Worlds Wishes

1. Simone to repeat as All Around and FX champion.

This will happen unless something catastrophic occurs in Simone's mental game. She is just honestly that much better than the competition and the routines that are being competed right now. 

2. Aliya to make the All Around medal podium.

This is definitely doable and to be honest I would be extremely happy with a complete repeat of this podium, or with Aliya and Kyla switched. I'd also be happy with Simone and then Aliya and Lari in either order! I just want Aliya to make the podium!

3. Madison to make EF on Beam or Bars and have solid contributions to Team Final.

 If she and Ashton hit their bars sets, they will make finals over Kyla. Her score if she hits full difficulty could definitely get her there both on bars and beam, but she will need a little help and will need to nail both routines in QF. I hope that whatever she competes on in TF (bars for sure and maybe beam) that she hits and helps the team! She's my favorite and I want so much success for her!

4. USA to repeat as Team gold medalists.

Again, this should not be hard to do. TF is the only event I won't fully see live and I'm okay with that because I know that barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should win.

5. Lari to win gold on Beam.

OMG I DIED FOR HER LAST YEAR. I want her to have beam gold, she deserves it!

6. Simone and MyKayla to go 1-2 in the Vault EF.

This could definitely happen, Simone will win gold for sure (assuming she hits) and MyKayla could definitely win silver if she vaults like she has been recently in PT and at Pan Ams.

7. Kyla to medal in the Beam EF.

I really hope that Kyla medals in the Beam final because I really don't think she will in Bars this year. Her beam routine is still one of the most beautiful and well executed of any in the world.

8. Aliya to make Bars, Beam, and Floor final and medal in all 3 (haha).

AHAH ... I can dream, can't I? I think that she should definitely make bars of course, and hopefully medal. Beam will be tricky, she will probably need some help. And I don't know about Floor, with what I saw from PT it looks like she only has three tumbling passes with some difficult turns thrown in that she wasn't executing perfectly. But we all know we never know what Aliya has up her sleeve until she actually goes out and does the routine.

Can't wait for the excitement to begin!

2014 World Championships Preview: Team USA

I have been slacking so much with this blog. I meant to post after Classics, then after Nationals, then after Pan Am Champs ... and nothing. I'm really going to try and be better about it! So I am SUPER EXCITED for Team USA competing in Nanning, China for the next two weeks at the World Championships!! I am most excited because I was right about everyone who made the team (with the exception of Maggie for Alyssa because she got injured), and my favorite gymnast Madison Kocian made the team!! I am also excited to see this team DOMINATE everyone else!

Meet Team USA

Simone Biles - World Champions

Simone's resume is quickly beginning to grow. She is last year's World AA Champion and also brought home a gold on Floor, a silver on Vault, and a bronze on Beam. Her most recent accomplishment was being crowned back-to-back National Champion at the P&Gs in August. If Simone hits, she will win the AA by a significant margin. I also expect her to win Vault and FX gold in the individual EFs. 

Kyla Ross - Gym Max

Kyla Ross is still as elegant and beautiful as ever on the gym floor, however, she has some injuries going on and definitely hasn't been at the top of her game. She has not upgraded on any event going in (unless she pulls her whip to double arabian on floor) so it should be interesting to see where she places in QFs. I think even though the US has 4 All Arounders she still should make the AA final, but stranger things have happened -- she will have to be totally on her game. With Kocian and Locklear in the Bars line up, there is a real chance of Kyla not making the bars final if both of the other two girls hit. I still think she will make the beam final, and has a good shot at a medal there.

MyKayla Skinner - Desert Lights

MyKayla has had a really good season, fresh off her AA and Vault title at the Pan Am Championships about a month ago. I'm really happy for her that she is starting to become more consistent with her big skills and get noticed more. If Kyla falters or falls on any event, MyKayla could definitely sneak into the AA. Actually, even if Kyla hits but MyKayla hits everything and gets decent E scores she could still make the All Around. I also expect/hope to see her in the Vault and Floor final, hoping her and Simone will go 1-2 in both of those finals.

Madison Kocian - WOGA

I have been waiting for this gymnast's return since she injured her ankle at Nationals last year and had to withdraw. I am so proud of her for everything she has gone through and I am so happy for her that she made the team. She took silver on bars at Classics and Nationals, and has a real shot to make the event finals on bars. She also has a gorgeous beam routine. She will be doing all around for QFs and I couldn't be more excited about that.

Alyssa Baumann - WOGA

I'm so happy that Alyssa was able to come back from her injury at Nationals to compete on the World team. She is a brilliant All Around gymnast, however, she will be off of the bars due to I'm assuming the injury to her elbow. She will compete all the other 3 events in qualifying. I especially love her Floor.

Ashton Locklear - Everest

Ashton is primarily a bars specialist. She did also warm up beam during PT today, however, she fell, and I think that she will just be used on bars. With that being said, she is awesome on the bars and has the potential to make the bars final and also win a medal. She was UB champion at Classics, Nationals, and Pan Am Champs. 

Maddie Desch (Alternate)

Maddie had a shaky competition at the Pan Am Champs last month, however, she was named the alternate to the World's team. She did warm up every event today, I'm sure just in case so that she'd be ready to go. I have to say if worse came to worse and someone got injured I think that she could fill in anywhere. 

Team USA's Line Up for Prelims (I think per PT today):

Vault: Kocian, Baumann, Ross, Skinner, Biles

Bars: Skinner, Biles, Ross, Kocian, Locklear

Beam: Skinner, Kocian, Baumann, Biles, Ross

Floor: Kocian, Baumann, Ross, Skinner, Biles

My guess for Team Final lineup:

Vault: Ross, Skinner, Biles

Bars: Ross, Kocian, Locklear

Beam: Kocian/Baumann, Biles, Ross

Floor: Ross, Skinner, Biles

Happy Worlds Week everyone!!