2016 Olympic Trails, Night 2: The fix is in. LIVE Blogging

Well you didn’t expect fair did you? I’m done. This is just too much cheating, more than usual for me.

2016 Rio Women’s Olympic Team:

Simone Biles Aly Raisman Gabby Douglas Laurie Hernandez Madison Kocian

Alternates: Skinner, Smith, Locklear.

You knew when Tim was saying there was no way Gabby wasn’t on the team the fix was in.

 

 

There is NO justification for taking Gabby on this team. She is top 6 on only one event, bars and she’s third. Even being pressured to take her it makes NO SENSE. 

Now we wait. I bet she still takes Gabby but the scores say she shouldn’t. See you in 12 minutes

 

 

 

Rotation 4:

Gabby messy landings on floor and did not connect some things but it’s already been decided so why even pretend to be mad when it never mattered. 14.550

So we need Gabby for bars but we WON’T TAKE 2 BAR SPECIALISTS?????????

Maggie nailed the shit out of that beam routine. Very impressive. Fuck you Marta and your 14.900 but she still goes ahead of Gabby

Another great beam routine this time for Ragan. Everyone nails their routines but gets to stay home but Gabby.lol Sigh 15.300 and ahead of Maggie and Gabby.

Gabby saw the camera and then called Ashton out for a hug. lol

Simone off beam. OOB Aly. These poor girls must be so tired.

 

 

 

Rotation 3:

So with Gabby making mistakes but staying on and Kocian being given a lock by Tim this team so far seems to be Biles, Raisman, Hernandez, Douglas Kocian which means by AA Aly and a free pass for Gabby.

Laurie stayed on bars but took something out. So Gabby might not hit so we make everyone else downgrade?

Gabby fell on beam but gabby is allowed to make mistakes and no one else is. I can’t do anything but laugh at the audacity of Marta and her lies. Still gets a 14.100 OMG

Lets talk about how Laurie had to lower her start value on bars and how it helps Gabby and only Gabby.

Simone nailed bars. Honestly this idea she isn’t good at bars is ridiculous.

Ashton is getting ROYALLY SCREWED HERE. I am not a fan I always said Kocian deserved it esp considering how she hasn’t messed up in 2 years on bars but how does Kocian’s score all of a sudden become better when Ashton hasn’t messed up once either?

