I spent all last night in anticipation of the name of the alternate today. UGH! When is it coming??? I was completely on the Maggie train, but Lauren said today that she'd pick Gabby based on how training has gone, and I can't say I disagree. Gabby's awesome. Don't get me wrong. But there are six other awesome gymnasts on this team and a crap ton of other awesome gymnasts left at home who didn't even get to go to Glasgow. If Maggie and Aly are both going to do the AA, it just doesn't make any sense to make Mykayla the alternate when the specialists are both UB workers and one wouldn't be able to compete them. I still like the idea of putting Maggie up on beam because I think she would be steady. She's gotten a little bare-bones with her routine, but I think that's great preparation for putting her in the leadoff position. She's also good backup on floor, but if Mykayla's on the competitive team I don't think she'd be used. Gabby and Maggie would both be in the running for the leadoff position on beam. I also don't see the logic in taking Mykayla over Bailie to use her as the alternate. Bailie would be more reliable to use on any event, and as such a much better alternate. I'm honestly starting to wonder if Matha's just decided, "We're wiping the floor with everyone else without trying anyway, I'll just play with everyone for my last Worlds as NTC." Even if I didn't agree with her, I always at least used to be able to understand her logic. Some of her decisions just don't make any sense to me recently.
On another note, vault has suddenly become the most exciting final, which I was not prepared for. Dipa's upgraded? CHUSO'S DOING A PROD?!? What the heck happened?
New predictions:
Finalists-
Simone Biles
Hong Un Jong
Maria Paseka
Chuso
Dipa Karmakar
Marcia Videaux
Giulia Steingruber
Mykayla Skinner (if she's not the alternate)
Wang Yan (if she is)
Podium-
1. Hong Un Jong
2. Simone Biles
3. Maria Paseka
I still see the podium the same, but so much closer for the podium now....
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Worlds Predictions
'Tis the season!!!
Team:
Top 16 (*Finalists):
USA*
China*
Russia*
Romania*
Japan*
Great Britain*
Italy*
Brazil*
Germany
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
France
Mexico
Belgium
South Korea
Podium:
1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
Obviously, the US is going to win. Anyone who doubts that at all is delusional. Valentina would have to Tanya Harding them all for something else to happen. I think Russia's team this year, even without Aliya (honestly, I like this team a lot better without her- not sure why, I'm not a big fan of Vika or Bee Farm and I really do like Aliya), has the most evenly distributed ability of the rest. But if their beam rotation is a bomb, they could open the door. I do think Japan will outscore Romania. Their team average for this year is actually higher than China's, and though that's pretty much due solely to the most outrageous domestic overscoring this year, I'd still LOVE to see them on the podium.
All Around:
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Larisa Iordache
3. Aly Raisman
Even though her highest AA score is of the season is the third highest of the non-Simone US AAers, I still think she'll get the second spot. If not, just swap her out for whichever American makes it. Even though Simone said Maggie's not the alternate, I'm still accepting her as such until we have an official announcement otherwise, so I think it'll be between Aly and Gabby. With Yao and Aliya out (and Rebeca Andrade), there's pretty much no other competition for the podium. I just feel so gutted doing these predictions right now with no Rebeca to surprise for the podium.
Vault:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Mykayla Skinner
Hong Un Jong
Marcia Videux
Maria Paseka
Giulia Steingruber
Wang Yan
Alexa Moreno
Podium:
1. Hong Un Jong
2. Simone Biles
3. Maria Paseka
This one should be really close. Vault was so stagnant and this quad it's suddenly become so exciting! Now that Simone's been sticking Amanars, she really could outdo Hong Un Jong, but I just love her floaty Amanar so whatever. Also, word on the street is that Mykayla beat Simone on vault at camp, so there's that. Bee Farm has cleaned up a fair bit since the last time she made a vault final and added a Cheng, so she's really upped her game. And Marcia and Giulia would both be fabulous- and plausible- medalists. Three fourths of gymnasts in this final could legitimately medal. And that's awesome.
