunges proper to the top of the mat, so not a fall however most touchdown deductions. 15.500. 9.100 E is pleasant with 8 tenths in touchdown deductions.
Caylor – VT – DTY, will get it round, some pike all through, hop again. 13.900
After 1:
Biles – 74.400
Chiles and Lee – 70.900
Carey – 70.500
Roberson 69.975
It’ll get actual after we begin seeing beam routines, which we are going to in rotation 2.
Rotation 2
Lowe leads off bars and is thru successful, FTDT chest down with a bounce ahead. 12.875
Rose – BB – change mount, change to separate to again tuck, small verify, will get the combo – wolf double, easy – bhs loso bhs, safe – facet aerial, hit – aerial – 2.5 dismount, a bit underneath with a crossover step. 13.375
Chiles – UB – van leeuwen, stable, legs collectively – blind to piked jaeger, stable – toe fuill with some pike place – tkatchev piked to pak, clear, legs collectively – maloney to gienger, stable – FTDT, hop again. Good. 14.200
Wong – BB – change, good – change to change 1/2, a bit tight however safe – change ring, wobble with an arm wave – bhs loso, safe, chest down place – wolf double, hit – aerial to separate bounce to straddle, hit, little bounce again on the finish – facet somi, good management – 2.5 dismount, will get it, numerous leg crossing, hop to the facet. 13.650
So, a 14.225 trials common for Chiles on bars will hold her forward of Rivera’s 14.1625 common, but it surely’s shut.
Molomo survives her double entrance bars dismount in the present day with a big lunge ahead. 12.550
Lincoln – BB – change mount, hit – change 1/2, nice cut up place however giant break, leg as much as horizontal – bhs structure 2 toes, hits it – aerial to separate to straddle, good straddle place – wolf triple, stable – facet aerial, hit, verify – change – bhs bhs double pike, pretty, step again. One giant break however one. 13.175
Carey – UB – toe on to bhardwaj, hit, some leg crossing – maloney to gienger, hit, lowish – yezhova – van leeuwen, some legs – quick hs on excessive – struggles by her big 1/2 however will get by it, pause and type break – FTDT, good management. 13.075
Paul Juda and Sarah Korngold in dialog. If these partitions might discuss.
Roethlishberger speaking about this “home of horrors” competitors as Jordan Chiles hams it up within the background.
That rock on Alicia’s finger is the fifth member of the group.
Biles – UB – weiler 12/ to maloney, giant leg break – to large full to tkatchev piked to pak, hit – van leeuwen, some legs – higher handstand place on excessive – toe full to double double tuck, little hop. 14.200
Lee – BB – loso mount and falls, whyyyy – aerial to separate to bhs, easy – wolf triple, good – change, pause earlier than change 1/2, pause earlier than cut up ring bounce, good parts however preventing it together – facet aerial to loso loso and one other large break, grabs the beam – change ring, leg up wobble – gainer full dismount, hop.
May have a really large affect after we discuss highest-scoring group. Her issues and Simone’s on the primary day affect how vital the beam routines seem from others.
Caylor – UB – toe full to maloney, good leg place, linked to pak – van leeuwen – stalder – blind to entrance big to jaeger, hit – DLO, step again. 13.275
12.825 for Suni.
Rivera – BB – wolf double, good – facet aerial, hit – bhs loso, verify – change, little pause earlier than change 1/2, underneath cut up however safe, to korbut – aerial, little hesitations once more into cut up and straddle, hit parts, simply tight – change ring, holds it, little verify – bhs bhs double pike, chest down however extra management in the present day, little step. Large deal routine.
Sumanasekera – UB – Maloeny to pak, hit – van leeuwen, small leg break – toe 1/2 to entrance big to jaeger, hit with toes type – big 1/2, quick – FTDT, step again
Rivera will get 14.275 on beam. Large. Her trials common on beam is now 13.9375, placing the stress on Sumanasekera and Roberson.
Roberson – BB – clear hip shapo, some legs – to clear hip 1/2, little pause – to yezhova, small leg separation – toe full, previous – maloney to gienger, catches – DLO 1/1, hop ahead. 13.025
Rivera strikes forward of Roberson by 4 tenths within the AA after that rotation and is in superb place for group rating now.