Aly nailed the shit out of that beam. Wooo

 

~~~~~~~~

Rotation 2:

I’m bored. You all know what is going on so you don’t need me to so I’ll just describe drama and bitch a little.

Strategy for Aly is to stay on.lol 14.300

Gabby on bars: I like her leotard tonight.- Missed a connection according to Tim but she stayed on and now Tim talks how she has clinched. 15.250. Make a mistake and get a higher score. ONLY IN MERICA

So basically only Gabby can make mistakes, miss handstand and connections and still get a huge score.

Mags got swag nailed the DTY. Tim says she needed the Amanar, You mean the Amanar Marta told her not to compete?

I guess we are supposed to be happy that they mentioned Meals, Gowey, Desiderio, Dowell and Schild  but sorry girls NO TV for you.

Simone small hop on her Amanar but MUCH better than yesterday.

Kocian hot her bars and I didn’t notice usual feet issues but i didn’t really pay attention either. Nailed landing.  15.900 Woga scoring. Poor Kutcher

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~

Rotation 1:

Kocian 14.00 on vault

Aly Amanar- 2 the side OOB- 15.200

Simone- Floor OOB on the Biles 15.550

Skinner- Chang, Near nailed. 15.450

Laurie- floor OOB 14.700

gabby0 Piked DTY, Small step- 15.00

Maggie- stiff legged first pass. Right on after oh and Marta sitting in the background not even watching her. 14.750

Ragan did a nice floor routine. 14.700

 

 

 

 

 

Keep hearing that no matter how Gabby performs Marta plans on taking her. Not sure we we even have a competition if that is true.

Mag 7 article. Moceanu and her we paved the way.lol

 

LIVE scoring

750 Responses to “2016 Olympic Trails, Night 2: The fix is in. LIVE Blogging”

  1. JAS4 Says:

    What if Marta takes her regardless then her drama goes way over the top in Rio that could be way distracting for the team.

  2. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Warm ups looked good. Can’t wait to see what happens.

  3. Uglyfatkid Says:

    If Marta takes her and she has another night like last night, I’ll be so damn pissed. So many people here do not want her to go. I was shocked talking to people…I thought people were still buying the gabby BS.

    I’ll send all the bad juju I can to her during beam again. LOL.

  4. Ilanchik20 Says:

    I think if Gabby does reasonably okay, Martawill take her. If she falls again or looks shaky on bars, she may reconsider.

  5. Cupquaked Says:

    Relatively off topic but do the girls pick their own leos for this competition and just coordinate so they’re always twinning with someone? Or are they assigned?

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      They pick. In 2000 half the girls had blue and half red and they switched night 2. In 96 I think they all had the same.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        They pick but has to be Underarmour. So anything from this quad only.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        So Kittia has posted at least 2 cheering tweets for Gabby in the last 5 minutes. That’s just weird.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        She wants an Olympian’s name attached to her gym and she already sold Nia out for this so why quit now?

  6. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Gabby didn’t have her hand over her heart again. Seriously, bugs the hell out of me.

    I got pics this time, but don’t know how to post them. Lol.

  7. H Says:

    This will be interesting and hopefully fun:-)

  8. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Looks like Maddison is vaulting again.

  9. Akshay Says:

    Does Chow not have anyone at Trials?

    Like most here, I am no fan of Gabby’s gymnastics or the drama, but that was one silver lining for me in Gabby’s 2012 win… I was happy for Chow.

  10. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Biles OOB. Yikes. I hope the pressure/pace isn’t starting to get to her. Great floor – stuck her 3rd pass.

    • Tortuga Says:

      Simone hasn’t been doing the stag out of her Biles. Hope she’s just playing it safe for now. Didn’t realize her and Laurie were only one point apart. But I think lauries over scoring is to put heat on Simone but we all know those scores won’t happen in Rio. Stinks cause I like Laurie too.

  11. Akshay Says:

    Great first vault by Skinner. Wow.

  12. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Skinner does a great Cheng, close to a stick. Still not a great block, one arm comes off quickly, but Tim is cooing over her like she’s the second coming.

  13. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Laurie’s first pass, double lay with legs pretty far apart. OOB on 3rd pass. Looks nervous. Hop back on last pass but stays in bounds.

  14. Akshay Says:

    Laurie also goes OOB on FX. I will admit, I enjoy her music.

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      I hate all the music.lol

    • Uglyfatkid Says:

      I wasn’t a fan of Laurie’s hyped up dance before I saw her live. However, she does have something “extra” once you see her in person. Still not as fantastic as Creepy Uncle Al and Tim make it, but it’s still cool to watch live.

  15. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    I wouldn’t want to play poker with Laurie’s mom. She keeps a poker face every time the camera pans to her for a reaction shot.

  16. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Have to confess, I’m watching all the interaction between Gabby and her coach like a hawk now…

  17. Gymbee Says:

    Who’s the woman sitting next to Martha who looks like a clone of her?

    Also: OMG Skinner!

    How was Aly’s vault? Good score, how did it look?

  18. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Beautful DTY for Gabby. Ginger Coach has a creepy smile on his face as they walk back together and he makes her giggle like a schoolgirl and hide her face. Kidding not. Ew.

  19. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    At least they’re showing Maggie’s floor. First pass landing looked painful but she held it with a little flying up a bit. Stuck landings on next 2 passes. Great routine and huge smile from her at the end. Go Maggie!

  20. Akshay Says:

    IMO, Skinner (for Trials scoring) seems to have gotten a tad low-balled on her Cheng.

  21. gymnast41 Says:

    Thank God they showed maggie’s floor. So great for her 🙂

  22. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Terin Humphrey looks like a vampire. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

  23. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Haha Meals beat Gabby on vault – 15.1

  24. gymnast41 Says:

    I’m so confused at maggie’s score compared to laurie’s but ok

  25. Jessica Says:

    OMG, I hate Ragan Smith’s floor exercise. I do not find it playful or fun. Someone here once said that KZB was reliving her career by pushing her awful 1990s choro on her students. I have to agree. It’s like watching a regurgitated version of Kim’s 92 fx. So awful.

    • Uglyfatkid Says:

      Couldn’t agree more. I was hoping it would grow on me in person, but it has made me hate it even more. It’s like a “Jr” routine with hard tumbling. HATE IT.

    • Lithi Says:

      It was bad enough Phoebe Mills assaulted our ears and good taste with her FX music in 1988–also had Addams Family theme in it. Ugh.

    • Mim Says:

      I hate Ragan’s floor music but I appreciate the choreography that she does with it.

  26. Melanie Says:

    All the scores tonight seem more conservative compared to night one. Laurie dropped six tenths on floor…wonder if they realized they overdid it and are reeling things back in.

  27. gymnast41 Says:

    where is skinner on this building the team thing???

  28. gymnast41 Says:

    I just totally feel for maggie at this moment…I don’t think I can deal with her disappointment, she literally looks just as good as SCAM :(….here’s to last hopes for her on the “team” at the moment. She needed that amanar to really shake things up

  29. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

  30. Guest Says:

    Maybe GD was told that she can still make in the team by not making huge fall despite her lost of connections or bad forms in day 2. It is all rigged.

    • gymnast41 Says:

      Marta probably told her “we would only need you on vault and bars for the team hit and you’re going”. She just needs to stay on the beam and prance within the bounds on floor.

  31. H Says:

    do you think they will only name some of the team members to buy them some time for desiding the final spot?

  32. gymnast41 Says:

    If skinner doesn’t make this team after she FELL. ONE. MORE. TIME. AGAIN. I. SWEAR.

  33. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Yay! My evil juju worked!!! Gabby fell! LOL!

  34. Akshay Says:

    Interviewing Natalie Hawkins now…

  35. Bess Says:

    I just don’t get it…they keep talking like gabby is only going for bars…why the heck don’t they take Kocian AND Locklear. And Gabby had an injury?!?!

  36. the dude Says:

    Who the fuck is that creepy lady behind Gabby when she went to the water cooler???

  37. Case Says:

    You know….somehow this whole thing is about Gabby and her Mom and her coach and everything else. How the hell are we not focused on the greatest gymnast possibly ever to grace America – Simone.

    • Akshay Says:

      You have a point. Right now, everyone is talking about Gabby; for a second, I almost forgot about Simone!

      • H Says:

        probably good for Simone in a way – to get some space away from the pressure/attention

  38. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    aaargh AT&T lameternet went out RIGHT before GD went on beam. When did she fall? Dangnabbit! Anyone? Since NBC isn’t allowing any of the routines to be seen anywhere else. Grr.

  39. Case Says:

    Beautiful bars Ashton. I feel for you, kid.

  40. Mim Says:

    Where are we up to??? I dashed home early on my lunch break to catch the competition.

    I just caught Ashton’s bars and I was nearly crying because she is so ridiculously beautiful.

    TEAM FREAKING SKINNER RIGHT NOW. I hear she’s SMASHING IT which makes me so excited. Please Martha please please please take her instead of GD.

