British WAG (and MAG!) talk

[Gymfan93]

It’s not quite as anxiety-inducing watching a British BB rotation nowadays, to be fair.

 

[Doug1233]

Becky posted a fully clean 6.8 routine on her IG today. On Gymnova bars.

Based on that clip alone I don’t know how you can’t take her. The fact that she has shown it on ANY video, let alone the official trials routine, should be enough IMO.

 

[lovegymnasts]

link please

 

[Doug1233]

She’s removed it. I dunno why. I screenrecorded a video but I cant see to upload videos on here.

If it helps, I had it at 8.3. She actually didn’t connect the Pak to the Maloney, so it would have gotten the 6.7. So I had it at a 15.

They’ve literally gotta take her. It’s GB WAGs only true shot at a medal.

I texted @Denn the video too. What E Score did you have?

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I see another opportunity to bring up the hilarious GB D score beam victory in 2019 TFs, so I’m obviously going to take it even though it undermines my point.

Becky is being quite clever here I think. The clearer it is that she’s capable of getting through GBs current only medal contending routine cleanly, the bigger the shitstorm if they try and leave her off. I suspect she might be trying to weaponise the fan following: as would I in her shoes.

 

[Bob]

I feel they have to take her as our best medal shot and also the best score we can bring to bars. Also Jess after her impressive haul at Euros. So the rest of the team needs to be built around those 2 and provide the best combination of scoring for a team result. The other 2 need to be strong on floor and vault particularly and this might keep the door open for Jen. They need to think where will she be in 8 weeks. And also Amelie who has difficulty to add back on those 2 pieces. Alice seems solid in the trials but didn’t make any event finals at Euros. It really depends if they look at where they are now or where they could be in 8 weeks. And we also have the lovely Ondine, GMF and Kelly still up there.

I really feel that for the Olympics they should go big or go home. No point playing safe. I hate the 4 person team so much.

 

[Doug1233]

The team has just gotta be Jen Jess Alice and Becky.

Even if Jen is injured, she should be named to the squad and Amelie brought in if it’s clear it’s not getting better.

In the meantime, Amelie should try and get her DTY back.

 

[Jack]

GB is the best example of what horseshit this new selection process is. It’s almost impossible for a an event specialist from the lower ranked full teams to be taken.

 

[Doug1233]

It certainly puts unreasonable pressure on selectors to decide between EF prospects and TF success.

Although that could be said in many eras. One only needs to look at Locklear.

 

[Jack]

But at least Locklear was fighting another event specialist for the same spot. They would have gladly taken her if Kocian was not available and there still would be enough scores to be able to drop in prelims.

 

[cats]

It does bring into question what the sport is really about. If gymnastics is the AA and individual events are very secondary, it makes sense to have the team comp based on AA and specialists compete as individuals only. If the team comp is about the best set of routines a country can put on, there should be larger teams to account for specialists.

The place we’ve landed after having Worlds and Olympics follow different team formats and all the coronavirus stuff is not really aligned with either of those. The individual path is not robust enough to let the top talent all attend, and teams are too small to let most (any?) countries show their three best routines per event.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I actually think it’s easier for a specialist from the lowest tier of the top 12 to be taken, because there’s no argument at all that they should focus on TFs. GB are struggling because there may just be that slight chance of grabbing bronze if Russia and/or China attempts to throw it away as usual: very small, but not zero. Enough that the selectors can’t bring themselves not to factor it in. Whereas for Spain and Belgium, for example, if it were to come down to individual medal versus team, it’s a no brainer.

The ones who this format fucks over the most are the 4th to 6th cohort, as they’re having to serve all masters without the advantage of two extra as the top 3 have. But of course Japan and Italy both have an extra spot to play with. So GB are probably the worst affected. And ironically the US are perhaps the team with least need for 6, since Biles, Carey and a healthy Lee could win the team title, be the two best Americans on each event and in fact be top 2 on the planet for everything but bars.

 

[Gymfan93]

They need at least one FX and VT worker who can put up a decent bars score.
I think if Amelie had her DTY back, she’d be in a much stronger position for that final spot. I think Alice will edge her out, though.
I hate the four person teams too. How I wish Jessica had stayed on BB during Euro quals!

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

For better or for worse I think Alice is a lock at this point, and that would still be true even if Amelie had the DTY again.

 

[Gymfan93]

Actually, looking again at the trials scores I was wrong. I thought Amelie had outscored Alice on FX and UB, but they are pretty even.
Agree Alice is definitely a lock.

 

[Jack]

The irony is the only way they have a shot at bronze is with Becky on UB, but the question is if they feel ok with the prelims risk of 3 up 3 count on VT and FX. They haven’t really established a pattern of going for broke with team selections; it doesn’t make me feel confident.

 

[irichluck21]

Becky Downie has a FX routine so she would likely do it if needed in prelims. She has a FTY as well that could be used.

I would put her up as anchor on all 4 events. Let her scratch FX and VT if the other three have usable routines and Becky’s scores would be dropped anyway.

Kinda like Paseka was on UB in 2012 for the Russians.

 

[Doug1233]

Ha rich has she told you she has an FTY? I’ve not seen it lol

 

[Puffin]

Kinda like Paseka was on UB in 2012 for the Russians.

Well Paseka had a usable UB at that time didn’t she - in 2012 she made UB EFs at Russian Nationals and took a UB medal at 2013 Euros

Not sure that Becky’s vt and fx is of the same standard

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Vault is a different one because you can still throw some really easy shit and still get like an 11.3 or something. A handspring vault is 2.0 in the code, a handspring half 2.4 and a handspring front full a 3.0. I can’t see any elite gymnast be unable to pull that off unless they really can’t do anything at all. So that event really is less of a worry than floor.