Rotation 3
Molomo – BB – change – wolf double, will get it – facet aerial to loso, safe with knee place within the loso – finishes successful with a double tuck dismount, hop ahead. 13.200
Wong – FX – wolf double, good – popa, round – double double tuck, a bit quick however will get it, hop to the facet – DLO, quick, slide ahead – change ring to separate leap full – again 1/2 to entrance full, underneath with a shuffle again – doubel pike, good management. 13.625
Carey – BB – entrance roll mount – aerial to separate to korbut – bhs loso, safe touchdown – change facet, quick again leg – change to change 1/2 to straddle, safe – facet aerial, hit – bhs bhs double pike, step again. 13.625
Is Jade’s mother Vanessa Atler?
Lincoln – FX – DLO 1/1, nice peak and place, hop to the facet – DLO, nice, small slide – change ring to separate full, round – wolf triple, good – change full, actual, hops on touchdown – entrance full to doubel tuck, bounce again each toes out of bounds.
Biles – BB – change mount, will get it into change 1/2 again pike in the present day, little bounce again – wolf triple, good – aerial to separate to straddle safe – bhs los loso, holds securely regardless that chest was a bit ahead – facet aerial, large break and falls – it was good till then – bhs bhs FTDT, bounce again. 13.900
Simone and Suni are like, we’re not carrying all of your asses by Paris, who’s stepping up?
Lee – FX – DLO 1/1, hit, good management – change ring to separate leap full, scoots toes round a bit – again 1.5 to entrance full, a bit underneath and a shuffle on touchdown – double l flip, will get her two turns round – wolf triple, hit – double tuck, bounce again. 13.850
Caylor – BB – change mount, hit – bhs loso loso, safe touchdown – change, pause – change 1/2, approach approach underneath with a big break, step again – aerial to separate to korbut, linked – facet aerial, hit – cut up and wolf – bhs bhs double pike, chest down, lunge ahead. 12.425
Sumanasekera – BB – candle mount – bhs bhs lay 2 toes, safe – aerial to separate to korbut, good connection – change to change 1/2, arm wave correction – facet aerial, arm verify – sissone to wolf – bhs bhs doubel pike, two steps again. However one, did what she might do. Simply 13.950, however meaning she’ll be barely forward of Rivera on two-day trials common, in the event that they care.
Rivera – FX – DLO 1/1, bounce again, two little hops – DLO, bounce again – change ring to change full to knee – wolf double – entrance tuck by to double tuck, hop – cut up full – 2.5 with a stumble, a pair lunges ahead
Roberson – BB – again tuck full, safe, chest down – change to change 1/2 to again tuck, pause earlier than again tuck and an arm wave on the finish – facet aerial loso loso is safe – onodi, pause earlier than straddle and pike – double pike, step again. Good one. 14.050 provides her the 2-day common beam benefit over Sumanasekera and Rivera
Rose – FX – again 1.5 to entrance 2/1, hits it with a lunge – whip to double tuck, little hop – cut up leap full – wolf triple, round – again 2.5 to entrance tuck, leg crossing, controls it. 13.375
Lowe – BB – change mount, hit – facet aerial to loso, step again, hits it, some delicate knee – change to change facet – aerial, little pause earlier than korbut – large arm wave on facet somi – double tuck dismount, hit with bounce again
Chiles – BB – entrance pike mount, retains it on with a leg up wobble – bhs loso, giant break and may’t reserve it, falls – you guys – aerial, pause earlier than straddle to bhs – facet somi, hit – change, leans by to sissone to wolf – facet aerial – change facet – double pike dismount, step again.
Between Rivera being so near Chiles on bars and this miss, Chiles is reallllly counting on flooring at this level.
12.225 ouch.
Chiles retains the slight AA edge on Carey, Roberson, Rivera however that one is shut now.
