Gotta love the Seitz and the Mustafina dismount. That's one of those things you've just gotta love about Aliya, how she'll just pull out a randomly different routine every now and then to keep you on your toes. And as always, the classic Aliya swing.
Roxana Popa, 2014 Blume Memorial
Oh, how I miss pre-hey-your-ACL-is-torn-by-the-way Roxana. Her bars work especially was super exciting, and all the connections in this routine just make it so dynamic. There's just so much flight and movement between the bars in this routine! And the inbar Geinger in its pure form.
Rebecca Tunney, 2014 Europeans EF
Long live the Church+Bhardwaj! There's just so much flight and not a second of wasted time in her routine.
Lisa Katharina Hill, 2014 Stuttgart World Cup
Another routine with a Bhardwaj- unique transition work is a pretty sure-fire way to get on this list! I also love her long combination into the Gienger combining pirouettes, transitions, and different kinds of circling elements. There's just so much variety in this routine!
Brenna Dowell, 2014 P&Gs, Day 1
There is just so much in this routine! I'm a fan of everything but the kitchen sink bars routines, and I love how much variety and excitement she is able to pack in. All of the combinations are just amazing, and the Tweddle+Ezhova especially!
Amelia Hundley, 2015 Pan Ams EF
I just really love the way Meals works bars. I find there to be something Aliya-esque in her swing. She never seems to be fighting with the apparatus, and it almost seems as if time has slowed slightly while she performs.
Shang Chunsgong, 2015 Worlds TF
You've just gotta love a good ol' release fest. And it's especially nice with Shang's gorgeous eponymous skill. I also like that she's got some good ol' pretty Chinese one-armed pirouettes going. I was never a pirouette fest fan, but I do wish they hadn't disappeared so much. Shang's issue on bars is her swing can sometimes be a bit labored, but that wasn't a problem here.
Fan Yilin, 2015 Worlds EF
Such a difficult routine and so well done. Lots of movement between the bars, pirouettes, and a great inbar Gienger! Definitely my favorite of the reigning world champions.
Becky Downie, 2016 Europeans EF
So many fabulous releases and combinations! And with Becky's beautiful presentation to top it off. This is a monster of a routine. The Chow+Shang is so breathtaking, but then, so is everything else in this routine.
Jessica Lopez, 2016 Sao Paulo World Cup EF
So many inbar Giengers this quad! One thing I love about JLo's bars is how she works and turns through inverted grip. And her lovely open Jaeger! I also love her double front, there's just something so compact about it.
Ruby Harrold, 2015 Worlds EF
And my favorite UB routine to end! Both a Maloney+Bhardwaj and a Van Leeuwen+Zuchold. The Zuchold is just the ultimate of cool transitions (which, in case you can't tell by now, I'm a sucker for). Not pristine, but just plain cool.
USA Gymnastics announced the American Cup roster today. The women's field is Emily Little, Ellie Black, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold, Erika Fasana, Vanessa Ferrari, Jessica Lopez, and the American contingent Simone Biles and Mykayla Skinner.
So, on the roster:
I'm a bit surprised Bailie or Nia isn't on the roster. The major new seniors (and these are really major ones) generally get a nod. But then, World Cup rosters are also known for being quite fluid.
However, YAS MYKAYLA!!!! So excited about this, and I'm totally happy with her competing at the American Cup!
Ellie Black is also a major bonus on the list. Her vault and tumbling pass variations will be very interesting.
Jessica Lopez back for the first time this quad, always a nice touch. Imagine if Bailie did get swapped in- battle of the Lindsay Sterling floor routines!
Sad not to see Iordache here. It's always great to see her and Simone competing together, and she would have been a shoe-in for the World Cup title.
I've come to enjoy Erika Fasana (at least on floor, which is a good intro event to become a favorite of mine), so I'm glad to see her here.
I'm interested to see what the Trio will make of Frag's floor routine. It wasn't included in the NBC Worlds coverage. I think they'll like it, but it's always amusing to hear what they do finally have to say.
Oh, and Ruby's bars! YES, official broadcast quality!
Speaking of floor, I'm interested to see who all brings new routines for 2015. Fragapane, Harrold, Ferrari, and Lopez have all had their routines for two years, so I'll be interested to see if they stick with them or bring something fresh. I'd also like to see Emily Little with a new routine...
And, finally, what is Simone going to bust out?! Are we going to see the DLO 1/1? What of the other awesome upgrades we saw in her last USAG video? And maybe Mykayla too...
And my prediction:
1. Simone Biles (duh)
2. Mykayla Skinner
3. Vanessa Ferrari
4. Jessica Lopez
5. Ellie Black
6. Claudia Fragapane
7. Ruby Harrold
8. Erika Fasana
9. Emily Little
Spots 1-3 were easy, as were 7-9. 4-6 were harder to puzzle out, and I feel they probably won't be this order.
