British WAG (and MAG!) talk

[MaryClare]

What is the mbe for after Becky's name?

Member of the British empire. It’s part of the honours system in Britain. A few British gymnasts have this honour. Max Whitlock, Beth Tweddle and Louis Smith definitely do

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Becky has a much better hit percentage in team finals, right?

Yes, albeit it's not really a fair comparison because her career has been so much longer.

But Becky is usually pretty clutch in TFs. The only time I can think of her falling is off beam in that almost comedic shitfest GB put on at 2016 Euros. And she's been there and hit solid for quite a few of their famous firsts. It tends to be qualifications and EFs where she fucks up.

eta- went down a rabbit hole, and I can't find a time that Becky's ever fallen on bars in TFs. She's hit at 2006 CWG, 2007 worlds, 2008 Euros, 2010 Euros, 2014 Euros, 2014 CWG, 2014 worlds, 2015 worlds, 2016 Euros, 2016 Olympics, 2019 worlds and 2023 Euros. I may have missed one, but that would be quite some record even for a gymnast who wasn't renowned for inconsistency.

 

[MaryClare]

In some ways that makes it worse not better.

As things stand now, if GMF is on a team she's going to be a multi eventer. While it's possible to design a lineup with her doing bars only, this isn't it. Not least because if BG want an inconsistent bars specialist who does nothing else, Becky currently has a similar hit ratio and can score more. So when GMF is picked, it's for 2-3 events. Which helps her case in some ways, but it also makes her the bigger risk of the two.

If Becky shits the bed, it's more contained. Whereas if GMF is having a bad day, as at worlds, it has the potential to be a multi-event mess. You're risking a higher percentage of the routines.

Saying that, we've never seen an either/or yet with Becky and GMF and we probably won't this year. Not with this depth.

What is the team format at euros? Is it 5-4-3?

 

[Bob]

Member of the British empire. It’s part of the honours system in Britain. A few British gymnasts have this honour. Max Whitlock, Beth Tweddle and Louis Smith definitely do

Max is an OBE which is higher, the others have MBE.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

What is the team format at euros? Is it 5-4-3?

It's always 3 up 3 count in a separate TF year isn't it? Last year was because they didn't have a separate final, so qualifications had to double up.

 

[irichluck21]

Yes this year is TQ and TF.
2023 should have been an individual Euros, but with the new Worlds format, they had to add in a team portion to qualify teams to Worlds.

 

[MaryClare]

Just when I was beginning to enjoy a break from Russian beam rotations, GB is going to put up Fenton and Downie on bars.

 

[Jerkin]

Just when I was beginning to enjoy a break from Russian beam rotations, GB is going to put up Fenton and Downie on bars.

As amusing as this is, I wasn't under the impression that Fenton was that inconsistent on bars. Looking at her record, she seemingly didn't fall on bars at all in 2022 and hit both UB and BB in the worlds team final. Her issue was rather connecting her whole routine.

Her recent stretch, particularly worlds TF and British Champs this year, has been a total catastrophe, but I still think she is capable of proving herself valuable. What's more striking to me is that while Kinsella, Jess Gadirova and Achampong have consistently improved as gymnasts since 2020, she has been stagnant.

 

[RAFIKI]

What's more striking to me is that while Kinsella, Jess Gadirova and Achampong have consistently improved as gymnasts since 2020, she has been stagnant.

Very true. Regressed on some events as well (VT).

Next on my armchair coaching wish list is for Achampong to sort her beam dismount out. Can’t remember a routine where she hasn’t jumped sideways on the landing.

 

[Angelika]

I'm pretty happy with this team - on paper there should be a team medal and IF everyone hits in qualifications, we should have 6 events finalists (not vault because I'm thinking Ruby isn't quite at event finalist level yet internationally - although if there is a vault splat fest who knows)

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

As amusing as this is, I wasn't under the impression that Fenton was that inconsistent on bars. Looking at her record, she seemingly didn't fall on bars at all in 2022 and hit both UB and BB in the worlds team final. Her issue was rather connecting her whole routine.

Her recent stretch, particularly worlds TF and British Champs this year, has been a total catastrophe, but I still think she is capable of proving herself valuable. What's more striking to me is that while Kinsella, Jess Gadirova and Achampong have consistently improved as gymnasts since 2020, she has been stagnant.

That lineup have actually got a pretty good TF hit record on bars. Becky saves her mishaps for other rounds. Ondine had a tough time in summer 2022, but that was quite a specific set of circumstances that she won't have to deal with now. And while the 2022 purple patch is the exception rather than the rule for GMFs career as a whole, most of her TF falls have come on beam.

However, tell that to my nerves.

 

[Gymfan93]

GBR WAG national squads selected:

 

[MaryClare]

It would appear that Charlotte Booth has accepted a national team place.

 

[Bob]

It would appear that Charlotte Booth has accepted a national team place.

It's a senior development squad place. Unfunded. They get invited to attend some of the senior squad training sessions but not all. Unlikely to be many if any until after Paris.

 

[MaryClare]

It's a senior development squad place. Unfunded. They get invited to attend some of the senior squad training sessions but not all. Unlikely to be many if any until after Paris.

She wouldn’t be able to accept funding

 

[FrolovasDoubleLayout]

Why should she not be able to gain funding? if she never had an FIG license for the USA and has never represented that federation internationally, she she should be able to gain access to funding in the same line as any other GBR athlete in the developmental squad if funding became available for said group.

 

[Bob]

Why should she not be able to gain funding? if she never had an FIG license for the USA and has never represented that federation internationally, she she should be able to gain access to funding in the same line as any other GBR athlete in the developmental squad if funding became available for said group.

Only the main squad get funding. The Senior Development squad are unfunded. Not just her. If she gets moved to Senior squad she will receive funding just like anyone else. She is being treated like everyone else. No need to get your knickers in a knot.

 

[Bob]

She wouldn’t be able to accept funding

she also has been quite underwhelming and isn't at the standard of Senior squad. Why couldn't she accept funding? USA team squad get funding don't they? Is it to do with college.

 

[Samxo]

Only the main squad get funding. The Senior Development squad are unfunded. Not just her. If she gets moved to Senior squad she will receive funding just like anyone else. She is being treated like everyone else. No need to get your knickers in a knot.

they get funding just less than the performance programme. I don’t understand the non-funded one for the world class programme - I think it’s like in the middle of the both?

 

[Gymfan93]

Whitlock confirms he will retire after Paris. That will definitely change the dynamics of team selection for MAG.

Max Whitlock to retire after Paris 2024 Olympics

Britain's most successful gymnast Max Whitlock says it "feels right" to announce that he will retire after the Olympics this summer.

www.bbc.co.uk