2026 US World Selection Comp

[ArnoldRimmer]

Another way to look at it is was the selection process itself to blame for Dulcy’s sub par performances at worlds? She had to peak for the selection events and couldn’t sustain it right through to worlds.

Like the Marta years all over again.

It'll be interesting to see if there's any change in attitude to selection processes now the US aren't in the default winner space any more. It's a very long time since they went into a team competition not the favourites. So much has changed since the early 2010s.

 

[RedBirdie]

Another way to look at it is was the selection process itself to blame for Dulcy’s sub par performances at worlds? She had to peak for the selection events and couldn’t sustain it right through to worlds.

Was it really sub par? For her, I mean. Certainly what we saw all year prior to selection and worlds gave no indication that she'd have the results she did. Yes, she could have done a bit better, but not much. Quite honestly, I half expected her to have a meltdown in qualifications and potentially not even make AA finals.

 

[MaryClare]

Was it really sub par? For her, I mean. Certainly what we saw all year prior to selection and worlds gave no indication that she'd have the results she did. Yes, she could have done a bit better, but not much. Quite honestly, I half expected her to have a meltdown in qualifications and potentially not even make AA finals.

It was below her earlier performances and she lacked the consistency of earlier in the season

 

[KathySantoni]

I'm fine with top 2. in fact, I'm even supportive of that.

I just think it should be US Nationals that decide that. Not some BS secret selection event with 2 judges judging every event.

I agree with this. Hitting at a secret selection event is so different from being able to place at a venue with an audience.

 

[irichluck21]

Caylor had a decent performance outside of bars. She made AA finals and beam and floor finals. Falling off beam in finals-it happens to everyone.
Calling Caylor's performance sub par but not acknowledging the US team was sub par overall. Roberson not making floor finals, Wong not making VT finals. Blakely not making beam finals. Blakely should have won a beam medal and Roberson had the highest E score on floor and chance at medal. Wong could have won VT.

 

[MaryClare]

Caylor had a decent performance outside of bars. She made AA finals and beam and floor finals. Falling off beam in finals-it happens to everyone.
Calling Caylor's performance sub par but not acknowledging the US team was sub par overall. Roberson not making floor finals, Wong not making VT finals. Blakely not making beam finals. Blakely should have won a beam medal and Roberson had the highest E score on floor and chance at medal. Wong could have won VT.

I agree, they were all sub par and I hope that USAG had some sort of investigation into it

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

They have themselves to blame for Skye, at least. She made it clear that taking her was a punt, USAG very obviously wanted her anyway and she went and did exactly what it said on the tin.

 

[QuietColours]

Roberson's vault medal was essentially luck. The only medal the US expected that actually went according to plan was Wong's AA silver. Reserve on bars and beam is pretty much par for the course for Wong. Actually making the beam and floor finals was above expectations for Caylor, who as someone pointed out had been forced to hold her peak since selection camp. Blakely and Roberson both underperformed, Blakely in an entirely predictable way.

Wong's vault...hopefully was a bizarre fluke. She has a million solid DTY competition faults in her CV. But I feel like she's one of those athletes that starts with having to reprove themselves every year. Always has, but it's also true of all the athletes who do elite and NCAA simultaneously--there's always a question of how strong and consistent their elite routines will be after not being the primary focus for a year. I wonder if it will get easier for her now that she's done competing NCAA.

 

[makam]

I agree with this. Hitting at a secret selection event is so different from being able to place at a venue with an audience.

and on a podium.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Roberson's vault medal was essentially luck. The only medal the US expected that actually went according to plan was Wong's AA silver. Reserve on bars and beam is pretty much par for the course for Wong. Actually making the beam and floor finals was above expectations for Caylor, who as someone pointed out had been forced to hold her peak since selection camp. Blakely and Roberson both underperformed, Blakely in an entirely predictable way.

Wong's vault...hopefully was a bizarre fluke. She has a million solid DTY competition faults in her CV. But I feel like she's one of those athletes that starts with having to reprove themselves every year. Always has, but it's also true of all the athletes who do elite and NCAA simultaneously--there's always a question of how strong and consistent their elite routines will be after not being the primary focus for a year. I wonder if it will get easier for her now that she's done competing NCAA.

