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 Ever since winning the U.S. championships in August, Rebecca Bross has been feeling pain in her right shin. So U.S. national team coordinator Marta Karolyi decided not to take any chances with the defending world all-around silver medalist as the world championships in Rotterdam near. "She was checked out with X-rays and MRIs, and it is not broken," Karolyi said. "But she has some inflammation, so therefore, from the championships all the way to now she has [had] to keep down her numbers on tumbling and vault and we are protecting that leg. The final decision about her competing four events or only two will be done later on, because we still have at least 10 days until competition time." Seven gymnasts were named to the U.S. women's world team yesterday, and Karolyi will name the team alternate 24 hours prior to the start of the world championships, which begin Oct. 16. "[Waiting until] later to decide the alternate is better because you can observe some changes in the behavior and attitudes of the gymnasts," Karolyi said, adding that it is important to see how they perform under the pressure of podium training. Karolyi also said that a new FIG rule will allow teams to switch their alternates later in the competition. "After the qualifications are over, you are able to change your lineup and say, 'These six are my team and now this other person will be the alternate' if you feel, based on the first day of competition, that you would like to do a change or if you have some injuries [on] your team," she said. Comments (16)
Lora
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... when did they change the rule to allow alternates to be substituted after the competition started? |
LS in AK
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... Seems the US may be in trouble again. Should Bross go down with an injury and cannot compete floor in team finals, who will step in? Although I am not an expert, I am completely mystified by the fact that Chelsea Davis made this team and Kytra Hunter did not. Even with a leg injury, Bross can compete bars. Along with Sloan, Caquatto, and even Mattie Larson, the US seems to have enough good bar workers without Davis. And Davis, as far as I know, is not a great floor worker. We needed Hunter on this team instead - seemed to me she had earned her chance to perform on the world stage. Love her tumbling. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out - whether the US ends up in second again due to lack of depth in the alternate department. |
Sdk310
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... WOAH Is anyone seeing the incredible similarity to Nastia's situation around this time last cycle?! |
KH
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KH LS: The team still has Bridget Sloan who is really good on floor and sticks her tumbling passes. I think the team would be fine if Bross does not compete vault and floor. They really need her for bars and beam! |
Stacy
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... was it really necessary to wait so long to pick this team? Did Bross really need to go through two selection camps? I think they kept Hunter off the team because she really doesn't warrant high scores, despite her difficulty. She should go back and work on her execution and add another half twist on vault and she'll have a lot better chance. |
Lora
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... I don't understand the need to wait til the last minute either. Not only that but it seems quite a lot of money to buy plane tickets at the very last minute. I don't think you can buy plane tickets in the USA without names can you? And the USA has to pay a hefty fine of 1,000 Swiss Francs to the FIG for changing the roster after the deadline. I guess USA Gymnastics is made of money and has nothing better to spend it on, despite the fact that some of their athletes (eg 2010 tumbling national champion) don't see a penny of funding. |
Jennifer
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... Can't believe Macko made it. She has bad form and inconsistent. Larson and Raisemen could surprise in all-Around if Bross and Sloan don't do it. Sloan had form issue as well and the only reason she won worlds last year is no great was competeting as it was right after the olympics. It was Bross's to lose and a mistake cost her. Hunter, Cassie, or Jet should of been used instead of Macko!! |
Jay
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hmmmm I saw the preliminary roster when the FIG released it and it had, Bross, Caquatto, Hunter, Raisman, Sacramone, and Larson with Shapiro as the alternate, i'm not sure about everyone else, but I was very pleased with the original selection... i for one don't see how davis made this team either, could it have something to do with Zmeskal being her coach? If it came down to either Hunter or Davis, i'd choose Hunter, even tho her bars and beam are super, there are other athletes that would obviously be used, and all we would need is a bars and beam specialist. With Bross injured, she could fill that role and there would still be Larson, Caquatto and Raisman to do the all around. Sloan and Davis weren't even included and we had a great team... |
Nonamer
