USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials-San Jose, CA
It’s been a little harder to observe the gymnastics with the unbiased eye I’ve had for the other sports. I’ve watched these athletes grow up in the sport and I know more of the behind the scenes stories. I had longtime friends judging and coaching on the floor. I know whose jobs may be on the line if Team USA doesn’t perform well and the incredible amount of pressure they’re under. And so I watched this competition from a little different perspective. But, as this once in a lifetime adventure comes to an end here are a few thoughts and observations I hope you’ll enjoy.
- The TV and radio sports guys need to spend a few training days with the women gymnasts. They make fun of their sparkly leotards and repeatedly diss gymnastics as not being a sport. But these girls are tougher than nails; tougher than any football or hockey player I know of. And the skills they perform defy what the human body should be able to do. I’d like to see one of those talk jocks just walk from one end of the beam to the other! Anybody can throw a football or shoot a basket.
- I’ve commented on the athlete/coach interaction in most of the sports we’ve watched. Gymnastics coaches are by far the most verbal and interactive coaches of all the Trials we went to. And they can’t coach without big hand and body gestures!
- If you haven’t seen him yet, watch for Danell Leyva’s coach/step-dad at the Olympics. He’s almost more fun to watch than the routine! And it’s a genuine display of engagement and passion.
- Two athletes, Chris Brooks and Elizabeth Price finished in fourth place on their respective teams. Neither was named to the Olympic team, but rather named alternates. How unfair can that feel and how do they handle it?
- I find it interesting that grown men pro golfers need to have absolute silence to make a three foot putt. Yet 16 year old gymnasts can execute a series of flips on the four inch wide balance beam to the noise of hollering fans. Just sayin’!
- The girls trained Fri. night after the men’s competition and Sat. morning before they competed. How many other sports do you think train on competition day? And I don’t mean just a little shoot around!
- At the end of the team celebration outside, the gymnasts were put on a bus to go back to their hotel. The guys opened the escape hatch of the bus and got out on the roof to dance and wave to the crowd. They’re an energetic, crazy wonderful bunch of guys.
- While I miss the iconic “Perfect Ten” the newer scoring system is really fairer to the athletes. I know it’s not very spectator friendly. But it doesn’t limit the judges to an absolute score and it’s not affected by the athlete’s competition order. Before, scores were sometimes stingy early on in anticipation of later and possibly better gymnasts. Now any gymnast, whether first up or last, can get the highest score.
- It was awesome to see Mary Lou Retton taking part in the festivities, as she was responsible for the USA gymnastics explosion in 1984. Dang! I had her Wheaties box back at The Podium. Wish I would have brought it for an autograph!
- The announcement of the team and alternates was an emotional, energetic spectacular celebration! Olympic music, confetti, a spontaneous Team USA huddle on the floor and of course the hugest smiles you’ve ever seen. Had to have been the best ending to an Olympic Trials anywhere!
While the Trials and the trip are over, the blogging is not. I do have a few more stories, anecdotes, pictures and final thoughts I’d like to share. Read my next post to find out who MY newest Olympian is!
In Celebration of Sport!