Event 2025 US Nationals Junior Women Day 1 (Friday, August 8, 2025)

[RedBirdie]

It makes me sad that the FTYs aren't even spectacular ones. I don't understand what is going on nation-wide with vault.

Right?! Because level 10s seems to vault just fine, but junior elites are just sad, with a couple of exceptions.

 

[MaryClare]

Really, Phantom of the Opera? And this choreo has zero relation to the music.

The current juniors are, on the whole, utterly uninspiring.

I could easily have been watching British juniors there. And I’ve never, ever said that about US nationals.

Normally post Olympic junior nats have strong fields and are taken seriously as the gymnasts who’ll turn senior by the Olympics want to make a name for themselves.

I wonder if what we’re seeing now is the beginning of the end of junior elite as we know it, as the sport trends ever older.

Previous post Olympic US junior podiums in the open scoring era are
2009: Kyla Ross, Bridgette Caquatto, Aly Raisman
2013: Bailie Key, Laurie Hernandez, Amelia Hundley
2017: Maile O’Keeffe, Emma Malabuyo, Kara Eaker
2022: Madray Johnson, Jayla Hang, Alicia Zhou

That’s a definite downward trend
(Forgive any marco-esque name spellings)

 

[flappergirl]

In 2005, Chellsie and Nastia did super well, but a lot of these young hotshots burn or injure out. I think it’s better for gymnasts to focus on building a good technical and physical foundation and adding difficulty slowly, taking as long as they need and dropping out if their dream peters out.

 

[RedBirdie]

Should probably look at 2021 for juniors., rather than 2022.....[looks]. Well, that was uninspiring: Kaitlin Jong, Madray Johnson, Kaliya Lincoln.

 

[RedBirdie]

Here is the playlist of all junior routines

 

[RedBirdie]

Moreau gives me hope. Actual effort put into performing!

 

[MaryClare]

In 2005, Chellsie and Nastia did super well, but a lot of these young hotshots burn or injure out. I think it’s better for gymnasts to focus on building a good technical and physical foundation and adding difficulty slowly, taking as long as they need and dropping out if their dream peters out.

That is dreamland stuff though. It’s still incredibly rare to see anyone with a good foundation. Now we just have gymnasts who have neither good basics nor the ability to execute difficult skills consistently

 

[AmiK]

Kylie Smith is for sure not competing day 2 to rest for Pan Ams. I assume others may do the same.

 

[flappergirl]

That is dreamland stuff though. It’s still incredibly rare to see anyone with a good foundation. Now we just have gymnasts who have neither good basics nor the ability to execute difficult skills consistently

Yeah, I know you’re right. Ultimately, let the gymnasts with the good fundamentals should win. The US doesn’t have to win & if it takes treating girls as if they are disposable, I’d rather they didn’t.

 

[Kittentoes]

Coming in just in time for the last rotation. Went to see Weapons and spend too much money on new glasses, but when your Rx is in the double damn digits, glasses will never be inexpensive. I noted on the leaderboard that Lavi Crain wasn't at the top and immediately came on here to see what happened.

I'm quite impressed! I thought I was bad.

 

[RichardL]

Moreau and Crain are good. Very good. (I also love Hardie.) Both seem like they're maybe at their athletic peak though and neither have mastered the mental aspects of competition. I also don't think either of them can learn more skills than they've shown.

I also don't care, as I keep needing to remind myself. If we live in a Rivera and Pease world, I'm fine to open a bottle of wine and see it through.

 

[makam]

Moreau and Crain are good. Very good. (I also love Hardie.) Both seem like they're maybe at their athletic peak though and neither have mastered the mental aspects of competition. I also don't think either of them can learn more skills than they've shown.

I also don't care, as I keep needing to remind myself. If we live in a Rivera and Pease world, I'm fine to open a bottle of wine and see it through.

I think we were spoiled by the Simone era. It always seemed like she was getting a new skill or trying something even harder, bigger, badasser. But really, how often do gymnasts really learn new things in their senior career? Maybe an upgraded vault or a new spin, but it feels like if they start with a double pike as their most difficult pass or BB dismount, that is where they stay. Jade tried with the laid out triple double but it never actually panned out; hell, even Skinner's upgrades never made it to primetime. Did Jordan ever get a single upgrade or just more consistent on the things she already knew how to do? Lee never managed to compete her new skills but the medical issues probably were part of that problem. Though if anyone wants to start a new thread where they school me, I'm game for that.

 

[Bob]

I think we were spoiled by the Simone era. It always seemed like she was getting a new skill or trying something even harder, bigger, badasser. But really, how often do gymnasts really learn new things in their senior career? Maybe an upgraded vault or a new spin, but it feels like if they start with a double pike as their most difficult pass or BB dismount, that is where they stay. Jade tried with the laid out triple double but it never actually panned out; hell, even Skinner's upgrades never made it to primetime. Did Jordan ever get a single upgrade or just more consistent on the things she already knew how to do? Lee never managed to compete her new skills but the medical issues probably were part of that problem. Though if anyone wants to start a new thread where they school me, I'm game for that.

I would love a thread on this but don't have the knowledge.

 

[rlayt]

I would love a thread on this but don't have the knowledge.

I started one!

 

[Denn]

I like Moreau's gymnastics, as well. I was surprised to learn that she is only 15. And I firmly disagree with @RichardL (rare occasion!) that she can't learn more skills.

My impression — and I am curious if people agree — is that they are pacing her reasonably.

 

[RichardL]

I think she's being paced well, but there's nothing more I see available in terms of her tumbling (for example) based on her muscle strength and speed. Obviously she has a DTY, you can see it in her face when she lands the beautiful FTY lol, but I don't see her becoming a vaulter beyond a DTY AAer. Beam maybe she could become quite expert, especially if she learns a major acro skill.