Bars:
Finalists:
Fan Yilin
A second Chinese gymnast
Daria Spiridonova
Vika
Elisabeth Seitz
Sophie Scheder
Maddie Kocian
Yuki Uchiyama
Podium:
1. Fan Yilin
2. Daria Spiridonova
3. Vika
This final is far too small. A 12 or even 16 person final would be much better for exhibiting the top bars talented. No one's really been dominating the top of the field, let alone my choice for the gold medal, but I think these three are the safest bets. I definitely think Spiridoz will leave with a medal. This will be a pretty exclusive final. And I'm so ready for it!
Beam:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Aly Raisman
Larisa Iordache
Sakura Yumoto
Ellie Black
Flava Flav
Maria Kharenkova
Shang Chunsong
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Aly Raisman
3. Sakura Yumoto
Well, this one's a crap shoot. There have been a lot of stunning one-off performances this year (PAULINE SCHAEFER) that I don't expect to be repeated at Worlds. Alas. I've picked Shang for gold the last two years and just given up at this point. I've also given up on predicting Larisa will stay on. Or Maria. I made my pick because I trust those three not to fall the most. Literally everyone else I'm expecting to. Maybe the trick is just to expect them to fall? Flava Flav always makes it into the final, she just falls once she gets there. Ellie is the only one I didn't pick for the podium who I'll hold out hope for staying on. And then if anyone else doesn't fall, it'll be a pleasant surprise.
Floor:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Aly Raisman
Larisa Iordache
Afan
Sae Miyakawa
Claudia Fragapane
Erika Fasana
Giulia Steingruber
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Aly Raisman
3. Larisa Iordache
Yet another floor title to Simone. A fall is literally the only mistake that could keep her from this one. Aly is back and better than ever, and a hit routine should clinch a medal for her. Larisa is great as always, but I think the other two have an edge on her. Afan either wins or doesn't medal, so she's off the podium. If Sae Miyakawa busts out the best she's got, she's the only other one who can challenge, methinks. But the other three are awesome. So it should be an enjoyable enough final even if it isn't as competitive as vault of bars.
Team:
Top 16 (*Finalists):
USA*
China*
Russia*
Romania*
Japan*
Great Britain*
Italy*
Brazil*
Germany
Canada
Australia
Netherlands
France
Mexico
Belgium
South Korea
Podium:
1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
Obviously, the US is going to win. Anyone who doubts that at all is delusional. Valentina would have to Tanya Harding them all for something else to happen. I think Russia's team this year, even without Aliya (honestly, I like this team a lot better without her- not sure why, I'm not a big fan of Vika or Bee Farm and I really do like Aliya), has the most evenly distributed ability of the rest. But if their beam rotation is a bomb, they could open the door. I do think Japan will outscore Romania. Their team average for this year is actually higher than China's, and though that's pretty much due solely to the most outrageous domestic overscoring this year, I'd still LOVE to see them on the podium.
All Around:
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Larisa Iordache
3. Aly Raisman
Even though her highest AA score is of the season is the third highest of the non-Simone US AAers, I still think she'll get the second spot. If not, just swap her out for whichever American makes it. Even though Simone said Maggie's not the alternate, I'm still accepting her as such until we have an official announcement otherwise, so I think it'll be between Aly and Gabby. With Yao and Aliya out (and Rebeca Andrade), there's pretty much no other competition for the podium. I just feel so gutted doing these predictions right now with no Rebeca to surprise for the podium.
Vault:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Mykayla Skinner
Hong Un Jong
Marcia Videux
Maria Paseka
Giulia Steingruber
Wang Yan
Alexa Moreno
Podium:
1. Hong Un Jong
2. Simone Biles
3. Maria Paseka
This one should be really close. Vault was so stagnant and this quad it's suddenly become so exciting! Now that Simone's been sticking Amanars, she really could outdo Hong Un Jong, but I just love her floaty Amanar so whatever. Also, word on the street is that Mykayla beat Simone on vault at camp, so there's that. Bee Farm has cleaned up a fair bit since the last time she made a vault final and added a Cheng, so she's really upped her game. And Marcia and Giulia would both be fabulous- and plausible- medalists. Three fourths of gymnasts in this final could legitimately medal. And that's awesome.
