Amari Celestine Announces Elite Intentions

[RedBirdie]

Seems like a long shot to qualify elite, let alone be in serious contention for 2028.

Amari Celestine reignites Olympic dream, eyes LA 2028 – allthingsgympod.com

allthingsgympod.com

 

[MaryClare]

I think we all knew there would be some crazy attempts at LA. But when I first read this, I assumed she had dual nationality

 

[Turtle88]

I think we all knew there would be some crazy attempts at LA. But when I first read this, I assumed she had dual nationality

Me too!

 

[irichluck21]

She intends to do elite in the US so she must be going for the US team, since elites who intend to compete for another country cannot compete in domestic meets. At least that is what I am reading since she intends to compete the Kentucky Winter Classic and Elite National Qualifier.

I am excited for her, her NCAA career is over and she's not ready to give up gymnastics.

That said she can try elite in US for 2026 and maybe if she has an opportunity elsewhere switch nationalities. She competed a 1 1/2 Yurchenko performed extremely well and has elite level tumbling. More than enough if she can get bars and beam to a level 10ish set to qualify as an individual. But from that interview it's hard to tell if she aims for AA or just as a specialist on VT/FX.

 

[MaryClare]

She intends to do elite in the US so she must be going for the US team, since elites who intend to compete for another country cannot compete in domestic meets. At least that is what I am reading since she intends to compete the Kentucky Winter Classic and Elite National Qualifier.

I am excited for her, her NCAA career is over and she's not ready to give up gymnastics.

That said she can try elite in US for 2026 and maybe if she has an opportunity elsewhere switch nationalities. She competed a 1 1/2 Yurchenko performed extremely well and has elite level tumbling. More than enough if she can get bars and beam to a level 10ish set to qualify as an individual. But from that interview it's hard to tell if she aims for AA or just as a specialist on VT/FX.

Other than US nationals, elites from other countries can compete at domestic meets.

 

[RedBirdie]

I think USAG changed the rules again regarding foreign elites.

 

[MaryClare]

I think USAG changed the rules again regarding foreign elites.

How does that work? Because if someone is a US national and has the qualifying score, then they are surely eligible. They don’t become “not American” until they have a FIG licence for another country

 

[RedBirdie]

Sorry, by foreign elites I meant anyone who competes for another country. You're right that an American citizen who has qualified elite in the US system can compete until they declare for another country. But as soon as they make their intention to compete for another country, the door is closed to competing as an elite at USAG domestic meets.

Interestingly enough, I think an American with dual citizenship that represents another country as elite can compete as a level 10 and qualify to 10 nationals.

USAG allowing MDJDS compete at US Classic was highly unusual.

 

[Denn]

I don't know this gymnast, so I watched a bunch of videos. Her vault's great. That's one of the few 1.5s where I wondered "Could she upgrade all the way to an Amanar"? It has a good block and height. As is, it likely would score better than a lot of doubles, honestly.



I'm not yet seeing the potential to compete for a US Olympic team spot, but I would love to see her at big meets. And maybe she's got some tricks up her sleeve? Her full-in on FX is excellent — I could see that being a double double. She used to do 1.5 + front layout, and the 1.5 and the rebound were great. If that became a front full, it would be C + C + 0.1.

And she's very clean in her leaps. And she can dance. And maybe her choreographer brother could look at all the documentation about E-score judging and get her to be one of the dance-oriented gymnasts that get only 0 or 0.1 off.

So maybe she could be an E-score maximizer?

 

[cftmoonlight79]

I also wondered if she was going to join another country to try.

 

[Snowfan]

Does anyone know if she has any affiliation to a different country?

 

[RedBirdie]

If she does, that's her back-up plan. She's trying to qualify US elite.

 

[cats]

I can see this. Even setting aside that you pretty much have to say you want to go to the Olympics if you want a single sponsorship dollar… If you are someone who can hit reliably under pressure and can get passably difficult elite routines in place, it’s not crazy to look at 2024 and 2025 and think that you have a very good chance at doing cool stuff like World Cup or continental championship meets, or being the “we need someone who is going to deliver us a hit on any event” player on a bigger team if things play out favorably.

I’ll happily watch her keep going.

 

[BB12]

How cool. I like seeing gymnasts aim high and continue after college.

Looking at her chance, I unfortunately think they are low. Even if her aim is as a VT/FX specialist, USAG love all rounders so she will likely need to get those events to a decent difficulty to be seen as a team option.

 

[RichardL]

How cool. I like seeing gymnasts aim high and continue after college.

Looking at her chance, I unfortunately think they are low. Even if her aim is as a VT/FX specialist, USAG love all rounders so she will likely need to get those events to a decent difficulty to be seen as a team option.

If she isn't going to train bars and beam, which seems to be her plan, then there is literally zero chance of her making any major teams, especially when you consider who else might be coming back to try for a spot. But I love humans with goals, it's very healthy to have them as we age.

 

[IratePanda]

Okay, I feel ancient now.

 

[RichardL]

Okay, I feel ancient now.

I'm also ancient, I was hoping the joke came across

 

[IratePanda]

It did. And some days, my goals are loftier than others. Today, I'm just trying not to lose my shit.

 

[RedBirdie]

I've already lost my shit today, I'm just trying not to murder my finance team at this point. (Just pay the fucking invoice already!)

 

[wishfulgoddess]

I absolutley loved watching her during her NCAA career and she's one of the ones I will really miss, so I can't say I'm not hoping this goes well for her. I'm not sure how far she can go with it, but I think something more like "qualify elite" and then "qualify for Nationals" or "make the National team" seems like a more realistic series of goals to start with. I think gymnasts are all pretty much required to say that they are aiming for The Olympics, though, and she probably has to say that for media hype. Best of luck to her!