US NCAA gymnasts returning to Elite

[JaJa]

Great news. I know Jade isn’t a favorite but I would like to see more from her. It would be great to get the Carey in the COP.

I think its great news too. Jade may not be a favorite overall on this board but there are those of us who really love her

 

[irichluck21]

Does anyone know why the Elite Cmte is being more lenient with this? Does it have anything to do with the new NCAA rules re: name image and likeness?

Yes, amongst other factors.

But it has been something that has been discussed for over a decade. There was discussion about this when Zamarippa wanted to do elite back in 2010.

Dowell and Skinner deferred to go after the respective Olympics. Had this system been in place, both could have potentially competed NCAA and then attend camps after NCAA season.

If the mantra was NCAA OR Elite…most would opt for NCAA.

I remember back in 2006 some of us on WWGYM had heard rumors about Courtney Kupets coming back for 2008 because the team needed a specialist.

It is just untapped potential at the NCAA level, making it easier and have a clear structure to support NCAA athletes is great.

Look at former NCAA gymnasts like Casey Jo Magee and Chari Knight Hunter that came back after NCAA to make elite comebacks. So it’s been clear for decades that NCAA gymnasts have some motivation or desire to do elite.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I still wonder if Kupets might’ve tried an 08 comeback if she hadn’t got injured!

It makes sense for this to happen now, I think. We’re moving away from a model of short teenage careers. Gymnasts are taking time out for things and coming back, dabbling, wanting to compete well into their 20s, have more opportunities. Flexible rules and structures are all to the good. Can you imagine what Marta would’ve thought of this?

 

[JaJa]

f the mantra was NCAA OR Elite…most would opt for NCAA.

agreed. Especially with the current situation in USAGymnastics and the new NCAA rules.

 

[Sasha]

She’s probably shaking her head in disgust as we speak. She’d be grabbing USAG by the back of the neck if she could.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Yeah I hope she’s really unhappy about the whole thing.

 

[JDB]

And think about how upset NCAA’s board of governors must be over recent changes. The NCAA is gradually losing its lifelong control over retired athletes’ commercial & career activities. Gymnasts keep getting more benefits while bureaucrats get marginalized.

 

[tsarinajen]

I remember the Kupets rumor in regards to Beijing. It was rumored she was going to give it a shot. Assuming no injury, she could have had a shot minus vault of course.

 

[MRR]

Has Suni made any indication of trying for 2022 Worlds, or is that just speculation?

Genuinely surprised at Chiles returning, less so Carey although I thought she would wait until 2023.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

They certainly had a spot available for a good bars worker, that much we know.

 

[irichluck21]

Has Suni made any indication of trying for 2022 Worlds, or is that just speculation?

This interview was in July 2021 so almost a year old and things can change. But she mentions making a run at Paris and hasn’t ruled out 2022-2023 Worlds.

https://olympics.com/en/news/suni-lee-embraces-olympic-opportunity-as-she-contemplates-future-plans

“I’m trying to work out the times with my college coaches and then, school, because I can’t miss too much school,” Lee said of Biles’ tour. “I really do want to compete gymnastics at Auburn.”

She also didn’t rule out a future in elite gymnastics, including the 2022 or 2023 World Championships.

“I’m thinking about coming back for worlds or something like that,” Lee explained. “So, I know that I need to take this time to just focus on my body and focus on myself right now.”

The fact that she changed from a FTY to a Half on front layout, to Lopez in hopes of eventually getting a Cheng demonstrates that she has some aspirations to return to elite. She also did her higher difficulty bars routine a few times this season.

She hasn’t announced anything yet and who knows if she will end up resting this summer and come back for 2023 Worlds.

But I think it is fair to keep her in the conversation as all signs point to her returning to elite.

As mentioned already, USA is desperate for bar workers. If anything, Suni could compete her NCAA routines at Nationals and upgrade her bars set, maybe her beam too and go as a bars and beam specialist.

 

[irichluck21]

We could see McCallum this year too.

In a change, Olympic gymnasts go to college and plan return to elite competition

Olympians Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum could return to elite gymnastics after competing in the NCAA.

olympics.nbcsports.com

 

[Hatsumomo]

Now when was the last time we had almost the entire US WAG Olympic team returning to competition?

 

[irichluck21]

Now when was the last time we had almost the entire US WAG Olympic team returning to competition?

I would say 2000.
5/7 Miller, Dawes, Chow, Phelps, Moceanu

 

[RedBirdie]

Funsies, Olympians who competed at US nationals the year after they competed at the olympics (alternates not included)

2001: Schwikert

2005: None

2009: Sloan, Peszek, Liukin, and Memmel

2013: Ross, Maroney

2017: None

 

[blake]

Besides Lee/Wong/Chiles, I’m not that interested in seeing the other US olympians make a comeback. Carey/McCallum’s gymnastics has never done anything for me, reeeeeallly not looking forward to another quad of Jade’s snoozefest choreo, but all of them should easily contend for this/next year’s worlds and Paris cause I don’t see a lot of olympic contenders in the current elites.

 

[irichluck21]

McCallum is NOT returning to elite this year.
She hasn’t ruled out coming back next year.

What’s next for Grace McCallum?

McCallum just finished her freshman season at the University of Utah. Will she go back to elite gymnastics and Team USA?

www.deseret.com

Almost immediately after conclusion of those Games, McCallum and fellow U.S. Olympians-turned-NCAA gymnasts Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles were all asked whether or not they’d compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France (earlier this year, Team USA clarified how gymnasts can compete in college and at the elite level during the same year).

That remains a possibility for McCallum, but she will not be headed back to elite gymnastics or U.S. national team camp this summer.

Instead, McCallum is going to take some time off.

“I’ve definitely thought about (going back to elite),” McCallum said, “but no, I’m not, not right now.

“It is not out of the question in the future, but this year I’m going to take a break, get some mental and physical rest.”

McCallum explained that she has been training gymnastics for five consecutive summers with little to no break, and while she enjoyed it, right now she wants to do something else.

“I just want to enjoy life for a little bit,” she said. “Not that I wasn’t enjoying it before, but competing and doing full training every summer for the last five years has been a lot.”

 

[RedBirdie]

Can’t blame her for wanting some down time. And unlike Jade or Suni, there’s no obvious individual world medals for Grace. So why keep pushing when a world team spot isn’t a sure thing and making worlds means likely “only” coming home with a team medal?

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

Especially as she has two world team golds already.

If Grace does have unfinished business, it’s the Olympics. It wouldn’t make much sense for her to try and come back for this worlds when that would mean no break and probably going straight into another NCAA season after that. I’m assuming any of the collegiate athletes who want to go for Paris will need to sit out 2023-4 NCAA competition.

I think we’re seeing now the realisation that anyone wanting to try for 2024 will need to have made the decision and be seriously pursuing it by summer next year, and that’s not actually very far away. Anyone wanting to have a rest or pursue other life goals, this is the window.

 

[Caligym]

USA national team camp starting today. Cute Instagram story post shared by Jade, Leanne and Jordan…