Rotation 4
Biles – FX – triple double bounce again, retains it in – entrance full to double double tuck, steps again OOB – change to separate leap 1.5, round – wolf 2.25 – Biles, will get it linked to stag – change full – DLO, straightforward close to stick. 14.725
Lincoln – VT – good peak on DTY, fairly large bounce again. 14.250
Caylor FX – DLO, quick, hop ahead – double pike, chest ahead, hop – wolf double – change ring, not fairly there on the again leg – cut up full – again 1.5 to entrance full, will get it to her toes with a crossover step – double y, good y place – double tuck, bounce again. 12.425
Suni being held for precise ever on vault.
Lee – VT – DTY, hits it, medium bounce again
Sumanasekera – FX – DLO 1/1, some pike, hop ahead – DLO, little motion again, good one – change ring to separate leap full, round – wolf double – again 1.5 to entrance full, crossed legs, step ahead – change 1/2 – double pike, good touchdown. She did what she might presumably do in the present day. 13.725, although it could be a bit larger.
Rivera – VT – DTY, a lot better, little bounce again. 14.200
Roberson – FX – Moors is superb, caught it, just a few pike – DLO 1/1, almost caught, small slide again – leg up hop full – cut up leap 1.5, underneath rotated – DLO, bounce again , simply does keep in – wolf triple, round for credit score – entrance loso to double tuck, step again. Wellllllll. I feel that was higher than her 13.925 from day 1. However the rating is identical, 13.925.
That can see Roberson end barely behind Rivera AA.
Lowe – FX – double arabian with a hop ahead – 1.5 to entrance lay, stable structure, hit with a hop ahead – wolf double – double pike, step again OOB – double tuck, good stick. 12.825
Rose – VT – Y1.5, medium lunge ahead. 13.575
Chiles – FX – DLO 1/1, good, little hop again – entrance full to FTDT, bounce again, seemed OOB to me however no flag goes up – wolf triple, really like 3.5 – change – cut up leap 1.5, a couple of quarter underneath however one in every of her nearer rotations – DLO, little hop again. Hit the routine she wanted to hit. 14.100
Wong – VT – Cheng is hit, lands it deep, bounce again some knees – 14.500 is a giant quantity.
Molomo – FX – DLO, bounce again – popa is good and excessive – double pike, good management – change – change facet 1/2 – wolf double – entrance full, underneath management – doubel tuck, bounce again. 12.950
Wong hits DTY second vault, fairly large lunge again
That 14.100 from Chiles will put her third AA.
Carey – FX – Moors, hits it, little hop, little bit of knees – DLO 1/1, steps again OOB – change – change 1/1 to popa, a bit crooked within the popa cut up – double double tuck, stable, little bounce again – cut up leap full – entrance tuck by to double tuck, safe touchdown. 14.150
Probably the most fascinating factor to me that occurred right here is that, utilizing trials common, the Biles, Lee, Carey, Rivera, Roberson group has a really ever so slight edge on the Biles, Lee, Carey, Rivera, Chiles group. However that’s additionally due to beam, and beam obtained bizarre in a approach you wouldn’t anticipate on the Olympics. Chiles, nonetheless, has the slight edge on Roberson once you take the higher of the 2 days.
FINAL:
Biles 117.225
Lee 111.675
Chiles 111.425
Carey 111.350
Rivera 111.150
Need to think about that’s the group. Utilizing better of the trials days, in addition to the boys’s strategies—common throughout nationals and trials, and finest 3 of 4 throughout nationals and trials—you additionally get the identical group as the highest 5 AA, which is strictly what the choice committee was on the lookout for.
And now we wait.
And that’s the group: Biles, Lee, Chiles, Carey, Rivera. It’s the group that makes probably the most logical sense of these out there, and many of the methods you slice it, they’re additionally the highest-scoring group. Actually, they in all probability simply went AA standings, however there’s extra cowl for that being justified as additionally the highest-scoring group than there was in 2021.
I imply, if I’m Roberson I’m nonetheless undoubtedly suing, however that is the group that obtained it over the 4 days.
Alternates: Roberson, Wong. Additionally simply the AA standings. Sucks for Tiana, however you wouldn’t need each Roberson and Tiana as touring alternates if one thing occurred on bars, so Wong makes extra sense there.
Presumably Sumanasekera and Lincoln would be the non-traveling alts.
