The USA is still the clear front-runner for the team gold. Some people started to doubt their dominance after an exceptionally shaky Classics, but even from that competition a decent team could have been named. I fully believe a team of Biles, Ross, Nichols, Gowey, Locklear, and Kocian could wipe the floor in the team final. I'm still super disappointed about Mykayla's block- IT WAS CREDITABLE EARLIER THIS YEAR!! Peyton Ernst still could make a case for her inclusion at Nationals, and if Mykayla and Brenna manage to pull themselves together, even better. Even just the we-survived-Classics-2014 team would have all the bases covered. Biles has one of the best Amanars ever, performed one of the best floor routines ever at Classics, has improved her beam and has become very steady, has usable bars, and is just generally one of the best gymnasts ever. Ross is especially useful on bars and beam, but is helpful everywhere and so strong and steady. Nichols is also steady and could be used anywhere. Gowey was landing Amanars in PT at Classics, so if she could bring that into competition she could be useful on vault, her beam is very useful, and she could also be used anywhere. Locklear and Kocian both have stellar bars, and Locklear could potentially be a team player on beam as well. Really, the we-survived-Classics-2014 team is surprisingly flexible. A strong Ernst, Skinner, or Dowell could all make the US team even more uncatchable, but it's pretty decently ahead of the rest of the pack as is.
Romania, who was my pick for silver, recently sustained a devastating blow with the injury of Diana Bulimar (will we ever see her at Worlds again!?) Her loss leaves an even bigger gaping hole on uneven bars, where Bulimar was steady and fairly decent, but also weakens floor, where Bulimar could bring in scores above 14.000. Iordache is now becoming even more Mustafina-esque in how much Romania needs her. Romania will be looking to her to bring in their highest score on every event, and likely any medals they can pick up individually. Romania will be scrambling to fit together a team. The biggest problem will be who to put up in the third bars spot other than Iordache and Stanila. Romania will certainly be looking forward to Jurca and Iridon's senior debuts next year!
Russia is also a team in shambles. Mustafina has had surgery on her ankle this year and her status is uncertain on vault and floor, which would be a huge blow. Even if she's only in for bars and beam, Mustafina will still undoubtedly be on the team if she is able, as will Kharenkova and Sosnitskaya. This provides at least one DTY, if Mustafina is not ready on the event, a great bars set, two strong beams, and two good floors. I would expect Mustafina to be put up on at least vault if she can chuck a DTY, just because they are hard to come by in Russia's current pool of seniors. This means Russia needs at least one more vault, two more bars, and one more beam and floor. I think the remaining spots will be filled by a combination of Komova, Nabieva, Paseka, Spiridinova, and Rodionova. I think Komova will likely be on the team if she can throw a routine together, and Nabieva will be chosen over Paseka just because Paseka has been blacklisted. A team I think is unlikely to be named but has its merits is the three locks, Nabieva, Komova/Spiridinova, and Fedorova/Kramarenko. Nabieva could be put up on vault and bars, Komova or Spiridinova on bars, and Fedorova or Kramarenko on beam and floor. However, I think the Rods will name a vaulter, bar worker, and a UB/BB specialist and find someone to put up in the final floor spot. This team is somewhat weak and vault and floor, strong on bars, and a mixed bag on beam.
China has named their team. I'm not sure if it's technically official, but even if it's unofficial, China doesn't really have any other options. The Chinese team is for both Worlds and Asian Games. Yao Jinnan, Shang Chunsong, Huang Huidan, Tan Jiaxin, Chen Siyi, and Bai Yawen will make up the Chinese contingent at Nanning. It is a bit difficult to judge the strength of China's team since we haven't seen Tan Jiaxin since last year's DTB Cup and word of skills we haven't seen yet are circulating, as well as potential injury for Yao Jinnan. Personally, I think most people are overrating this team. Some were saying after Classics that China could overtake the USA, but I honestly think they might not even take the silver. Bars should be very strong for China. Yao has displayed a 7.0 routine this year, Huang Huidan is the reigning World Champion on bars, and Shang tied with her at China's National Championships. Beam also has a lot of potential for this team. Shang Chunsong has a very difficult routine, Bai Yawen is on the team for her prowess on this event, but also showed inconsistency at Chinese Nationals. Huang Huidan has improved her consistency on beam and scored around 14.35 at Nationals. Yao Jinnan scored in the low 14s at Nationals, but has also proved inconsistent on beam in the past. Vault will be an uncertain rotation. Word is that Tan Jiaxin has been training the Amanar but will not be competing it this season and that Shang Chunsong now has a consistent DTY. Tan Jiaxin has a nice DTY, and Yao Jinnan's is nice as well. The third vault is where vault becomes a bit worrisome. Shang Chunsong is apparently now vaulting a DTY, but we have no idea what it will look like. Chen Siyi vaulted a DTY at Chinese Nationals, but it was scary. Floor is another worrisome event for China. Yao Jinnan has added two tenths to her D score, so she might be able to score in the 14s. Shang Chunsong has added three tenths, now tumbling a 3 1/2 twist as her second pass, but her execution has also gone down. The third floor spot is another cause of consternation. All the other members of the team have D scores of 5.3 or lower and will be unlikely to break the low 13s. China will have to rely on potentially a scary vault and definitely on a weak floor, and Yao and Bai have both shown inconsistency on beam, and Shang also fell on beam in Antwerp.
A team which is looking to have potential to challenge the Big Four is Great Britain, which has skyrocketed in success since 2012. Rebecca Tunney, who helped GB to their silver at Euros, had an elbow surgery which kept her out of the Commonwealth Games, but British Gymnastics said she would be ready for Worlds. Assuming she will be ready, her bars will bring in a big number for GB. Gabby Jupp has also been out since Euros 2013 with injury, hers to her ACL. Gabby was supposed to make a comeback at British Championships, but she was unready. Nothing official has been said, but it looks unlikely she will be on the team, which is unfortunate because her beam could be a big help. The rest of the team will likely be the Commonwealth Games team. Becky Downie showed inconsistency on beam in Glasgow, which is concerning because she was competing well earlier in the season. Kelley Simm will be helpful on vault and potentially on floor as well. Hannah Whelan is likely to be on the beam and floor rotations, and if she can recreate her Glasgow all around beam routine, she should bring in a strong score. Ruby Harrold will be put up on bars and floor. Her bars can score very well and made the finals in 2013, scoring in the low 14s. Her floor is also strong. Claudia Fragapane will be a big scorer for GB. She vaults a DTY and could potentially be used on beam. Her highest-scoring event is her amazing floor, where she can bring in high 14s. This team should have three scores above 14.500 on vault and two high bars scores and a third above a 14.000. Beam and floor are a bit questionable. Beam can have potentially three scores above 14. Ruby and Hannah will likely score in the 13s on floor, but Claudia should bring in a very big number. With Romania's blow and Russia's floundering team, I think GB should be able to medal and even challenge China for silver. GB is stronger than China on vault (assuming Shang Chunsong's is what you would expect of a new DTY from someone who was stuck with an FTY for a long time), very strong on bars, likely second only to China, and much stronger on floor. Beam is the make-or-break event for GB, but China also has some inconsistency on beam. Team GB is really a fairly evenly talented team, probably second only to the USA.
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