The Impact of The Decision Made By USA Gymnastics Olympic Committee’s

Following the two day Olympic trials which took place on the 8th and 10^th July at San Jose, California USA. The US gymnastics announced a  five man team. This may have its reparations in the future.

Firstly, I commend the entire gymnast that has worked so hard their entire life towards making the Olympic team. I honestly wish it was a seven man team or a country was allowed to travel with two teams but that didn’t happen.

I love Gabby Douglas have always been rooting for her just like the other athletes but I’ve got to put sentiments aside.

The number one criteria of choosing a team member is her medal potential. Two athletes with a high potential were left out of the team.  Let’s take a look at Mckyla Skinner and Ashton Locklear

Mckyla Skinner: I believe she was robbed out of her pace in the team, replacing her with someone she outscored the both night of the competition with a large margin. Skinner can add a silver or bronze medal to her country while her replacement is nowhere near an individual medal. Her vault score can contributesix extra tents. While Douglas who was chosen over her can add an extra tent or so in vault and bars. This is where Brenda Dowell can contribute better but comes short due to inconsistency. This is not the first time Skinner has been denied a place to compete in the team. She travelled to Glasgow for world championships but was later announced as an alternate, robing her opportunity of winning a medal on both vault and floor which she was capable of.

Ashton Locklear:  This lady is the best on uneven bars in the world today owing to the fact that she outscores everyone including her compatriot (Madison Kocian) the world champion on uneven bars who was chosen as an uneven bar specialist. Locklear has won every single competition on that event this year and Kocian has never outscored her. I totally understand the fact that Madison  Kocian competes all four even and Locklear doesn’t due to some recurring injury but…. She would have contributed more to the team as she can contribute a full point to the team just on that event.  And she is very capable of getting a gold medal at the Olympics. Tell me, who leaves their BEST out of a team? The only excuse for not naming her to the team was because she cannot vault and Douglas can. The truth is that Team USA already has 3 strong vaulters and in case any of them is down, Madison can still contribute her FTY and team USA will still maintain a very comfortable lead as expected.

Now, all this comes down to BUSINESS, POLITICS AND FAVOURITSM. Gabriella Douglas is a big name in gymnastics, won the 2012 AA medal, came back and won 2015 AA silver. After that, her scored has basically been dropping even with a hit meet. The Olympic selection committee is having a difficult time leaving her behind because she is a business venture for USAG and she is a pro with lots of endorsement and a reality show in view.

EFFECTS OF THIS DECISSION

Earlier in the year, Rodionenko, the head coach of Russia artistic gymnastics announced a team for the Olympics, Gym fans criticized them for that because a team list should remain flexible till the final trials, selection or competition . After all that’s the essence of the Olympic trials. This would make the younger gymnast try to fight for a spot on the team and you never can tell who would emerge to be a hero. USAG is guilty of the same wrong doing committed by Rodionenko of Russia. The list was already prepared from the beginning of the year which included Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabriella Douglas and Madison Kocian with the 5^th spot undecided as Lauren Hernandez came in and made herself impossible unrecognized.  NB: she was supposed to be the 2^nd on the team list but ended up the 3^rd because Aly the veteran should go ahead of her. Simone only remained op on that list because she is Simone and no score in the team compares to hers.

·         Now it has become obvious that in gymnastics, the veterans always have an edge over the upcomings  which is an ERROR.

·         It is business oriented and political driven with favoritism applied.

·         The younger generations would definitely doubt and won’t  be motivated to fight for a spot once there are veterans vying for the same spot that are as good as them. This is a source of discouragement.

To conclude, I understand Marta Karolyi has made tremendous impact in USAG, she has trained these girls so well that USAG has a great depth but she shouldn't  bring these galls out, train, motivate and encourage the only to break their hearts at the end.

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