- Jan 31, 2021
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- #21
Chapter 16
Chapter 17:
- Felt almost numb going into Trials
- Mindset on everything mattered–performance at camps, practices, podium training mattered, not just the competition
- Gymnastics is a subjective sport. Judges hold the future of a gymnast, every judge has their own taste and style preferences, different things they are tough on, and different things they are relaxed on
- Noted teams had been chosen straight down the AA ranks under Tom
- Simone was essentially locked in, and Jade had her individual spot
- Drove to Trials with their coaches–her first long road trip with them
- Seven workouts in the four days before the competition. Hit all her beam routines twice a day, never missed a bar routine or a beam series
- Required to do all four routines for the televised podium training. Parents didn't get a subscription to Flo for this and followed on social media
- Day 1:
- Great vault
- Bars–bent knees coming out of shaposh half–upset because it was the first major mistake she'd made in St. Louis
- Warming up beam, needed to use the bathroom. Armine told her not to go. She had a ritual to always go when she felt the need, but tried to focus on her routine. Kept debating if she should go; then thinking she didn't have enough time. Had their one touch and Armine left her for Kara. Rushed her series and fell, then fell again on her dismount
- Devastated, trying not to cry. Al wouldn't stop lecturing her and Armine wasn't around, tried not to show expressions because the cameras were in her face
- Finished floor with a clean routine
- 10th AA after Day 1
- Prayed and kept faith
- Hoped that her vault and floor would be her keys
- Tom told her he'd been impressed by her all week and not to worry about her beam–just do it like she was on the floor
- Day 2
- Nothing to lose, felt less stressed
- Hit bars
- Solid beam
- Spectacular floor
- Vault was clean and solid
- Finished the night thinking she'd done everything she could
- Moved to 8th AA
- Thought her floor was peaking and she might even have a chance of medaling on it
- While waiting, felt she had no chance of making the four member team and was hoping for an alternate spot
- Things she would have had a chance if she had hit as strongly on Day 1 as she had Day 2
- Had to be happy and thankful with being an alternate and be going at all
- Had predicted the team would be chosen by going down the AA list, and that's what happened
- Doesn't know if any strategies were taken into account about what events and athletes would make a team stronger like would have happened in the Karolyi era
- Quotes Tom's statement about tenths not mattering in his decision to take AAers over specialists
- Learned not to pressure herself too much and was proud to be an alternate
- Perfectionist, but she rebounds quickly when something goes wrong
Chapter 17:
- There was a summer camp at GAGE the week before they left. Lots of campers wanted pictures, but she wanted to social distance as much as possible
- Weren't allowed to sign t-shirts or take photos–signatures were stamped on t-shirts before hand and a signed photo from Trials was given to each gymnast
- Workout schedule was modified to avoid contact with gymnasts who had been traveling, both for COVID and to avoid distractions
- The entire summer camp (hundreds of gymnasts) would stop and watch when Kara and Leanne did routines. Stressful, but learned to block it out
- Training hours for the second workout were technically 4-7, but they could leave early if they hit
- Did bars and beam twice a day–needed two hits in both morning and afternoon for bars. 6 hit beams in the morning and 4 in the evening–mentally and physically exhausting
- Had two practices the day before they left. Training was intense in the gym until the last minute
- Talks about how hard it is being an alternate and being ready for anything
- After first practice, talked with local news channel, and then had send off by GAGE. Lunch at Armine's, got her nail done. Enjoyed getting spoiled and looking pretty for Tokyo.
- Reported told her mom Armine considered Leanne one of the hardest workers in the gym, which she hadn't heard before
- Armine had given them motivating quotes every day since US Classics 2021 to the end of the Tokyo OIympics, and she had saved all of them. Showed them to reporter
- Finished packing for Tokyo at 1:30; suitcase weighed 68 pounds. Decided to deal with the overage fee.
- Left for the airport at 3:30
- As passengers for the Olympics, were told their checked bags could weigh up to 70 pounds without fees
- Bittersweet saying goodbye to the family that couldn't travel with her to Japan
- Unexpectedly were upgraded to first class on flight from Kansas City to Denver
- Denver to San Francisco to meet up with the rest of team USAG
- Before boarding, had to show boarding pass, passport, and negative COVID test
- Were in Economy Plus. When they realized how empty the plane was, moved back a few rows and got an entire row to herself, could lie down.
- All spectators banned from the Games
- Delta variant was surging
- 85% of Olympic athletes vaccinated before Tokyo. Rigorous daily testing. Each delegation was required to wear a mask, had strict personal hygiene, and was required to social distance
- Restricted from tourism and had strict arrival and departure dates
- Would have to leave the country in 48 hours if not needed. If you were on the team and didn't make an individual final, you also had to leave in 48 hours