    Simone looks stressed after her bars.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      Gabby fell on beam and missed a bars connection, that’s all you need to know lol.

      • Mim Says:

        Omg I can’t believe I missed that. Please let Martha NOT do what she did with Carly Patterson….

  41. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Yesss Aly! Great beam. I love her so.

    • Gymbee Says:

      Me too! I’m always nervous for Aly as she’s my favourite.
      I remember her brother said in an interview “I’m never nervous for beam, she never falls”.

  42. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Aly with a beautiful beam! Hit everything!

  43. Mim Says:

    Skinner is 0.9 in front of Gabby. All fingers and toes crossed for her.

  44. Lithi Says:

    I realize Simone is practically a lock for Rio AA gold but the hype machine bothers me to no end. Dagget referred to the Rio AA as her coronation–umm.

    • Mim Says:

      It makes me fearful of jinxing her. We don’t want McKayla 2012 vault finals 2.0!

      • Lithi Says:

        I do agree about the jinxing. This makes me think of gymnasts who were hyped to take gold in past Olympics but fell spectacularly short. Kristie Phillips was anointed Mary Lou Retton’s successor in 1986–she didn’t make the 1988 Olympic team. Kim Zmeskal was Barcelona’s sweetheart before she even got there–fell off the beam right out of the gate.

    • Akshay Says:

      I agree it’s a tad off putting, especially since the Tim hype machine (Shawn, Jordyn, and McKayla in VT EF) always seems to underperform just a bit… but I like Simone, so I don’t mind that much.

      Plus, to borrow one of GTT’s old posts… the more we hear about Simone, the less we hear about… well, you all know. 🙂

      • Lithi Says:

        I found myself saying “Shut up, Tim.” a few times. I have the TV volume down to about 3.

  45. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Maddison’s fall on beam even things up a bit. I hope Ash kills it on beam tonight.

  46. JAS4 Says:

    NBC trio keeps saying Gabby would only be taken for bars now I wouldn’t be surprised if Kocian/Ashton are out now and Gabby is the UB specialist to make an excuse to keep her on the team.

    • Mim Says:

      Can we swear here? Because F that s#*! so much if that’s what they do.

      • JAS4 Says:

        Tim is already saying she should pack her bags to Rio. Special treatment again. Tim keeps saying she delivered on UB and that’s where she can help the team and blah blah blah

      • Mim Says:

        She’s realistically not even top 3 on bars.. when you have Ashton, Madison, Simone and Laurie.

    • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

      You can definitely feel the fix is in – Tim was bashing her all Friday night and halfway through tonight. Then, once she fell, all of a sudden – he’s saying all she has to do is land on her feet in FX to be in the Olympics? I want to punch Tim Daggett right in his man boobs.

    • Tortuga Says:

      That still leaves one more member. Simone, aly, Laurie, Gabby and who??

  47. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Just watch mes Marta after Gabby’s floor. There was a lot of talking with her, the Florida lady, the Marta look a like, the new Nastia girl (ex gymnast I can’t remember her name), and the guy who isn’t Steve Penny.

    There were sheets referenced and held up, arm waving, and a LOT of discussion. This didn’t look like a “lock” situation to me. She may still end up on this team, but from what I just saw…there was for sure a debate going on.

  48. Cupquaked Says:

    MAGGIE BEAT GABBY. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

  49. JAS4 Says:

    It’s so sad that Maggie will get screwed for this mess. She was continued to improve since Nationals and I think she could be 2015 shape by Rio but she won’t be given the chance. Marta and company will make her an alternate at best.

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      Maggie scored better OVER SEAS than at any meet in the US this year. Marta low balled her

    • Mim Says:

      If Gabby gets benefit of the doubt to improve before August, so should bloody Maggie and Mykayka. Either take it into account for everyone, or select based on NOW. I can’t comprehend how some people do not find this unfair at all.

  50. Mim Says:

    Great job for Ragan on beam. Good girl, the next quad is your oyster.

  51. H Says:

    I hope Skinner glows on floor!

  52. gymnast41 Says:

    Ragan ahead of maggie AND gabby

  53. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Tim: it’s pretty fun to make your second Olympic team!

    Nastia: I can imagine, but i don’t know what that feels like.

    baaahaaahaaaa!!

  54. tulip Says:

    Just got back from 10 days of track and field trials. Today a 16 year old high school student knocked out a former medalist. The athletes have to get the top 3 in trials or they don’t go. No marketing, past performance, medal history, who their coach is…. just top 3 or you don’t go

    Anyone know a good stream? On west coast and coverage doesn’t begin for a few hours and I can’t wait. .

    • Gymbee Says:

      How cool! Lucky you. My friend competed in the women’s hammer throw. She didn’t make it though 😦

  55. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Marta and gang talking through Maddison’s floor. They were talking non stop after Ashton’s beam.

  56. gymnast41 Says:

    SIMONE FREAKING FELL AND MADISON WHY ARE THEY MAKING IT EASIER TO PUT GABBY ON THIS TEAM

  57. Mim Says:

    Damn they should have let Simone stay home and rest. Poor girl is exhausted.

  58. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Literally crying, Simone off beam. Somehow I feel all the drama is getting to her.Dang it Dang it.

    • Mim Says:

      I imagine the trials are WAY more pressure than the actual Olympics. Gabby’s beam doesn’t even come into account does it, when you have Simone, Aly, Laurie and even Skinner and Ragan now.

    • Case Says:

      Aly and Gabby act like strangers. Lol.

  59. Lithi Says:

    Tons of falls tonight. Holy Moses.

  60. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    And Aly OOB on first FX pass – notice, she is NOT wearing the shoes tonight.

  61. Mim Says:

    Madison outscored Gabby on floor. TAKE NOTE MARTHA.

  62. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Maggie is 3rd on beam currently with Brenna and Laurie left to go.

  63. JAS4 Says:

    NBC trio is already like sorry MyKayla doesn’t matter how well you did you’re not going to be more than an alternate

  64. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Marta and gang = MUCHO talking after Skinner’s floor.

  65. gymnast41 Says:

    How much does Laurie need to tie simone lol

  66. Lithi Says:

    The girls look exhausted now, imagine how the team will feel come Rio.

  67. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Aly is crying already. I just love this girl!

  68. Case Says:

    Taryn with a hair flip on her way to selection committee.

  69. Ilanchik20 Says:

    How the F did Laurie get 15.7 on beam? Ridiculous.

    • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

      Love how they had her go last, after everyone else had finished competing. Good for her for nailing her routine – but so obvs they want her on this team. Intl. judges will even things out. Still, super proud of her for keeping her cool and performing so well as such a new senior. She’s got a spark.

  70. Mim Says:

    Omg final standings

    1. Simone 123.25
    2. Laurie 121.15
    3. Aly 119.75
    4. Mykayla 118.6
    5. Ragan 117.75
    6. Maggie 117.6
    7. Gabby 117.45
    8. Kocian 117.05

  71. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Brenna tied Simone for 4th on bars. Brenna? Brenna who? Because they showed her not once.

  72. H Says:

    how much tenths does gabby give us on ub, and how much does Skinner gives us on vault?

  73. KG Says:

    Guys… I’m dying here. I mean she just doesnt deserve to go AT ALL.

  74. JAS4 Says:

    Even my husband who knows very little about gymnastics is ranting on facebook about the Gabby special treatment lol

  75. Mim Says:

    I am anticipating some angry yelling and stomping here in about 10 mins 😦 Sorry neighbours!

    • tulip Says:

      You and me both. If she gets left home do you think her twitter will blow up with ‘everyone has to learn to deal with disappointment ‘? Please!!

  76. KG Says:

    And i have never ever been a skinner fan. But the girl brought it.

  77. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Should be Biles, Raisman, Hernandez, Skinner and Kocian with alts Nichols, Douglas and Smith. But that’s logical.

  78. JAS4 Says:

    Basically the moms interview is giving away the team

  79. Mim Says:

    THREE MINUTES.

  80. gymnast41 Says:

    ……gee thanks nbc I wonder who the team will be???!

  81. Lithi Says:

    That countdown clock on NBC until the team is named…

  82. Mim Says:

    I HAVE NO SOUND omgggg.

  83. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    God I hate how the three NBC clowns are rationalizing and explaining away the ludicrous choice to take GD. It’s disgusting, and you can see it in Nastia’s eyes as she lies and lies and lies.

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      Yep

    • tulip Says:

      Are they talking about anyone else?

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        Yes saying what a great job Skinner did and that they will have to do a lot of explaining if they don’t take her, and then how devastated they feel for Maggie who seemed like a lock before her injury. But it was mostly all GD, explaining and rationalizing and looking like deer in the headlights because their excuses sounded lame and they knew it. Commercial break now.

  84. gymnast41 Says:

    BUT WHAT IF THERE’S A SURPRISE AND SHE ISN’T NAMED AFTER SIMONE GUYS

  85. Akshay Says:

    They’re still talking…

  86. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    The delay is the Marta clone holding Steve Penny down while Marta tortures him into agreeing that GD isn’t going.

  87. Uglyfatkid Says:

    Penny just walked out with a paper.

  88. Mim Says:

    PANIC ATTACKS all around here.

  89. Mim Says:

    There’s a freaking commercial break. Maybe the team was NOT as clear cut as everyone claimed. Cmon Martha.

