Hello, and welcome to Gymnastics Insider!
Following the conclusion of U.S. nationals last week, I shared my worlds team with you. It’s both my personal choice and my official prediction:
Vault: Carey, Rivera, Esponda (Pease)
Uneven Bars: Bullock, Pease, Rivera (Carey)
Balance Beam: Bullock, Pease, Rivera (Carey)
Floor Exercise: Esponda, Carey, Rivera (Pease)
How will this team stack up against the other top countries at worlds this year? After ran the numbers, I’m delighted to share that I’m more confused than I was before.
The best scores from this team from nationals gives them a 169.85 in a three-up, three-count scenario. By comparison, China scored 168.498 this year at Asian Championships; WG2 (Russia) scored 165.43 at Euros, and Japan earned 163.496 at Asian Championships. China and Japan earned their scores in a four-up, three-count competition.
By first glance, this looks really good for the U.S. Of course, there’s the matter of score inflation. It happens everywhere, sure, and I’m no judge, but we know damn well that the U.S. won’t bring in that score internationally. Whether China and WG2 will perform at their best, however, is always a question. China’s consistency at a high-stakes competition has always been up in the air, and Russia has a way of melting down on beam. That said, both had stellar performances at the Asian and European Championships.
With the U.S., we suffer from a lack of reliable data. The last time we saw them compete as a team was at the Pan American Championships, where they earned 161.628, but this was a B team, and the only athletes I would take to worlds from that group are Pease and Bullock. We don’t have any international scores from Rivera or Carey this quad.
So, let’s use the data we do have, shall we? If we sub in the best international scores from this year from Pease, Bullock and Esponda, we get a 167.731 — if everyone hits. It’s not hard science, I know, but it tempers our expectations a bit. Meanwhile, Esponda continues to upgrade, and Carey always has new twists up her sleeve, so just pour salt on everything, please.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcESmbBRY79
Selection camp will take place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and the team will be announced shortly thereafter.
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WG2 wins more medals at Euros
Meanwhile, Russia easily won the team final at the European Championships (results) with the aforementioned 165.430. They only competed with three athletes, who all did the all-around. It’s a very, very good team.
As for the rest of the teams that competed:
Italy (161.796)
France (159.263)
Great Britain (157.764)
Germany (156.664)
France qualified in fifth but third is where they belonged in this competition, thanks to a strong all-around performance from Elena Colas.
Melnikova won vault (14.166) with a DTY that she landed with a huge step to the side, and a CHENG. The Cheng had some Paseka legs during the block, but I give it a pass. She came in third on beam (13.700), and underperformed a bit on floor to come in third (13.566). Just before this competition she released images of her training with a mummified leg, but I guess it’s not bothering her, as she’s still out there doing Melnikova things.
Colas qualified for beam in eighth but won the final with a 13.933. She looked nervous, especially on her switch half, but she hit and rammed her double pike into the floor. Similarly, on floor she qualified in fourth but then got silver there with a 13.633. Her performance wasn’t everything I dreamed of, but her improving over the course of the competition bodes very well. I cannot wait to see her at worlds.
Manila Esposito did very well in event finals, winning silver on beam with a 13.833 and gold on floor with a 13.700. The highlight for me is the gorgeous double Y turn into an illusion. Or maybe it’s the 2.5 into a layout. I can’t decide.
Helen Kevric of Germany won bars with a 14.500. She was nearly flawless here, right until her full-in, where she took the tiniest of steps.
Elisa Iorio made it to the bars podium, winning silver with a 14.333. Karina Schönmaier of Germany came in second on vault (14.066).
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More news
Becky Downie withdrew from the European Championships before the team final.
Esposito responded to body shaming comments.
WG2 posed with a giant banana. I could look up why this happened to bring you full, unbiased and well researched sports journalism. But I thought about it and decided it would benefit us all to sit with this uncertainty.
Here is the full list of WAG qualifiers for worlds, thanks to a Reddit hero.
We also have the nominative roster for the Szombathely World Challenge Cup, which will be held Sept. 18-20. Notably, Brazil is sending Rebeca Andrade, Flavia Saraiva and Lorrane Oliveira. The U.S. is sending Dulcy Caylor and Tatum Drusch.
Meanwhile, Lila Richardson and Izzy Stassi will go to the Paris Challenge Cup on Sept. 26-27.
Five at The IX: Elena Colas
Elena Colas spoke to the media following event finals at Euros.
Soccer: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer
Tennis: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer
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Softball: Maren Angus-Coombs, @Maren-Angus, The IX Sports
Golf: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports
Hockey: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden
Gymnastics: Jessica Taylor Price, @jesstaylorprice, Freelance Writer
