Ahh, we finally get the treasure-trove of amazing gymnasts on the senior level we've been promised since the beginning of the quad! The Gymternet has compiled and exhaustive list of all the gymnasts who turn senior this year, and oh so many exciting names!
China: Deng Yalan, Wang Yan
Most Exciting New Senior: Wang Yan- Strong on vault, can tumble on floor, and a solid, high-difficulty beam set. Wang Yan is just what the doctor ordered for China!
The Others?: Deng Yalan can vault, too, and also has potential on floor! China can breathe now!
Romania: Andreea Iridon, Laura Jurca
Most Exciting New Senior: Laura Jurca- A good all arounder, similar to Iordache in strengths, the CUTEST segue into low beam choreography, but the YOG judges hammered her in E.
The Others?: Iridon is exciting because BARS!! BARS BARS BARS!! She can do them, and Romania needs that desperately.
Russia: Maria Bondareva, Anastasiia Dmitrieva, Seda Tutkhalyan, Daria Mikhailova
Most Exciting New Senior: Seda Tutkhalyan- Won the YOG all around and bars, has a killer beam set (LAYOUT FULL!), but also super inconsistent.
The Others?: Bondareva and Dmitrieva were supposed to be Russia's next big things, but both have stagnated. Bondareva might still have some strong gymnastics in her, but it doesn't look highly likely. Mikhailova might end up being the big one from the rest of this group, which is a big surprise. She's not super high-scoring, but her floor is great to watch and she is a fighter on beam, which Russia needs more of.
The USA: Nia Dennis, Bailie Key, Alexis Vasquez, Lauren Navarro
Most Exciting New Senior: Bailie Key- Obviously
The Others?: Nia Dennis has a ton of potential everywhere and could be a world-class all arounder. She garners a ton of comparisons to Gabby, and the pretty much total lack of racism claims attests to the accuracy of the comparison. But she's seriously inconsistent and didn't look too polished last year. She wasn't at full health, but still... Alexis Vasquez also wasn't at 100% last year, but I just don't know whether I see her being a top senior elite. She could go if we desperately needed a third beam, though. Catherine B of Beautiful Gymnastics mentioned Lauren when discussing gymnasts who could surprise, and I see her point. She had a great beam day 2 of P&Gs last year... I'm also going to be keeping my eye on Vanasia Bradley (lots of power and potential, but I don't think her coaching's doing her a ton of favors...) and Marissa Oakley (PRETTY!! and a double double bars dismount).
Great Britain: Ellie Downie, Amy Tinkler, Tyesha Mattis, Rhyannon Jones
Most Exciting New Senior: Ellie Downie- She got the bronze all around at Jr. Euros, and won 4 medals at YOG. Great vault, and not too shabby on the other events.
The Others?: Tinkler I love on floor! She's powerful, but not too bad all around. Mattis wasn't at full strength last year, but at the 2013 EYOF, she had a double double on floor. Jones has really nice lines and contributed to the Jr. Euros silver, but I don't expect her to make too big a splash at the senior level. Downie, Tinkler, and Mattis are all really powerful, and I expect to see Amanars from this crew.
Brazil: Rebecca Andrade, Flavia Saraiva
Most Exciting New Senior: Rebecca Andrade- Incredibly powerful, she's had a sky-scraping Amanar she doesn't always compete, sadly. It's strangely inconsistent for her. Her floor has a ton of potential, and I'm sure she has a lot more than she's shown. Bars and beam aren't as strong, but they're way better than they were.
The Others?: Flava-flav! I don't know if that's a gymternet nickname or I just made it up myself, but that's what I call her. She's super charming and her gymnastics are beautiful!
Germany: Antonia Alicke, Kim Janas
Most Exciting New Senior: Kim Janas- If she's back. She was great in 2013, but injured for 2014. She could really made an all around splash for Germany if she's back with strong routines.
The Others?: Alicke has low difficulty, especially on vault where she had a front tuck 1/2. She could be useful on bars, beam, and floor, though.
Other Exciting New Seniors:
Sydney Townsend (CAN)- Has a DTY and a great, Rio-flavor floor!
Iosra Abdelaziz (ITA)- BARS!! Similar to Iridon.
Sae Miyakawa (JPN)- GORGEOUS tumbling, and a DLO final pass!! Nice vaulting, too.
Millie Williamson (NZL)- She won't be winning anything. But if you don't like the Kiwis I don't like you.
Country With the Most Exciting New Seniors: USA
Country With the New Seniors I'm Most Excited About: Brazil
Country With the New Seniors I'm Second Most Excited About: Great Britain
Most Exciting New Senior: Bailie Key
New Senior I'm Most Excited About: Rebecca Andrade
New Senior I'm Second Most Excited About: Tie between Amy Tinkler and Flava Flav
Biggest Question Mark: Kim Janas
Best Vault: Wang Yan
Rebecca should have it with her Amanar, but it's too inconsistent. Wang Yan also has two high-difficulty vaults. I'm expecting plenty of Amanars from this crop.
Best Bars: Nia Dennis
Bars isn't a super great event with the new seniors, and Nia, Seda, and Andreea are the only ones who are really good on them. Nia is the only one to have a really dynamic routine. I'm a bit worried about the DLO dismount, though. I'd like to see her do a double arabian instead.
Best Beam: Bailie Key
This should by rights be Seda's with her insane routine, but she's SO INCONSISTENT. Bailie has strong difficulty and fabulous execution, and she is so steady!! Wang Yan is also awesome on beam, I expect them to be strong in the Worlds final.
Best Floor: Bailie Key
Nia Dennis has higher scoring potential, but is less consistent. Bailie has a clever routine which gives her a good D score, she's gotten very artistic since changing floor routines, and, as always, her execution is stellar. This group have a lot of gymnasts who are lovely to watch on floor but don't have great difficulty. Rebecca Andrade has the potential, but she hasn't shown it yet. I believe she can surpass the rest of the new seniors, but she still needs to put the routine together to do so.
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