Rewind WEEK TEN 25/11 : 2016 US gymnastics championship

[MaryClare]

A vintage renewal with lots to discuss. The US had so much depth that whatever team was chosen, a lot of fans would have strong opinions on it.

I never understood the Laurie hype.

The finale of the Marta era and we are treated to a fluff piece about Bela, Marta and the ranch. Yet just a couple of months later, the USAG world would begin to crumble with the arrest of Larry Nassar.

 

[rlayt]

I wasn’t big on Laurie but anything to keep Skinner away.

In true Karolyi/USA form the options got slim at the end.

 

[JDB]

The Laurie hype wasn't because of her gymnastics being unique, though her FX choreography was memorable. A 16 year-old who can walk into Olympic year nationals (and trials) and act like she runs the show is bound to get attention. And she was comfortable with media attention, giving her ample exposure to four-year fans.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Laurie had a presence and a commitment to movement combined with attention to detail that is unheard of for a US gymnast, especially in an Olympic year. Her vault and bars were fine, but she had such an it factor on beam and floor.

 

[IratePanda]

Laurie was the only US gymnast I liked that year, mainly because she's from NJ. (Her home club is maybe 45 minutes from me.)

My daughter had an advanced case of the Terrible Twos during the summer of 2016, so I don't remember much about this competition or the Olympics.

 

[Passion]

I miss this arena layout with the FX in the middle and actual colors used instead of everything being shades of black, white, and grey. The red podium carpet, white podium curtains, dark blue mats, and giant flag behind the beam was the definitive “this is a USAG competiton” look for so long.

Now in 2024 everything is monochrome - it doesn’t look like they even bothered putting a carpet down on top of the podium. Just left it unfinished.

It just looks so half-assed in comparison.

 

[RichardL]

This was the one of the most talented and decorated B-teams ever IMO:

Nichols - World team champion, FX bronze medalist 2015
Baumann - World team champion
Skinner - World team champion, VT bronze medalist 2014 (4th FX)
Locklear - World team champion, 4th UB 2014
Smith - the newcomer on the team, World AA favorite the next year

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

I think you have to say as well that the Rio is team is the absolute best team the US has ever put up in any competition.

 

[MaryClare]

I think you have to say as well that the Rio is team is the absolute best team the US has ever put up in any competition.

Other than Hernandez who was a first year senior, every one of them went into the games as a resigning individual world or Olympic champion.

However, I’d say that the 2008 team was possibly better, just completely broken. 4 of the 6 would finish their careers having been a world or Olympic AA champion

 

[JDB]

It was the most polished Olympic team at the time. But I think the level of talent was pretty similar from 2008 on. As mentioned, the 2008 was physically destroyed. And the 2012 team was inexperienced.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

They were definitely the best relative to the competition.

In terms of individual accolades, it's difficult to make direct comparisons because of Simone. If someone of her stature had been on, say, the 2008 or 2012 teams, the others would be much less decorated.

 

[Matilda23]

Gabby Douglas impressed me the most, her full-in to immediate back tuck 2nd tumble was cool. In Rio, Aly Raisman qualified to the AA over Gabby? Was that because Aly had an Amanar vault to Gabby’s DTY?

I liked Laurie Hernandez’s low bar work.

Danell Leyva being an alternate then going on to compete in Rio and win two silver medals!

 

[RichardL]

Raisman and Douglas were about five tenths apart. Vault easily created that spread, but many of us would argue that Raisman was severely overscored on bars throughout this competition (qualifications and AA). Still, Raisman being that strong on VT/FX gave her the easy edge.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

Bars scoring in Rio was a fucking joke. They were significantly tighter in the early sessions and then clearly got drunk and SIGNIFICANTLY loosened up. A 14.733 for Aly!?

 

[RedBirdie]

Aly was always overscored on bars, but Rio was absolutely egregious.

 

[irichluck21]

Still annoyed that Hernandez was not allowed to do bars over Raisman. Anyone believe Hernandez was really injured or was Marta just putting in her favorite? I guess it didn't matter anyway.

 

[MaryClare]

Still annoyed that Hernandez was not allowed to do bars over Raisman. Anyone believe Hernandez was really injured or was Marta just putting in her favorite? I guess it didn't matter anyway.

Regardless of the reasons for the decision, it was the right one. From the moment she was selected, Laurie cannot have had any reasonable expectation that she’d be doing AA at the Olympics unless someone was injured.

 

[david]

Why? Laurie was second in the AA on both nights of trials, beating Aly by .9 and .5. The only event that was in question was who would get dropped from bars in prelims and Aly was clearly the weakest on the team.

 

[Passion]

Still annoyed that Hernandez was not allowed to do bars over Raisman. Anyone believe Hernandez was really injured or was Marta just putting in her favorite? I guess it didn't matter anyway.

She was really injured. She had a torn ab muscle. She talks about it with Aly in this video, exactly at the 10 minute mark:

 

[RedBirdie]

When I tore an ab muscle (granted, 30 years ago) I could barely walk because every movement caused pain. I'm still trying to understand how Laurie could do all the other events but not bars. You're trying to tell me back handsprings aren't absolute murder on a torn ab?