Post Olympics (September 2024) Articles and Social Media posts

[irichluck21]

The gymn fans are going a bit far if they want to "cancel" Grace McCallum for liking a baby announcement photo.

 

[MaryClare]

The gymn fans are going a bit far if they want to "cancel" Grace McCallum for liking a baby announcement photo.

Have you met the average gym Redditor…

 

[BB12]

I've never understood the type of reaction that Grace is now copping. How can they claim moral high ground by being derogatory towards and in some cases, straight out bullying someone whose biggest crime is liking a pregnancy post?

A bit hypocritical by those people.

 

[OnlyBeansOnToast]

The gymn fans are going a bit far if they want to "cancel" Grace McCallum for liking a baby announcement photo.

"I SAW GOODY MCCALLUM LIKING POSTS BY THE DEVIL!"

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I did chuckle at some of the tweets about Grace's good fortune getting on the 2019 and 2021 teams. They're not wrong, but have people not worked out who'd have most likely got those spots if she didn't? Because it wouldn't have been Leanne Wong...

 

[crdubb17]

A few days ago Grace was following Riley.

 

[Aeris]

I did chuckle at some of the tweets about Grace's good fortune getting on the 2019 and 2021 teams. They're not wrong, but have people not worked out who'd have most likely got those spots if she didn't? Because it wouldn't have been Leanne Wong...

Leanne had a good case over Grace for both teams, especially 2021. In both instances she added more to the highest scoring team and in 2021 she was more of an individual medal threat with her floor routine.

Grace being on the 2019 team was fair but I never wanted her as more than an alternate in 2021.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Leanne had a good case over Grace for both teams, especially 2021. In both instances she added more to the highest scoring team and in 2021 she was more of an individual medal threat with her floor routine.

Grace being on the 2019 team was fair but I never wanted her as more than an alternate in 2021.

While Leanne would have been my ideal choice, if they went with the highest scoring team in 2021, that would've been Skinner. Tom was also clearly never going that far down the AA rankings. Wasn't happening.

I agree Grace was a legit pick for 2019. But not the only legit pick by any means. In both cases it was fine to take her, and would also have been fine not to.

 

[irichluck21]

It was that Night 1 beam routine that killed Wong's chances. Once that was done she was done.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

It was that Night 1 beam routine that killed Wong's chances. Once that was done she was done.

Sadly yes.

 

[Aeris]

While Leanne would have been my ideal choice, if they went with the highest scoring team in 2021, that would've been Skinner. Tom was also clearly never going that far down the AA rankings. Wasn't happening.

Tom's shitty policies are irrelevant to me, but yes Skinner had even more of an argument for the team...making Grace's selection that much more annoying. What's especially frustrating about her selection is how the 4th team member was most needed for VT+FX, and Grace only did 1 high scoring floor routine that entire season. Such a waste of a spot.

For the individual spot it should have been McCusker; the much more logical MAG selection policy of "best 3 routines between Nationals and Trials" agrees.

If a really great national leader existed, then Grace never would have been a consideration even when it came to AA ranking, because she'd be 8th at best if the more talented girls were given better routine constructions and the developmental attention they deserved. Jordan Chiles wouldn't be on the team in that case either.

 

[RedBirdie]

Conversely, international judges adored McCallum and she was consistent at international assignments. With someone like Skinner or Wong, you never knew if they'd hit lights out or go splat (and Skinner saw the largest drop in e-scores from domestic vs. international meets, iirc)

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Broadly agree with much of that @Aeris. I said at the time, a situation should not have been created where Grace McCallum was the answer to a problem. It's remarkable, looking back, how many things needed to come together for that to happen. Even in the context of a postponement

@RedBirdie I don't think there was much question over Skinner's consistency, especially with all that NCAA experience to call on. And Grace had major errors in 2 of 6 routines at 2019 worlds, I don't know why we all had her down as so reliable. They were broadly equal there. One obviously wouldn't take Skinner with the intention of her E scores on bars, beam or to a lesser extent floor actually mattering, but we all knew how vault was likely to pan out.

I will acknowledge the point about Leanne's inconsistency!

 

[irichluck21]

Skinner going 14.100 at home night 1 of trials on beam and then barely getting over 13 for a near perfect set in Tokyo was an example of how grossly over scored she was at home.

 

[BB12]

Tom's shitty policies are irrelevant to me, but yes Skinner had even more of an argument for the team...making Grace's selection that much more annoying. What's especially frustrating about her selection is how the 4th team member was most needed for VT+FX, and Grace only did 1 high scoring floor routine that entire season. Such a waste of a spot.

For the individual spot it should have been McCusker; the much more logical MAG selection policy of "best 3 routines between Nationals and Trials" agrees.

If a really great national leader existed, then Grace never would have been a consideration even when it came to AA ranking, because she'd be 8th at best if the more talented girls were given better routine constructions and the developmental attention they deserved. Jordan Chiles wouldn't be on the team in that case either.

Leaving Riley off was the right decision. You can't fall at trials on your only event and expect to make it. Otherwise, there is no point even having trials if the performance at that meet isnt going to determine the team.

 

[irichluck21]

Well to be fair Riley his 3/4 bars sets through the process of Nationals and Trials.
Taking her would have been justified, as placements from Nationals and Trials determined the team.
Only the top 2 finishers at Trials were automatically on the team. Of course Jade had already secured her +1 spot, so only 3 spots (2 team and 1 individual) were available to be selected by a committee.

 

[Aeris]

Basing everything on trials is foolish. But either way, a medal contender falling 1 time at trials is still a better option than someone else who doesn't have any individual medal chance to begin with. If Skinner had finished 4th AA and Grace 5th, you just know Tom would have named Grace for the individual slot. And that would have been an awful decision.

Skinner going 14.100 at home night 1 of trials on beam and then barely getting over 13 for a near perfect set in Tokyo was an example of how grossly over scored she was at home.

Her scores internationally on vault and floor weren't dropping more than others, the places she was supposed to be used for the team. Her bars didn't drop internationally either.

Beam could have been a good event for her with better routine construction, the 2017-2021 code was actually perfect for her. It was poor coaching to have her do an L-turn and the number of split skills she attempted. She could've just done a Straddle jump, Straight full, and Tuck full all from side position and gotten the non-acro out of the way with a single split skill. In addition, they should've been seriously pursuing the BHS + LOSO 1/1, it was excellent in training.

 

[Hatsumomo]

Skinner going 14.100 at home night 1 of trials on beam and then barely getting over 13 for a near perfect set in Tokyo was an example of how grossly over scored she was at home.

Which ends up hurting the argument that Skinner should've been on the team based on highest scoring potential. It's one thing to lose an entire point on one event due to a fall or a couple of other major errors. But a knockout routine scoring a point lower between Trials and Tokyo TQ is something else entirely.

 

[Aeris]

Which ends up hurting the argument that Skinner should've been on the team based on highest scoring potential.

It doesn't, only her Vault and Floor mattered for the highest scoring team. Her AA score at the Olympics was better than both of Grace's anyway, that's the funniest part!