  90. Lithi Says:

    UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

  91. JAS4 Says:

    The way Tim and Nastia keep saying the commitee is justified in putting Gabby on the team makes me fairly certain that they were told beforehand that even if Gabby falls a million times she is on this team so make it sound good to the four year fans

  92. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    It’s Gabby. Dammit

  93. Lithi Says:

    GABBY WAS CHOSEN.

  94. Akshay Says:

    *THROWS COMPUTER AT THE WALL*

    You have GOT to be kidding me.

  95. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Alternates Skinner Smith and Locklear

  96. Mim Says:

    FML EVER SO EFFING MUCH

  97. gymnast41 Says:

    twitter ruined it for me before the team was even announced. WTF

  98. Akshay Says:

    My ‘four year fan’ relatives, when Gabby was picked:

    “If it just came down to bars, why not pick Locklear instead of Douglas?”

    “How the heck was Douglas picked? Skinner got robbed.”

  99. Case Says:

    USAG is a crock of shit. Skinner should sue. Gabby better work a little harder the next month so she’s not a liability for Team USA.

  100. tennisgrl456 Says:

    Maggie isn’t even an alternate? Fuck the selection committee.

  101. Lithi Says:

    Poor Maggie. FUCK THIS SHIT FUCK THIS SHIT FUCK THIS SHIT FUCK THIS SHIT.

  102. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    This blows so freaking hard.

  103. Mim Says:

    I am HEARTBROKEN for Maggie and Mykayla.

  104. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Fatkid, what are fans on site saying?

    • Mim Says:

      Are people watching in person happy?? Raging mad??

    • Uglyfatkid Says:

      Sorry for the delay in response. My wife and I were so pissed we left after they showed the team and drove right to dinner. However, the few people that I heard on the way out weren’t happy. That could have been because they were here for someone specific though) Maggie’s teammates/family/friends for example) and not upset with it just being Gabby.

      I was pissed until we got to the restaurant over 45 mins later. I’m not back at the hotel and have calmed down, but am still upset that the other girls who deserve to be on the team got overshadowed by someone that they chose to promote all year. That is the only reason she is on the team. They wanted to save face. They (USA Gym and NBC) promoted the hell out of Gabby. There is no way they could have left her off without it being a big hubbub. It would be the equivalent of leaving Sam or Simone home now. They built her up so much that now they are left with it.

      I can’t believe this. Poor Ashton, Skinner, Maggie, and EVERYONE ELSE. THEY ALL DESERVED MORE THAN THIS!!!!!

  105. Katie Says:

    All I can think of is how these effing “ADULTS” can look Maggie in the eye after this…. Shameful. They screwed that poor girl so badly I can’t understand how they will sleep tonight. Gabby is unwatchable to me after this- I can normally watch no matter how unfair it is, but I don’t think I can stomach this years Olympics.

  106. Mim Says:

    I stupidly hoped that they would actually say SCREW THE MONEY AND PUBLICITY and pick BY THE SCORES.

  107. H Says:

    wow
    I wonder if they have said the team may alter using camps… Gabby telling in her interview that she promise to work really har the next 10 days …

  108. gymnast41 Says:

    maggie looked horribly sad and it broke my heart.

    What’s making me feel better is everyone ALL over social media saying how gabby didn’t deserve to be on the team

  109. JAS4 Says:

    Ugh sickening! Maggie not even an alternate! Skinner was screwed big time! Now watch them make sure Gabby gets that second AA spot too. They were going to pick this team no matter what! I think last year Maggie would have been on the team but when she got injured tey replaced her with Laurie. Gabby is getting favoritism that even Nastia didn’t get! Gabby making this team over others like Skinner, Nichols, and Smith is really discredits USAG. I think Maggie should have at least been an alternate.

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      Aly is out of AA as it is. All otehr 4 gymnasts are better than her and one is a specialist.

    • JK Says:

      I think the fact that Gabby was the 2nd gymnast announced to the team is very telling that she’s going to get that 2nd AA spot. This really blows. I really wish Aly could get a chance to do AA in QF… dammit, even KOCIAN – the girl who does a freakin’ FTY – deserves that that AA spot over Gabby.

    • gymmom2 Says:

      When they showed shots of Bela hugging Regan and Kim, I knew she was going to be one of the aternates. Probably as much a reward for Kim as anything else. But up until that moment, I didn’t think she was on the list. Which made me start thinking who does that mean won’t be on the list – had to be Nichols. If Kocian breaks at camp – they move in Locklear – If Gabby gets “injured”, do they move in Locklear or someone else? IF they both break – Locklear and SKinner? Still have to think Marta wants 3 doing AA to insure she gets 2 in.
      They would be idiots to put Gabby in the AA spot, but then she didn’t belong on this team anyway. They want the hype of her being defending champion – although she hasn’t won a Worlds AA since then, – and while the bucks aren’t the same because the hype is less – really Olympics is just Worlds done every 4 years with all the other sports.

      No way she even makes finals unless they only let 2 people go from the US and she is one of them – in fact I don’t see her having a spot at medalling in anything. Although I don’t see them kicking her off the team even if they said it was conditional. I foresee that injury from which her mom said she was recovering (did that make anyone else say “what?”) cropping back up. Although when they did that interview with mom in the stands “what would you tell the committee to make the case for taking Gabby?” instead of showing us routines, I knew for sure the fix was in. And her answer – Don’t judge her on what she did at trials, judge her on what she has done in the past. — maybe had Nastia tried that one in 2012 she could have been named as an alternate.

      That interview literally made me ill – I couldn’t watch it.

  110. H Says:

    repeat: I think they said that the team might alter during camp (one got a spot with contention)… thats why Gabby during interview states that she will now work really hard (for ten days)

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      If that’s true it makes it worse.

    • tulip Says:

      Are you repeating what they are saying or speculating? That would be great if they put an asterisk on her

    • H Says:

      I am repeating, only because I thought my first comment was lost. But it for me makes sense otherwise gabby would talked like she did. and they (selection committee) needed to say something to the other girls to justify their decision

  111. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    What’s ironic is that by taking Locklear as an alternate, they pretty much invalidate their reason for taking Gabby. If they’re ONLY taking her for bars, wouldn’t they take Locklear instead? Idiotic. Not even pretending it’s fair.

  112. Mim Says:

    Someone on twitter said that Maggie may have tweaked something on one of her landings in floor and maybe that’s why they took so long. I have to believe someone in that room advocated for the girls that deserved to be on that team instead of Gabby who literally contributes nothing more to that team than the others except four years ago she won in London.

  113. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    I wanted to vomit when Gabby bounded up to MyKayla and Ashton after the announcement and wanted to hug them. Has she absolutely no awareness of how awful this is for them? MyKayla beat her by a shit ton. She got so royally screwed and everyone knows it. During her interview with creepy Andrea Joyce, Gabby is all, ” I’m going to work so hard now!” while Aly stood by her, virtually ignored, and kept a sickly smile pasted on her face.

    Is it wrong I hope she bombs at any point in the next few months?

  114. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    UFK and Melanie are our insiders on the scene – dying to hear how people reacted in person to GD being chosen. Devastated for Maggie being tossed out like yesterday’s Kleenex and super pissed for MyKayla. I hope she Hulk smashes someone.

  115. gymnast41 Says:

    Ashton is literally crying in an interview, are you serious. I don’t even want to see maggie’s interview. I heard she tweaked something on a full-in too :(. Basically, marta’s favorite Ragan got an alternate spot because she can contribute ala sarah finnegan, mykayla vault and floor, and ashton bars. If maggie beat mykayla and had an amanar maybe she would’ve gotten that alternate spot. Marta definitely wasn’t changing that team. All I’ve got to say is, I never thought I would get emotional for this outcome alternates wise..

  116. dianajc99 Says:

    Again NBC airs it live after it happens

  117. dianajc99 Says:

    Ha I’ve been in San Jose all day. on my home computer 1230 missed tweets.

  118. dianajc99 Says:

    Now do we make bets on who breaks first during Death Camp ’16

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      Marta to IG said it was Gabby vs. Ashton for the 5th spot.

      This is so illogical.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        She has to say that because if she says it came down to Skinner and Gabby , Skinner owned Gabby on every event but one. By saying it’s Ashton she can justify Gabby because she does all 4 events even if she falls.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        And the pre-Olympic camp is 9 days instead of the usual 7 lol.

      • H Says:

        I hope someone runs the number on that, it seems so strange, Ashton vs Gabby

      • gymnast41 Says:

        what GTT said, because people who take trials seriously would have a fit if it all came down to her and skinner, and even though ashton scored so much higher on bars, it really all came down to gabby being able to do all 4

  119. dianajc99 Says:

    Ha my mother is convinced Reagan is 12..says she trying to pull a china.

  120. dianajc99 Says:

    is Maggie committed anywhere?

  121. JAS4 Says:

    Just reading Twitter that Marta apparently said that Maggie wasn’t even in contention because she didn’t have her Amanar….the one Marta told her not to compete! I highly doubt it was ever between Gabby and Ashton! Marta just doesn’t want to admit that Gabby was going no matter what and since Ashton messed up too she is trying to make it look like that’s the reasoning. They screwed Skinner and Maggie. Maggie and Skinner have both continued to improve but Gabby has declined and yet they take her anyways. It’s not like it was a fluke she has continued to decline through out the year. Maybe they told Gabby that she could be replaced if she doesn’t shape up as motivation but we all know that won’t happen no even if she doesn’t. She will probably still compete AA or at the most would just be relegated to UB due to “injury” or something like that.

  122. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    From tumblr, fwiw:

    “Apparently the girls were told that one of the spots came after much contention and is dependent on improved performance at camp. Three guesses who that is & the first two don’t count… so it could be Mykayla after all. Also, word is that Maggie injured herself or re-aggravated her injury on floor. Supposedly that’s why the selection committee took so long and she was not even named as alternate.”

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      so basically Marta makes up lies, ADMITS she picked Gabby because of her name and nothing changes. FUCK THAT. I’m going to bed. I am rooting for China.

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        I am too, GTT. Actually hoping GD continues to f*ck up and costs US the gold and then maybe, just maybe, this disgusting and immoral system will change.

      • Guest Says:

        In this time I first have to agree that the US gym selection system is as rigged as some countries like China/Russia. Good job Martha.

    • H Says:

      The “good ” thing, if it happens to be true the Ashton vs Locklear is that it makes it easier for Martha to get Aly doing AA, if Gabby only goes up ub in TF

    • G Says:

      God people in that arena loved Gabby for some reason. The people behind me, next to me…they cheering for her was unreal. I don’t get it. I’m so pissed, I went with my mom who was ambivalent about Gabby coming in but is now just as mad as the rest of us. Anyone in their right mind could see that this is such bs

      • Uglyfatkid Says:

        There were people who loved her by me, but that was mostly little girls. When I talked with adults, they all were amazed by Gabby’s recent attitude and decline in gymnastics, and didn’t think she would be on the team. I talked to at least 5 people.

        But I agree, as a whole, there were mostly young girls with parents who didn’t follow the sport who sported Gabby. Anyone that knew gymnastics wanted her to go away. Even those smart enough to see what was going on knew tonight that her scores didn’t warrant a team member spot.

  123. dianajc99 Says:

    does anybody know the schedule now-strait to camp death or home then camp?

  124. dianajc99 Says:

    ha on Kamerin Moore’s twitter she is calling out USA gym’s BS

    • JAS4 Says:

      She’s taking a page from Geddert’s book on calling out USAG lol! But seriously I wonder if the rumor about Maggie’s knee was just thrown out to make an excuse for not even giving her an alternate position.

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        I don’t see how Maggie could have tweaked her injury on FX in the first rotation (4th place) and then gone on to perform 3 more events and get a 15.1 in vault (placing 5th and beating Gabby’s 15.0 with same DTY); a 14.6 on bars with a stuck landing and a 14.9 on beam (beating Simone) – all while suffering a debilitating re-injury.

        So short answer – it was a bullshit excuse. She should have done the Amanar.

    • Mim Says:

      Dammit her twitter is private, what did she say?

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        I missed it too – she posted last night that she deleted her tweets because she doesn’t want to enable people that only like to fight. Must have been pretty good for her to then take the whole thing private.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        she took them down because she said a lot of the fighting became racial and not about gymnastics. Her original tweet was Gabby didn’t earn the spot and that pissed some people off.

  125. gymnast41 Says:

    So….when asked to justify the ashton vs. gabby decision marta shook it off and just said “I said she can contribute on bars I’ve answered this five times already” and peaced out lol. They really couldn’t make up a good enough reason so they said she’ll just be used for bars….makes sense. okay then, better not see her in the AA finals then if she’s there “just for bars”

  126. Melanie Says:

    I’m too mad to contribute much. I was sitting next to a huge Gabby-stan who screamed at the announcement. Yuck.

    Skinner looked PISSED. People, please follow her Twitter for me because I wouldn’t be surprised if she can’t control her comments there.

    According to MLT, she and Amelia both knew she wasn’t making the Olympics, so they’re just pleased with her awesome performance, and she got a lot of love in the arena. Ragan also looked happy to be an alternate.

    I’m trying to focus on the positive, because my stomach turns when I think about who will be screwed over at Olympic qualifications. Aly or Laurie?

    • H Says:

      Aly, Laurie and Simone AA. Gabby out, and if she’s still there she does bars but only in TF.

      • H Says:

        Martha Loves Aly, and maybe this was the only way she could swallow any political decisions from above choosing Gabby, because she can argue that Gabby only does TF, since she is unprepared for the AA

      • Melanie Says:

        That’s the hope, but I have no faith in the USAG to not give Gabby the shot at AA.

      • JAS4 Says:

        Marta said last quad McKayla was going for VT/FX even though she knew that she was injured and would only be used for VT. If Gabby wasn’t used in AA (which is highly unlikely) watch Marta have had do VT/FX in prelims and Kocian UB/BB and Gabby not even be used for UB which is Marta’s reasoning for putting her on the team although I still think it was mostly a Penny decision but Marta went along with if anyways and lie to cover it up

    • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

      Thank you Melanie for being there and for giving us your inside perspective. Really appreciate it. I hope Skinner contains it on social media and kicks ass in camp.

    • Mim Says:

      Thanks for the updates, Melanie, much appreciated.

  127. JAS4 Says:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/nrarmour/status/752352362216300545
    Anyone else find this scary lol

  128. katecoursey Says:

    We all knew the fix was in. It’s politics. But I swear, if they screw Aly out of her chance of qualifying AA, I’m going to lose it.

  129. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    “Based on Will Graves’ tweet, Marta is going to have Gabby on a ‘regimented program’ at camp but the key will be making Gabby understand that she needs to let go of the idea that she can defend her medal because it’s not happening. I hope that once that pressure leaves and she only has to perform to make the team better then she will do fine. But qualifications will answer a lot of questions and we just have to wait unless some big new comes from training camp.”

    anon on tumblr

    Poor Gabs is actually going to have to work hard at camp instead of playing grabass with Ginger Coach. But you know, she’s always had to overcome more obstacles than anyone else, according to her post-announcement interview. I won’t link it because it made me scream and throw my wine glass at my computer and Im still drying out the keyboard.

    • gymnerd Says:

      Interesting. I would think that if Gabby does grasp that she’s not going to be AA, that she would quit even trying. She doesn’t strike me as a “Take one for the team” type.

  130. Exgymgurl Says:

    It’s like 2004/ 2008 secret death camp changes on NBC all over again. It’s a provisional team. No ones happy but gabby now that she thinks she has it, things will get worse. Marta should have named three and just provisionally named girls to selection camp. I don’t get it but I don’t think Gabby will be on a plane to Rio. I wonder how Nastia feels considering Gabby fell twice on an event she should be competing if she is the same as last year just like Nastia falling on bars in 2012. Gabby got treated better than Nastia. The funny thing is, the team doesn’t need her at all. They’d be better off taking Nichols, Skinner or Ashton. Just have Ashton only do bars in TF, and let Aly And Laurie fight on two per country.

    Ashton instead of gabby gives us a higher TF score with vault being Simone Aly Laurie bars Laurie Ashton Kocian beam Laurie Aly Simone floor Laurie Aly Simone…. Higher score than bringing gabby. That coach she giggles at, that’s the one that left walkers gym and moved that she moved for. He’s married but I think they are involved. Love for USAG and her sponsors to get ahold of that.

    • Melanie Says:

      Did you catch Nastia’s little comment to Tim? He said that Gabby looked happier tonight, “probably as happy as you’d look making your second Olympic team” (this was before the announcement, by the way). And Nastia was like, “I wouldn’t know how that feels.” She hates Gabby, I know it.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      In all post-meet interviews, Gabby keeps saying that she will worker to show everyone she earned the spot. Like wtf, you should have been working hard for a while now.

      I hope you are right and they replace her at camp. She always looks iffy at training so at least if Marta makes line-up decisions on training, Gabby should not be doing AA.

      If Gabby ends up going and then does AA, I’m going to scream all the way to Rio. Ugh.