Bars:
Finalists:
Fan Yilin
A second Chinese gymnast
Daria Spiridonova
Vika
Elisabeth Seitz
Sophie Scheder
Maddie Kocian
Yuki Uchiyama
Podium:
1. Fan Yilin
2. Daria Spiridonova
3. Vika
This final is far too small. A 12 or even 16 person final would be much better for exhibiting the top bars talented. No one's really been dominating the top of the field, let alone my choice for the gold medal, but I think these three are the safest bets. I definitely think Spiridoz will leave with a medal. This will be a pretty exclusive final. And I'm so ready for it!
Beam:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Aly Raisman
Larisa Iordache
Sakura Yumoto
Ellie Black
Flava Flav
Maria Kharenkova
Shang Chunsong
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Aly Raisman
3. Sakura Yumoto
Well, this one's a crap shoot. There have been a lot of stunning one-off performances this year (PAULINE SCHAEFER) that I don't expect to be repeated at Worlds. Alas. I've picked Shang for gold the last two years and just given up at this point. I've also given up on predicting Larisa will stay on. Or Maria. I made my pick because I trust those three not to fall the most. Literally everyone else I'm expecting to. Maybe the trick is just to expect them to fall? Flava Flav always makes it into the final, she just falls once she gets there. Ellie is the only one I didn't pick for the podium who I'll hold out hope for staying on. And then if anyone else doesn't fall, it'll be a pleasant surprise.
Floor:
Finalists:
Simone Biles
Aly Raisman
Larisa Iordache
Afan
Sae Miyakawa
Claudia Fragapane
Erika Fasana
Giulia Steingruber
Podium:
1. Simone Biles
2. Aly Raisman
3. Larisa Iordache
Yet another floor title to Simone. A fall is literally the only mistake that could keep her from this one. Aly is back and better than ever, and a hit routine should clinch a medal for her. Larisa is great as always, but I think the other two have an edge on her. Afan either wins or doesn't medal, so she's off the podium. If Sae Miyakawa busts out the best she's got, she's the only other one who can challenge, methinks. But the other three are awesome. So it should be an enjoyable enough final even if it isn't as competitive as vault of bars.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Christina is going to LSU!!!!!
Christina Desiderio just posted on Instagram that she has committed to LSU!!!!
I just needed a post to fangirl about this because Christina is perfect and I love her gymnastics so much and LSU is my favorite of the big teams! I'm so happy this is the school she went with. As I've mentioned before, it always makes me incredibly happy when a US elite (especially one in national team status-- I still am so happy about Christina MAKING THE NATIONAL TEAM!) commits to an NCAA program other than UCLA or Florida. I can't wait to see what the choreographers there can give her! Yay Christina! Congratulations on going to LSU!!!
Also, I need to give a shout-out to the ever-lovely Sabrina Vega for also committing to not-UCLA-or-Florida. She will be attending Georgia, and I like their program even though a lot of people seem not to? Two not-UCLA-or-Florida commits in one week! And from two gymnasts I love! AND the US team is named tomorrow! This is a good week for me as a gymfan.
I just needed a post to fangirl about this because Christina is perfect and I love her gymnastics so much and LSU is my favorite of the big teams! I'm so happy this is the school she went with. As I've mentioned before, it always makes me incredibly happy when a US elite (especially one in national team status-- I still am so happy about Christina MAKING THE NATIONAL TEAM!) commits to an NCAA program other than UCLA or Florida. I can't wait to see what the choreographers there can give her! Yay Christina! Congratulations on going to LSU!!!
Also, I need to give a shout-out to the ever-lovely Sabrina Vega for also committing to not-UCLA-or-Florida. She will be attending Georgia, and I like their program even though a lot of people seem not to? Two not-UCLA-or-Florida commits in one week! And from two gymnasts I love! AND the US team is named tomorrow! This is a good week for me as a gymfan.
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