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... So glad they didn't go with Hunter. We didn't need another vaulter - we need bar workers, and Hunter is not one of those. Also, she has no artistry and would not fare well AT ALL with international judges. |
Juan Antonio Moreno
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... I remember how disturbed Dwight Normile was at the 2008 Olympics and specially at Martha Karolyi's vision of the way a team should be choosen, oriented and prepared towards big meets. Making the line-up at the very last minute puts a lot of preasure on american gymnasts and it also makes them look over-prepared and exhausted during important competitions. It looks like Martha is becoming tougher and tougher since the preparation american gymnasts have is overdone, it pushes coaches and gymnasts endure a physical and mental preasure cooker than can lead into injuries and mental axhaustion. . It almost looks like the selection process is more important than the final competition itself and too much attention is being put on the selection camps In 2008 the US lost Memmel and Samantha due to last minute injuries, not to mention Sacramone`s lost of drive and wrong mindset. This year, it seems they're loosing their strongest contender and the rest of the team seems to be quite young and unpolished. IMO, Caquato and Davis are not the best choices at this moment. It's amazing to realize how deep the american field is and yet Martha has difficulty choosing the right members onto the team. I agree with Dwight Normiles' comments about Martha's method which seems to be extreme and out dated. IMO success should come out of having healthy and happy gymnasts. |
Lindsey
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... Juan Antonio Moreno , The USA is not deep this year. The CGA girls are injured (as always, great coaching there MLT!!) and Hunter is basically the gymnast left over. Hong is injured. Peszek chose to do the college route. I will not be surprised if the US places third, or even worse, fourth. And I would HATE to see the selection camps if they do end up taking bronze or lower. Poor, poor girls. |
Juan Antonio Moreno
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... Lindsey, I agree with you. I'm think the USA may battling for third place this year against Romania and yes, I feel the girls are being pushed too far. There are so many injuries out there and that says it all since there is so much preasure on american gymnasts to suceed. It's a shame that most of them are injured but I believe in american gymnasts. They always have been so strong and during Nationals I felt there was depth out there even without superstars like Nastia and Shawn. I wish they all do well. Most of them are just little girls. :S |
Vicki
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... It's too bad Hunter did not get the opportunity. Right after nationals, it was obvious that out of Hunter, Raisman, and Sacramone, one had to be out due to the team's weakness on bars. I know the team was eager to welcome Alicia back, but she already had plenty of opportunities and will get more when she adds floor to her repertoire. It's really hard on the team when an athlete is able to do just two events. |
Lora
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... I wouldn't put Hunter on the team when they really could only use her on vault in team finals. Her floor is difficult but her execution is sloppy and she won't score well outside the USA. Marta already learned that lesson with Natasha Kelley in 2006. |
CoachLew
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... Chelsea was 5th AA at VISA and can therefore compete on any event if needed. I think she will do well, and I don't think she was chosen "just because Kim is her coach." |
098judge
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... I think Hunter should have been chosen because she was HEALTHY! Chelsea Davis had knee issues at Nationals and it was known she was going for surgery after and Bridget also came into selection camp injured. Now we have no alternate and Bridget trying to suck it up - God bless her. Atleast with Hunter we would still have an alternate. Shame on the selection committee for taking 2 already injured athletes ALONG WITH BROSS who wasn't 100%, what were they thinking. Besides the fact usually one goes down between camp and actual competition. Which of course has now happened with Chelsea. I love Chelsea but taking her and Bridget was a mistake. They should have taken Hunter + 1 of them. A perhaps somewhat imperfect athlete is better than no athlete at all. Good Luck Team USA. You have worked hard and stay healthy. Jennifer's comments about Macko are just ridiculous at best. Jet and Cassie have been injured consistently for the last 2 years and are still broken. If I remember Cassie going down on beam at Classics and Jet's was a hot mess. The fact is all these athletes including Bross, Raisman, Asac and Larson have fallen. Bross lost the title last year at Worlds, Asac - do I need to say Beijing, Raisman at Classics on vault. Caquatto has shown consistency NOW when it counts, she deserves the spot. If your Jet or Cassie had shown the same they would be on the Team now wouldn't they. And as I said Hunter should have been on but not it place of Macko. |
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