Event 2025 US Nationals Men's Day 2 (Saturday, August 9)

[Aeris]

They actually left Fred off. Feels weird.

Like, even if you're going to take Brandon Dang for Pommel, then you still take Fred for HB. That routine he did Night 2 is very competitive for a medal on the world stage. Donnell has not shown that he's competitive on SR. His routine would have placed 8th at Euros. Like sure he theoretically could score huge if he sticks the dismount, but he's continually had big problems with it.

 

[rlayt]

It feels like a solid team. There’s always change after an Olympic year. I love Frederick but apparent didn’t make his case.

 

[flappergirl]

In my opinion, it’s fine for Frederick to miss this WC. He can fully absorb everything he learned and adjust for the future

 

[Caligym]

If Fred would have hit 14.65 both days on HB and won the event would he have for sure made the team? If so who would have been left off?

 

[Passion]

If Fred would have hit 14.65 both days on HB and won the event would he have for sure made the team? If so who would have been left off?

He would have replaced Burkhart as alternate. 14.65 is slightly better than what Burkhart scored to win HB, but still no where near what Malone scored.

The 6.5 Malone just did last night ties Tang Chia-Hung for the highest D score in the world. 15.200, his real score without the bonus, would put him on the podium, possibly with gold, at Worlds.

Richard’s D-score on HB is 5.5 and 14.65 would get him into the final but it’s not enough to medal without relying on the mistakes of others.

Once Malone hit that routine there was no way they were leaving it at home.

 

[cftmoonlight79]

So did they get named specifically for an event(s) or can that still be adjusted? How many per AA/event get to compete?

 

[Passion]

They can change the lineup around up to 24 hours before prelims.

Only 3 people can do each event.

With 5/6 team members being specialists though it’s pretty straight forward what everyone will compete. Dang and Hoopes only have routines on PH. Whittenburg isn’t doing leg events because he tore his Achilles last fall on the tour. Malone isn’t doing leg events to protect his knee. Nelson only competed FX/VT/SR.

In no order:
FX: Hong, Nelson
PH: Hong, Dang, Hoopes
SR: Hong, Malone, Whittenburg
VT: Hong, Nelson
PB: Hong, Malone, Whittenburg
HB: Hong, Malone, Whittenburg

Nelson sits out SR and Malone sits out PH, otherwise that’s all the routines they have.

 

[cftmoonlight79]

Thanks!

 

[Caligym]

I am surprised that the alternate isn’t an AA’er, with Burkhart and Richard essentially interchangeable on HB. So if Hong gets injured, there will be no AA’er? Does the US see no value in sending someone capable of making a AA final?

What is the purpose of Burkhart as alternate over Richard?

 

[Aeris]

Richard’s D-score on HB is 5.5 and 14.65 would get him into the final but it’s not enough to medal without relying on the mistakes of others.

14.65 on High Bar is far more likely to win a medal than Donnell's 14.05 on Rings.

Donnell doesn't make sense on a team with both Pommel guys, unless we are relying on prayers for him to hit a dismount that he's never done in competition without taking big steps.

 

[Passion]

unless we are relying on prayers for him to hit a dismount that he's never done in competition without taking big steps.

I think that’s exactly what they are relying on. His 6.2D puts him on top of the world right now in difficulty and D-score is what the US Men’s Program has been prioritizing since 2022.

They really believe their bonus system and pushing the D scores is what got them medals in ‘23 and ‘24. I don’t see them backing down from that strategy this quad.

 

[Passion]

I am surprised that the alternate isn’t an AA’er, with Burkhart and Richard essentially interchangeable on HB. So if Hong gets injured, there will be no AA’er? Does the US see no value in sending someone capable of making a AA final?

What is the purpose of Burkhart as alternate over Richard?

Technically Burkhart is an AAer, he was 4th AA at Winter Cup, but he tweaked his back at Pan Am Championships so he didn’t do PH here because it’s bothering his back atm.

No, I do not think they see any value in sending someone just to make the AA final. Asher Hong himself is already a long shot for a medal there, anyone who replaces him would have an even more difficult path to the podium. Their priority is bringing home as many medals as they can. They believe high D-scores are the way to do that and Burkhart has a 5.8 to Richard’s 5.5 on HB.

 

[Aeris]

6.0* D on that Rings routine from Donnell, but yeah I think it's a bit crazy to ignore the E score....especially from someone who had an achilles injury and needs to hit a Triple Pike dismount to possibly be competitive on the world level. The chances are so low.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Technically Burkhart is an AAer, he was 4th AA at Winter Cup, but he tweaked his back at Pan Am Championships so he didn’t do PH here because it’s bothering his back atm.

No, I do not think they see any value in sending someone just to make the AA final. Asher Hong himself is already a long shot for a medal there, anyone who replaces him would have an even more difficult path to the podium. Their priority is bringing home as many medals as they can. They believe high D-scores are the way to do that and Burkhart has a 5.8 to Richard’s 5.5 on HB.

Burkhart would have just needed an 11.278 average on PH to pass Fred in the AA standings; a little bit more if you remove USAG bonus. It makes sense to me why he was selected over Fred.

I do have to say that I am somewhat dubious about the strategy of pushing the d-score above all else as a priority, especially when there are consistency issues. I would argue the mathematical way of picking teams last quad was more beneficial. While the d-score emphasis certainly was needed and helped, you can't ignore the fact that the absence of Russia contributed quite a bit to the improvement in results.