2026 US World Selection Comp

[RedBirdie]

Starting this already because USAG published world selection criteria and there's a really notable change that I'm sure we're going to have endless fun discussing.

Automatic selection to team:
The Selection Committee will calculate each athlete's composite score using the following methodology:

• 60% -- All-around score from selection event day 1
• 40% -- Combined all-around score from US Championships

Based on the calculated scores, the top two (2) ranked athletes automatically make the Worlds Team.

Selection for the remaining 3 spots, travelling alternate and non-travelling alternate remain completely discretionary. Nothing is spelled out about weighting nationals vs. camp.

https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Pressbox/selection/w_26worlds.pdf

 

[RedBirdie]

Hard not to see this as firmly aimed at preventing another Dulcy Caylor.

 

[RichardL]

Hard not to see this as firmly aimed at preventing another Dulcy Caylor.

Although obviously in retrospect she did quite well, all things considered.

 

[RedBirdie]

And vastly less offensive to our eyes than Roberson in AA would have been

 

[QuietColours]

Although obviously in retrospect she did quite well, all things considered.

The biggest thing really just seemed like needing to develop stamina for long international competitions--her qualifications were great. And attending long international competitions is a significant tool in building that endurance.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Hard not to see this as firmly aimed at preventing another Dulcy Caylor.

That was my reading of it.

 

[KathySantoni]

Can anyone do the math to see who the two automatic qualifiers would have been last year?

 

[MaryClare]

Hard not to see this as firmly aimed at preventing another Dulcy Caylor.

The whole thing was just so amateur. You don’t guarantee a spot from training camp unless you have a stand out, world champion level AAer who is even on an off day, going to beat everyone else at camp.

 

[irichluck21]

Can anyone do the math to see who the two automatic qualifiers would have been last year?

Wong and Roberson

 

[irichluck21]

The whole thing was just so amateur. You don’t guarantee a spot from training camp unless you have a stand out, world champion level AAer who is even on an off day, going to beat everyone else at camp.

 

[irichluck21]

I don't think USAG could predict that Rivera and Pease would be injured and unable to compete. @MaryClare

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I don't think USAG could predict that Rivera and Pease would be injured and unable to compete. @MaryClare

WOGA.

 

[makam]

I'm a bet hedger so I would want to have an "or scores from other international event(s)" or something for the 40% in case someone had a shitty nationals but was still invited to the selection camp, but limiting it to events everyone would be competing at makes sense. Just teach the judges to score accurately. Cuz what a pisser if someone gets a few score gifts and it is enough to lock them in over someone who didn't get a boost.

 

[MaryClare]

I don't think USAG could predict that Rivera and Pease would be injured and unable to compete. @MaryClare

No but neither of them fall into the category of so strong they’d win on an off day

 

[Denn]

I hate selection events. Use US Nationals.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Top 2 is still a risky proposition. It could potentially lead to a holes on one or event or a gymnast qualifying who could be #4 or #5 on all four events. One automatic qualifier makes more sense to me.

 

[RichardL]

Top 2 is still a risky proposition. It could potentially lead to a holes on one or event or a gymnast qualifying who could be #4 or #5 on all four events. One automatic qualifier makes more sense to me.

I agree with this in theory, but I bet we'd be hard-pressed to find a team that did not include the two athletes who satisfied this criteria. Maybe Jordan Chiles in 2017?

ETA: but that was an individual worlds so slightly different levels of strategy!

 

[Doug1233]

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.

On Dulcy - that may be the case. But even without the automatic spot, I still think the selection committee would have put Dulcy on the team. As @irichluck21 said - Hezly and Pease were out. Hang was inconsistent. Sullivan could have made it but her floor was shaky and Dulcy was just better. Dulcy beat both Sullivan and Hang by over a point in that meet. It's the Selection Camp for a reason.

 

[MaryClare]

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.

Although I also think that the intensity of the US elite season hit daymon and Patrick like a train that even in this bright new world US system, you don’t get down time during the season. Indeed it is potentially now so meritocratic that it disadvantages the gymnasts.

Anyway, that’s enough of my Saturday evening semi alcohol fuelled anti democracy rant.

 

[Denn]

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.