I don't know that Roberson underperformed. She could've squeaked into the floor final, but the unexpected vault medal outweighs that. It's true she was lucky, but you get the same medal regardless of how good the competition were. Her result was definitely the least predictable one though. I don't suppose anyone last September would've been shocked to hear that vault would create a problem for Wong, but that particular problem would not have been my first guess.

 

[hi_bieja]

I am glad that more than 1 day of AA is required to lock anybody in.

 

[Aeris]

They have themselves to blame for Skye, at least. She made it clear that taking her was a punt, USAG very obviously wanted her anyway

How was taking Skye a punt when she did her best UB routine ever in finals and should have won a medal (but was held down by the judges). And how is her mistake on beam relevant when nobody else in the country was capable of a beam medal in the first place? There were literally NO other options for the UB+BB slot. Her spot on the team was locked.

Another way to look at it is was the selection process itself to blame for Dulcy’s sub par performances at worlds?

She never would have been in contention for Worlds without the trials meet and there was no supposed "consistency" she was showing before that point. All year long leading up to that, across 5 AA competitions, she always messed up at least one of her routines. Trials was the only time she hit all 4.

Maybe I'm bucking the trend but I think this is totally fine. If you're top 2 AA, across multiple blue-ribband meets - then if you're not picked on a 5 person team then I think you'd be perfectly entitled to claim that the selection was unfair. What more are they expecting of these athletes.

Top 2 average score between 2 meets is a lot different than being top 2 AA at both meets.

I don't agree with any rules that lock selection in. It's possible, however unlikely, that even the best AA'er is not necessarily the best for a team. If you have a bunch of other gymnasts that are strong on 3 events but all have 1 really weak event, and if your top AA'er is not actually a medal threat on the world level, then that person might not be adding anything to the team.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

How was taking Skye a punt when she did her best UB routine ever in finals and should have won a medal (but was held down by the judges). And how is her mistake on beam relevant when nobody else in the country was capable of a beam medal in the first place? There were literally NO other options for the UB+BB slot. Her spot on the team was locked.

Because the event where she had the best chance of a medal was beam not bars, and her hit record there was so very patchy. Her poor beam routine in prelims is extremely relevant because it meant she once again didn't win a medal.

That said, I had no problem with her inclusion, for the reasons you list here, and agree she was a lock. Hence being picked with that patchy recent hit record.

Being a punt like Skye was and being the best option for a team are in no way, shape or form mutually exclusive. Especially not at an individual worlds. Lots of people just got used to particularly high standards from the US for a time, that's all.

 

[Doug1233]

Dulcy’s sub par performances at worlds?

She made AA, BB and FX finals!

 

[Doug1233]

Roberson had the highest E score on floor

This made me chuckle!

 

[irichluck21]

OPPPPS ...D score

 

[Puffin]

I don't know that Roberson underperformed. She could've squeaked into the floor final, but the unexpected vault medal outweighs that. It's true she was lucky, but you get the same medal regardless of how good the competition were. Her result was definitely the least predictable one though. I don't suppose anyone last September would've been shocked to hear that vault would create a problem for Wong, but that particular problem would not have been my first guess.

Getting into fx finals was a bit of a longshot with a 6.9E score without a fall

 

[Aizheng]

Getting into fx finals was a bit of a longshot with a 6.9E score without a fall

With the form she was in in Jakarta, for sure. With her higher-D routine and a good or very good hit, I think she would not have been a medal favorite, but definitely a favorite for finals.
Important to keep in mind that the highest E that qualified to the floor final was 7.766. A 13.3 would have been enough to make that final. She got a 13 with multiple issues, so even with inevitable artistry and body position deductions, she would have been right in it. Even in the final, the highest E score was 8.033.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Getting into fx finals was a bit of a longshot with a 6.9E score without a fall

I found that double wolf more offensive than a plain old fall, personally. She could've just... not.

 

[Puffin]

I found that double wolf more offensive than a plain old fall, personally. She could've just... not.

Yeah - her selection of skills was always really bad - I've no idea who thought it was a good idea to bring back the Onodi on beam