2026 Gymnastics Social Media bits

[Kara]

New thread for the new year. Starting off with January camp; how on earth did Sophia Buechler get invited?

 

[RedBirdie]

Those are some very interesting choices. Besides Buechler, Camie Westerman also failed to make nationals last year. A bunch of other non-national team members in Vivi Crain, Ally Damelio, Reese Esponda, Anslee McCauley, Lila Richardson, Alessia Rosa, Elaina Sliney, Izzy Stassi, and Sydney Williams

Just as interesting is who isn't there from the junior and senior national teams: Hezly Rivera, Jayla Hang, Dulcy Caylor, Claire Pease for seniors (plus all the NCAAers), Isabella Anzola, Lavi Crain, Addy Fulcher, and Kylie Smith for juniors. (although I think the first 3 are all now seniors in 2026).

Trinity Wood is there in a sling.

 

[RichardL]

I would love to see Hardie do well at Winter Cup and get to do the American Cup. The steady improvements she's making (huge upgrades from Nationals to selection camp for example) are good signs that she'll be in the mix this season.

 

[RedBirdie]

In USAG gonna USAG.....apparently Elaina Sliney was not there, but Maliha Tressel was. Another one who did not qualify to nationals.

 

[Sasha]

Since when do they stand in fourth/fifth/unclear position in line-up? Is this a Betty Okino thing?

 

[Passion]

Podcast interview with Roberson. She was in a car accident right before leaving for '25 Worlds, her credit card was stolen and someone charged thousands of dollars on it, then she got sick while travelling to Worlds. She was trying to deal with the damage to her car and the credit card company while in Jakarta.

 

[rlayt]

It’s harder to adult and do gymnastics halfway across the world.

 

[rlayt]

Back salto. sideways to the beam?

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[eanda]

Soviet gymnast Lyubov Yudina was doing this in the 70s.

 

[cftmoonlight79]

Chiles posted some videos on her Instagram of skills she is training
Looking like she wants another go at elite with those skills and that Amanar.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Yeah, you don’t stick a DTY every week in college and not have elite aspirations.

Thrilled for her. She looks incredible right now.

 

[RichardL]

Yeah, I was going to say that she looks to be in incredible shape. She's probably one of the top US AAers right now and should definitely go for some 2026 hardware.

 

[irichluck21]

With Biles and Andrade out of 2026 All Around, Chiles has a strong chance at becoming a World AA medalist, even champion.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

With Biles and Andrade out of 2026 All Around, Chiles has a strong chance at becoming a World AA medalist, even champion.

Definitely.

But can you imagine the dafter members of the gymternet if it ended up her v Barbosu again?

 

[david]

Personally, I would love to see Chiles compete elite this year. But if her primary goal is LA 28, I would wait until 2027 to start competing elite to save her body. Its a lot to go from a full NCAA season competing AA likely every week to then train up elite routines and compete through October, if things go well.

 

[Amber]

Who will coach her for elite?

 

[RedBirdie]

I'm curious as well!

 

[irichluck21]

I would think it would either be she return to WCC or with Janelle, who had elite coaching experience with WOGA.

I would think UCLA as my first bet. Whatever the coaching team is doing with Chiles, IMO she is looking the best she has ever been including her fabulous 2022 season.

 

[MaryClare]

I would think it would either be she return to WCC or with Janelle, who had elite coaching experience with WOGA.

I would think UCLA as my first bet. Whatever the coaching team is doing with Chiles, IMO she is looking the best she has ever been including her fabulous 2022 season.

I can’t see her returning to WCC. She isn’t from Houston (although I notice it’s listed as her hometown on her UCLA bio) and just doesn’t have any links to the gym anymore, the coaches she worked with and the girls she trained with aren’t there anymore. Isn’t Janelle friends with the Landis? I can see Laurent being involved if she makes a serious push for LA. He brings the elite COP knowledge that perhaps the UCLA coaches lack.

 

[rlayt]

She was born in Oregon and grew up in Vancouver WA. If she wants to be closer to family she might look in the Seattle-Tacoma area.