  131. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    I hate Nancy Armour with USA Today, but here’s a fairly scathing article about the choosing that pretty much tells it like it is underneath the asskissing headline:

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2016/07/10/armour-karolyi-makes-right-choice-gabby-douglas/86931092/?hootPostID=249104fd93d2d70687411de2eba70d9d

    I disagree that it was the right choice but like the no bullsh*t tone of the article. Even mentions the Nomanar.

    • Gymbee Says:

      I feel like this is a slap in the face to her coaches “if we put her in actual training she will do better”

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        I get the impression that Kittia tried to make her train and she wouldn’t – hence why GD fired her. She’ll have no choice but to train at camp and if she refuses or if she doesn’t improve drastically, they may not take her. I’m foreseeing an “injury” that will let her off the hook while still saving face if either of the above happen.

  132. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    In other news, MyKayla is sitting in a dark corner with her phone, furiously retweeting all the positive tweets she’s gotten from others. I’ve had her Twitter open for 20 minutes and she’s retweeted 47 positive tweets about her and counting. Poor kid. It’s so not fair.

    https://twitter.com/mskinner2016

  133. sanitynmotion Says:

    Fuck this.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Yes. What sanity said.

    • Guest Says:

      I bet USAGym has received money from GD’s sponsors to guarantee she would earn the spot if she doesn’t fall twice on bars no matter the disconnections or fall on other events. The Trials is totally rigged and corrupted.

  134. Mim Says:

    Someone on my twitter wrote that before the team was announced, Rhonda Faehn looked remarkably upset. I am hoping that means she voted fairly and was unhappy with picking someone who wasn’t good enough to be on the team.

    What does USAGYM have over the Karolyis, that’s what I want to know. Because Marta isn’t that bloody stupid surely. She’s just lucky that the USA is so deep they’ll likely win gold with any combination of team particularly if Simone is on it.

  135. Gymbee Says:

    If (when) USA wins team gold, will Aly Raisman become the US gymnast with the most olympic golds? Now she has 2, tying Shannon Miller.

    • Melanie Says:

      So will Gabby, barf.

      • Gymbee Says:

        Crap! Didn’t even think of that. That is how little she exists in my mind.
        Ok now we need Aly to get another floor gold.
        Please Simone haha!
        Simone can have team, AA, vault, beam.

      • SS Says:

        For a few days. Until Simone wins AA, team, and floor as a minimum, (and large potential for vault and beam)

  136. tennisgrl456 Says:

    I will definitely not root against team USA (bc all of the other girls did the work and earned their spots on the team), but here is how I hope the individual comps will go in the 4 other members favor. My biggest fear re: the team composition is that there is a very real chance that Aly or Laurie won’t get to do the AA in favor of putting Gabby up in QF on bars. It sucks but I know this will likely happen, just like I know that there is NO WAY anyone on that team is getting replaced at the camp unless there is an injury (bc now, the only shady part of the section process is apparently the public part).

    My hope? Team Gold, Simone and Laurie/Aly for AA Gold and Silver (either Aly or Laurie will not be given a chance to qualify but if there is a God, whoever is will grab the second AA spot), Simone for vault Gold, Madison for any color medal on bars, Simone for beam Gold and Laurie for beam Silver, Simone for floor gold and Aly for beam silver.

    • Gymbee Says:

      I agree. So at LEAST Simone and Aly will trash Gabby (maybe Nastia) when it comes to more olympic medals.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      Honestly, gabby got the team spot and that in itself should be good enough. Marta isn’t stupid, she knows the backlash she’s getting for including gabby in TF. There’s no way she’s going up in AA in qualifications, and even if she did gabby will be set up for failure. If she can’t withstand the pressure of Olympic trials and P&G’s, what makes her think she could not falter in the Olympic AA final as the reigning AA champ? Yeah no. Not happening. That will be an embarrassment for USAG. As of right now gabby should’ve lucky she’s even on this team. Being on this team is what she wanted….right? She knows that her AA shot is gone. There has to be some shady crap going on if she decides to put her AA in QF, I swear. Like it makes absolutely NO sense to me. Worlds makes sense cause I admit, yeah yeah she looked amazing at camp whatever, but this is the OLYMPICS, and the girl just needs to just perfect that bar routine and stick that piked DTY. Maybe she may make UB finals, but even then, embarrassment.

      I NEED Aly to get silver in the AA.

    • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

      Great analysis tennisgirl – I think Aly also has a good chance for a floor medal.

      • tennisgrl456 Says:

        Oops, the end of the comment was supposed to say, “Simone for beam Gold and Laurie for beam Silver, Simone for floor gold and Aly for FLOOR silver,” NOT, “Simone for beam Gold and Laurie for beam Silver, Simone for floor gold and Aly for BEAM silver.” As much as I would like Simone, Laurie, AND Aly to medal on beam I know that that can’t happen 😉

    • tennisgrl456 Says:

      I know the gymternet in general has all of these tee shirt designs floating around for sale. Nothing would make me happier than for one to be made after the Olympics that said:

      “Four Individual Golds for you Simone Biles, You Go Simone Biles!!…And none for Gabby Douglas.”

      • Tortuga Says:

        That would be glorious. Bahahaha!

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        A little piece of me is still hoping that Gabby continues to look crappy in training and Marta pulls her out.

        Gabby usually looks crappy in training so maybe there is hope.

        The death camp is 9 long days, really hope no one gets injured.

  137. Case Says:

    I thought sleeping on all of this would make me feel better but I’m still ticked off this morning. I won’t cheer against Team USA because that’s not my style but I am incredibly disappointed about the shenanigans that went down. A few early morning thoughts:

    – Keep rocking it Simone. AA gold should be yours along with all the riches and attention that come with it.

    – Proud of Aly for showing the world what hard work, perseverance and determination can do. Her presence/leadership will be important to keeping this team on the same page (if Gabby will even bother to get on the same page.)

    – Happy for Laurie and Madison – I love seeing Olympic dreams come true. They have bright futures and I hope they make the most of their opportunities.

    – Ashton, Mykayla, Maggie – so very sorry about how this all went down. Don’t let it define you. I think you could all have decorated NCAA careers. Keep dreaming big.

    – Ragan – great job kid, can’t wait to see you in the next quad.

    – Gabby – F*** off. For real. Take your shitty attitude and your gold digging family and your new boyfriend and prance around L.A. and leave the gymnastics up to the girls still working for it.

    – Nastia – better ask Daddy why Gabby got more AA gold defending champ benefit of the doubt than you did. Doesn’t seem quite fair.

    Rant over.

    • Tortuga Says:

      -Simone’s been slipping a little lately, she’s still so far ahead it just scares me because of what happened to Jordyn in 2012. But I really think there’s no way she won’t make AA finals and win.
      -Aly was having so many consistency issues earlier this year and last but she nailed P&G’s and Trials so I’m positive she’s peaking perfectly. Fingers crossed it keeps up. And OMG when she started crying with Simone after Laurie’s beam I got so choked up. But the actual announcement was anti climactic and lackluster IMO.
      -Laurie, she has great style and form. She is right up there but I don’t like how the judges are over scoring her so blatantly. It’s ridiculous IMO.
      -Madison, I already knew she would make the team but I’m actually happy about it. Girl kept consistent and did vault. Fell on beam but so did many others.
      -Gabby got to fall twice over both days and get put on the team anyway way for bars when everyone knows Locklear outscored her. She’s going on name alone and so many people are calling out the BS but money speaks much louder. I’m so disappointed in Martha and USAG. I just can’t handle her taking Aly or Laurie out of the AA, it hurts way too much. I hope this contention stuff is true. I think they had to atleast say that in front of the girls to hold her accountable for her bad performance and now the girls will be watching her like a hawk.
      -Maggie, didn’t even get alternate. Maybe the injury tweaking rumors are true and that’s why she was left off. Maybe that’s a good thing since alternate is such a hard position being so close and still having to train as if you might compete, but that will never happen. I’m totally going to OU meets next year to see her and Dowell kick ass.
      -Mykayla, what can I say you peaked at the right time and had the meet of your life. I can’t believe this is the same gymnast. Just DAMN! I doubted her for a long time. Must feel awful to place higher in the AA than girls who made the team and be an alternate.
      -I have a soft spot for Ashton, seeing her cry after beam day 1 really got to me. Also seeing her cry hugging Mykayla during the announcement I had to wonder if it was joy or sadness :(( Her or Mykayla really could have gone over Gabby.

  138. Melanie Says:

    On the same flight as the men’s team. Sitting next to Alex Naddour, a.k.a. Mr. Hollie Vise. I’m too introverted for this stuff!

    • JAS4 Says:

      Ask his opinion on Gabby making the women’s team over others! Lol

    • Mim Says:

      Ask him about his baby and then you’re in haha. Get the goss!

    • tennisgrl456 Says:

      Hahaha…you should have introduced yourself as Skinner’s 2nd cousin and talked about how proud you were of her but how you were so confused about why she was an alternate bc the math just didn’t make sense!!!!

