Post by Admin on Oct 22, 2015 1:43:14 GMT
As the U.S. women first take the podium on Saturday for the qualifying rounds, here’s a look at the seven gymnasts and how they might factor.
At the world championships, each team has six gymnasts. Five compete in each event during the qualifying rounds with the top four scores counting; three compete and three scores count in each event for the team finals. Meanwhile, from qualifying, the top eight teams make the team final, and the top 24 all-arounders and top eight in each event move onto those finals, though only two per country can advance in each final.
Simone Biles
Age: 18
Hometown: Spring, Texas
How She Can Help: Considering she won 2014 world titles in balance beam and floor exercise while finishing second in vault — one year after medaling in all three events — while winning both all-around titles, the better question is where can’t she help?
Gabby Douglas
Age: 19
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
How She Can Help: The 2012 Olympic all-around champion showed some rust when she returned to competition this year, following a two-and-a-half year break. But she’s shown flashes of the gymnast who rose from unknown to Olympic champion in 2012. Strong in all four events, Douglas stands out on the uneven bars, typically the U.S. women’s weakest event.
Brenna Dowell
Age: 19
Hometown: Odessa, Missouri
How She Can Help: Long a top bridesmaid in the U.S. program, Dowell traveled to the 2013 world championships but didn’t make the cut to compete for Team USA and was the non-traveling alternate on the 2014 team. Should she make the cut in Glasgow, Dowell could help in floor exercise or uneven bars. The Oklahoma Sooner is taking a year off from college to continue her elite gymnastics career.
Madison Kocian
Age: 18
Hometown: Dallas
How She Can Help: An uneven bars star, Kocian won the U.S. title in the event this summer after finishing second in 2014. She represented Team USA in uneven bars during the team final at last year’s world championships.
MyKayla Skinner
Age: 18
Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona
How She Can Help: Undisputedly world class in two events, Skinner finished third in vault and fourth in floor exercise at last year’s world championships. Those routines will again be key in this year’s team competition. Yet with only two per country allowed in event finals, there could easily be a top-eight American who can’t compete for floor or vault gold.
Maggie Nichols
Age: 18
Hometown: Little Canada, Minnesota
How She Can Help: Though a rookie to the world stage, Nichols has shined at the U.S. championships. She moved up to second place in the all-around after finishing third last year (and missing worlds due to injury). While not dominant in any one event, Nichols was top-seven in balance beam, floor exercise and uneven bars in the last two U.S. championships.
Aly Raisman
Age: 21
Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts
How She Can Help: The rock of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team won the gold medal in floor exercise and the bronze medal in balance beam. She remains one of the strongest U.S. gymnasts in both events, particularly floor exercise, where she upset two-time defending world champion Biles to claim the national title earlier this summer.