USA Gymnastic Olympic Trials-San Jose, CA-June 28-July 1
There are approximately 34 sports in the 2012 Olympics, and almost as many ways of making a team. There are sports where an athlete has to beat another athlete head to head, like taekwondo or wrestling. (But of course there are “judges” involved.”) In track and field an athlete has to beat a large field of competitors, but the winner is cut and dried, determined by seconds, minutes, inches, feet. But he or she must also have the “A standard” which is a specified time, distance or height required by International Track and Field for the Olympics. (For example, our third place decathlete did not meet the A standard, so will not be going to London, even though he technically made our Olympic team.) In the team sports, like water polo or basketball, coaches choose their athletes according to skill and the needs of the team. In gymnastics, an athlete’s Olympic dream is realized or denied by the athlete’s performance, the scores of the judges AND the decision of the selection committee.
It would be a gross understatement to say that the next four days would be a stressful and intense competition for the 16 men and 14 women. The gymnasts would compete in two full meets. Their scores, added to the scores they received at the National Championships three weeks prior, would determine their placing. For the men, the top 2 places would lock in a place on the team. For the women, only the top spot assured a trip to London. The rest of the team members (for a total of 5 and 2 alternates) would be selected by “committee.” Talk about not being in control of your own destiny!
As the competition ensued, some gymnasts were unable to overcome injuries, pressure, or “just time to be done” factor. Rebecca Bross, a World Championships medalist, was returning from a knee injury and had several falls, failing to even complete her bar routine on the last day. Defending Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin also struggled, missing on both of her bar routines and not looking like she was in competition shape. For the men, David Sender, attempting his comeback from injury, couldn’t seem to do anything right. Although he was a good sport and kept a smile and great attitude through it all.
On the other side of the coin, Alicia Sacramone returned from what should have been a career ending Achilles injury/surgery to compete with near perfection on vault and beam. Long time national team member Jonathan Horton also recovered from major injury to compete both days with an outstanding maturity and consistency. McKayla Maroney fought through every routine just a couple weeks after a bad floor crash and concussion. Relative newcomers to the Elite/International scene, OU’s Jake Dalton,16 year old Gabby Douglas and 19 year old Sam Mikulak, stole the show and impressed the crowd and judges with their confident and breathtaking routines.
So in what was a wonderful mix of the veteran gymnasts, sentimental favorites, comeback athletes, expected contenders and young whippersnappers, boy did we have ourselves a meet!
In the end, it was mostly the expected contenders and the young whippersnappers who
prevailed. Out of the 5 men/5women, only one is a returning Olympian, Jonathan Horton. Both our men’s and women’s teams have a strength and depth that should see them contending for the team gold medals. In the all-around and individual events, we have the potential for several medalists. I can’t wait to see how they do in London!
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As a former gym owner and long time coach, I’ve been to more than my share of gymnastics meets. Probably in the thousands. I’ve been to two Olympic Trials, three World Championships and worked the Olympics in Atlanta. So I went to San Jose with such a familiarity of the sport that I expected to be less “wowed” than I had been for the other events. But from the minute I walked into the HP Pavilion and saw a HUGE Chris Brooks vault to the raucous block party and celebration of the Olympic Team at the end, all I could say was WOW! Gymnastics is my love, my passion, my home. It was the perfect place to end this Olympic Trials Adventure.
I’ll have some more thoughts and observations on the meet in my next post. And then a wrap up of my travels and this most excellent adventure. Hope you’ll stay tuned! And thanks for sticking with me even though I’m a few days behind. There just haven’t been enough hours in the day! But boy have those hours been full of fun and excitement!
In Celebration of Sport!