      • Melanie Says:

        Haha, yes, that’s exactly what I should have done! Sneaky and I like it. I had to get up at 4am and was too tired to think of that though. 🙂

  139. KG Says:

    So I thought I might be less disgusted in the morning, when I’m most cynical… Not. I’m just as disgusted.

    If Gabby had gotten 5th or even 6th I could justify it. She has a better bars score (even though it is overscored) than some of the other AAers, so it would have sort of made sense. But let’s be real here. 7th? and no score over low 15s?? It makes about as much sense as Orozco. I think he’s more palatable though. At least he’s humble and grateful.

    I feel so bad for Mykayla and Maggie. I think Maggie would have made that team if she hadn’t hurt herself. They didn’t really start promoting Laurie until then, but truthfully Penny always liked Laurie. She’s hispanic (brings in a different demographic for viewership) and spunky.

    In some ways I feel like Mykayla didn’t totally deserve to be on the team (inconsistencies throughout the quad), but she brought it to trials, when it should have counted. I mean BROUGHT IT. Gabby didn’t. Gabby barely showed up.

    The only thing I can hope for that would keep me on Usag’s side would be if they don’t give gabby that AA spot. But i’m not holding my breath. I just can’t decide who they will screw… Aly or Laurie. It feels like they will screw Aly, but she’s pro so who knows.

    And who thinks someone will break at the NINE day camp? We know Kocian’s bones are made of glass, and Laurie too is prone to injury. Let’s be honest though, Gabby will be the last one still standing for some awful reason or another.

    • Ss Says:

      My vote is on Madison but I don’t think we’ll hear about it because they can put her up solely on bars and no one would ever question it.

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      Let’s be honest. Marta told Kocian NOT to do vault and Maggie NOT to do the amanar to ensure Gabby would at least place in the top 5, so that taking her would be easier to explain to the “stupid” public.

      Gabby was going to be on this team no matter what. The fact she fell twice just makes it harder to digest.

      • KG Says:

        Yep. I wish Maggie had done that Amanar if she has it. I almost think they couldn’t have ignored her if she did it.

  140. tennisgrl456 Says:

    http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20996464_21017445,00.html

    Here’s the real reason they couldn’t leave her home! How could they have launched the Gabby Barbie right after she missed the cut??

  141. KG Says:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3683979/Gabby-Douglas-sobs-joy-makes-Olympic-team-Rio.html

    if you check out the comments section below, seems like a lot of people think she shouldn’t have gotten it by the likes/dislikes of the comments

  142. Tortuga Says:

    Even the comments on an article that Gymcastic posted about Gabby are 90% against the decision to put her on the team. Which is surprising because I feel like Gymcastic is very biased towards her and dare I say stans of her. Not looking forward to the podcast Wednesday but curiosity gets the best of me. I can hear Jessica’s high pitched squeal now justifying why Gabby should be on the team.

    • Jessica Says:

      You won’t ever hear that from this Jessica. 🙂 LOL
      I think Skinner was cheated out of a spot for a woman who is clearly in the twilight of her career.
      I haven’t seen that movie The Bronze yet, (which is supposed to take place in Amherst, OH-10 minutes from where I live), but when I do it’s now going to be the GD story. A gymnast who’ll do anything to hold on to her 15 minutes of fame.

  143. hobarttdavid Says:

    If Penny does not bring in the budgeted ticket sales for the post-Olympics tour, USAGym will can his ass.

  144. Case Says:

    “My whole career,” Karolyi said, “this is the hardest decision I’ve had to make.”

    https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/heres-u-olympic-womens-gymnastics-000000019.html

    Make death camp hell for her, Marta, and do the right thing. You still have time.

    • KG Says:

      She says that because truthfully she didn’t want gabby on the team and we all know it. Marta is still Marta. She might have switched from skinny, super young gymnasts to powerhouses to keep up with the times, but she still likes consistent, no drama gymnasts. I’m positive this whole thing is Penny’s doing. (and i’m defending Marta here, so it feels strange)

  145. sanitynmotion Says:

    I just have to say this before I vent more.

    Gabby WILL be given the chance to go for the AA. Aly will be screwed. Writing’s on the wall, people.

    They will have to put up Gabby and Kocian for bars in Quals. Plus Simone. Now you have either Aly or Laurie. Laurie scores higher on bars, so there ya go. Plus the way they were scoring Laurie at Trials, they knew they had to make it “explainable” why Laurie and not Aly was being given the opportunity to go for the AA in Rio.

    Aly is getting screwed with 2 “bar specialists” on this team, and she has to know that.

    It sucks because she’s actually better than she was in 2012.

    They will not be using Kocian for anything but bars, barring injury.

  146. sanitynmotion Says:

    I have a bad feeling about this 9-day death camp.

    Like, a bad feeling. I hope I’m wrong.

    Gabby’s “injury” will prevent her from doing this “amanar,” just watch.

    Ultimately Skinner got jobbed. Maggie too, but I had this feeling Maggie was losing steam. I still don’t understand why she would listen to Marta and not compete that amanar. That was all she had.

    I think Marta told Kocian not to vault and Maggie not to do the amanar to try and ensure Gabby would place in the top 5, and therefore taking her would be easier to explain to the public. Gabby was essentially going no matter what. Money talks, people. It pisses me off, but money talks.

    • Ss Says:

      Marta already said no amanar for Gabby. She said it isn’t going to be trained for Rio because they have other things she needs to focus on (truth).
      Aly also commented that she is there for the team and to help make sure the team gets the gold and then if she qualifies to an event then that’s the icing. (I know this is a very PC answer but I also wonder if she sees the writing on the wall).

      I can definitely see them having gabby/Aly/Simone go for AA and screwing Laurie. She’s young and just happy to be there, plus a BB medal is most likely in her future.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        This is how I see it.

        The girls are disposed to ignoring reality/the unfairness of the situation and are focusing on the next thing: winning the Olympics. They are just happy at this point not to be in Skinner’s or Locklear’s shoes.

        Aly sees the writing on the wall and knows she shouldn’t even expect a shot at the AA with 2 bar specialists on the team.

        Plus, wasn’t Laurie told to downgrade bars (so that Gabby could get 3rd)? Laurie’s bars are strong no way will Marta use Aly over Laurie and no way will Marta bench Gabby on bars in Quals so that Aly can have a fair shot.

        There never was a Gabby amanar and Marta knew it and covered for it. Same with the selection process: it wasn’t between Gabby and Locklear. Gabby was a lock no matter how she did.

        It’s just funny/ironic how a few weeks ago we were telling ourselves “what if Gabby places 7th, there will be no way Marta can reason her on this team”…and then it actually happened.

        Despite Bailey pulling out.

        Despite Nichols coming back from injury and being told to not dothe amanar.

        Despite Baumann getting injured.

        Despite Kocian only doing a freakin single twisting vault.

        It actually happened, and Marta was forced to grasp at straws to provide reasoning as to why Gabby was selected. I bet that was what most of that selection meeting was about – “OK, what is our reasoning behind taking Gabby?” because they KNEW she was going no matter what.

        The fact NBC made their entire broadcast on day 2 being about why Gabby “needed” to be on the team told me she was going even before Trials began. That was all about “educating” the “stupid audience” about why Gabby needed to be on the team. Funny thing is, the sentiment (even from 4-year fans) is pretty conclusive that the spinning of Gabby didn’t work. The only people supporting Gabby are her random stans and little girls/gymnasts who don’t know any better about the politics.

  147. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Ugh. Barbie releases a Gabby Douglas Barbie. How convenient. Sigh.

    https://www.google.com/amp/www.people.com/people/article/amp/0,,21017445,00.html#

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      The marketing machine was in the works, well before Trials.

      Another reason basically of how/why Gabby made this team. Nothing to do with what she provides. All to do with money/notoriety to USAG and the sport.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Totally! I was trying to be sarcastic with my comment lol.

        They planned it all along. It would been really inconvenient to release her Barbie, if she didn’t make the team lol.

        What a shame, USAG.

      • Guest Says:

        USAG has forgotten the Olympic spirits. They are already lead by money and marketing. How disgusting.

      • JK Says:

        This makes Marta’s Gabby vs. Ashton logic sound like even more bullshit.

        Gabby was making this team no matter what.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        Yeah and I think the general public knows it. They were marketing her as a “two-time Olympian” well before Trials began.

        It’s disgusting.

        The Olympics is all a showcase for money these days anyways. It kind of sucks. Even the athletes mainly want to go to get rich/famous anymore. Although love of sport has a lot to do with it, I’m sure they don’t mind the fame and money that comes along with winning – especially the gold. That’s why Shawn really needed her gold…look at how much she profits off of being able to say “Olympic gold medalist.”

  148. H Says:

    Not sure if this work- trying to link to KimZ. instagram. Nice picture and comment about Ragan and Aly.

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      Still want to know what the real story is with Bailey, Kim!

      • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

        Bailee is probably somewhat relieved not to be in Skinner or Nichols’ shoes ATM. I hope she keeps training and come back for next quad. Total pipe dream, I know. She has always been one of my favorites. Would love to know the real truth.

  149. H Says:

    I can see the writing on the wall, and I feel Aly either know or most likely know herself that the AA spot can slipp. BUT It ain’t over till the fat lady sings! So I am going to belive that Martha are giving Aly a well deserved AA spot.
    Trala la tra la la!

  150. dianajc99 Says:

    https://igg.me/at/gymcoachdiana/x/14392627

    If anybody can help me out on retweet this it would be appreciated.Thanks

  151. gymmom2 Says:

    Doesn’t anyone at NBC remember event finals London 2012.

    https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTeS-TRmqhH2uWec4Fv1tVTrKt5cWf8naoRAFhRNIu9XSxiuSq5

  152. dianajc99 Says:

    Y now love for Gowey..There is even C.destirio vids up now.

  153. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Oh, if only I could photoshop.

  154. dianajc99 Says:

  155. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    Sorry, I am late. I was hoping to catch it last night, but I didn’t get to the USA on time, dammit! I am still waiting to see if they upload the Trials on YouTube. I have been able just to see some clips of them, but I hope they upload both days soon, as they have done before. Just a couple of thoughts, although I think that several of you have already pointed them out.

    -They can do all the PR they want, but is embarrasing for the USAG to name a gymnast to their Olympic team that had not earned it. Specially when they don’t even have the excuse to say that a X gymnast is their best shot to make the medals. They could choose whichever gymnast of the top ten they wanted and they still would get the gold, so why not be fair with those girls? USA definitely has the same problems regarding the biased selection as any other country under the sun.

    -I am beggining to worry about Simone. Used to her consistency, two days with mistakes are not normal. She is ages ahead of other gymnasts, but with death camps between now and the Olympics, I am worried that these are signs of a possible future injury or of a very unfortunate burnout at an awful time that could put her chances of individual gold at risk. After all, just one bad day is all that is needed to loose the AA gold. So I hope they rest her. She doesn’t have anything else to prove. But I am concerned about it, without any doubt.

    -I also think Aly is going to be screwed and Gabby is going to do AA. They can’t take Gabby to the Olympics for her bars and then sit her out in quals. They have Kocian there too for the same reason, so they couldn’t sit her out either. So Aly or Laurie won’t do the AA. And knowing Aly record with UB, she is the one who is going to get screwed. But USA still like to present three AAers and they aren’t going to use Kocian in vault with a FTY and Gabby has a higher D-score than her both in beam and floor than Madison. So I think she is going to do the AA instead of Aly, just because they can’t justify for her to sit out bars in quals and they will still want to have three potential AAers in quals. Then, in TF, they will just use her in UB with Maddie and Laurie because Marta isn’t going to let her near beam in TF. She isn’t going to touch it with a teen-feet pole, Simone, Aly and Laurie have better floors than her by far and won’t be an Amanar, so no vault for her either. So Aly is going to be screwed out of the AA if Gabby goes to Rio (I say “if” because I still have hope they announce an “injury” in camps and her substitution by probably Skinner. They have named her to the team, so they have saved face regarding the marketing deals, she will have more stories to tell in her reality and she won’t act in Rio, so everyone wins).

    -Devastated for Maggie and Mykayla. It’s a horrible feeling when you give your all and fall short because outside circumnstances. I hope to see Maggie and Ragan next quad and for them to kick a lot of asses.

    • JK Says:

      I agree that it’s most likely going to be Simone, Gabby and Laurie doing AA in QF. I’m sad for Aly because I think she really deserves that spot over Gabby.

      But if there’s anything I can be optimistic about is that Laurie could potentially qualify over Gabby for that 2nd AA spot. I really hope that happens.

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        I do think that Laurie will score way better than Gabby. I mean, Gabby didn’t even get to be amongst the top five AAers in the Trials with home judges and being heavely overscored. If she performs in the Olympics like she did in Trials, the judges will slain her. But this can go either way. If Laurie has a bad day and Gabby a good one….

    • Gymbee Says:

      You are right Rocio, and this makes me so angry. Aly deserves that AA chance, she’s miles ahead of Gabby!! 😦

  156. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    And Cata uploaded yet another video of her doing bars “for fun”. She is going for the AA for sure if she manages to get together half a good routine with all the necessary elements. Twelve years after she should have done it! https://www.instagram.com/p/BHuWDVDjEYc/

  157. Gymnast41 Says:

    Did anyone else catch Ashton’s deleted tweet? She said “it’s sickening how it works nowadays”. 24 hours after the team announcement I could only guess what it was all about. Expected mykayla to be the one doing this lol. Bet USAG told her to take it down within an hour.

    I feel you Ashton, let it all out when this is all over.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      In other news, catch this load of crap about gabby getting injured on her amanar and how Natalie forced her to leave Iowa and gabby was devastated and blah blah http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_30116501/gabby-douglas-ordeal-disclosed-after-making-olympic-team

      • dianajc99 Says:

        if I were chow Id sue for Libel

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        I want to know how exactly she was on crutches for 2 months, since I only remember missing one camp and that was only half a camp too.

      • allie Says:

        This is…. something. Doesn’t it seem like they’re trying to get in front of something that might come out and look bad for Gabby? Proactively spin something? I guess we will see!

      • Tortuga Says:

        Stuff just isn’t adding up. The secrecy of an injury, but not getting surgery, or was surgery not needed? Martha saying she’s never seen her do the Amanar at camp in other interviews. We all know if you got injured doing an Amanar and communicated that she would probably be fine with you not training one again. But how was she so fine at American cup so much closer to the injury but regressing after? And why won’t they give details about what Chow was demanding from them that was so “egregious”? And why say all this the day AFTER she makes the team and not months ago? Just all sounds like a PR cover up for her poor performance by her mom-ager.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I’m not going to read it because it’s likely a load of crap – PR cover-up, as you say. They want to set it up just in case Gabby fails, which she did. She failed yet the team still took her, and everyone knows it’s BS.

        Chow probably demanded that Gabby train and not go off doing her sponsorship deals. He can’t waste his time on an athlete who’s not serious. He also probably didn’t want her mom involved in her career because she’s toxic.

        Gabby and her mom should be ashamed to just continue trash talking on those who have helped them. If it weren’t for Chow, Gabby wouldn’t have her gold medal/fame today. She sucks. Her mom sucks. The situation sucks. The real mean girl in me wants Gabby to fall on all of her events so that the US end up taking silver. Marta would not get her swan song and USAG would look like complete fools. But then the other girls would also be disappointed and I don’t want that on them.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Gabby can fall off bars in TF and they will still win team gold. I think they won by like 6-7 points last year.

        So I say she can go ahead and fall but the girls will still win gold. Everybody wins and Gabby looks like crap.

        There is no way Marta is letting Gabby near beam. Gabby fell on 3 out of the 4 beam routines between nationals and trials. And her day 1 beam fall at trials was a Komova fall–she didn’t even bother to fight for it.

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        I know marta verified her amanar at worlds camp and was definitely going to compete it at worlds (there’s video evidence of her doing it at world’s training and I remember Simone answered a question that gabby verified it), but I don’t know how you can compete at worlds with a knee injury, hide the injury for 2 months, then be set to compete in March before 2016 even started. It doesn’t add up at all.

        Tortuga, That’s exactly what it is, a coverup by Natalie to give an excuse for her crappy summer. Like did you really think we’d believe that? She actually performed well at scam and jesolo? Nice try though.

      • Tortuga Says:

        I knew she was trying one at worlds the videos showed her falling on them. So I’m guessing Martha meant after worlds she never saw her work on them again. Which makes sense. I just wish her mom would just stay out of it. She’s trying to make excuses for her. All these girls have struggles and have had to keep going. If you had an injury then and wanted people to know you were had a set back you should have set it a long time ago. I think if it was up to Gabby she wouldn’t make the excuses in interviews and just keep saying she needs to work hard. It’s just hard to know if any of it is even true.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Perhaps this injury talk is a set-up for Marta to be able to replace her before they leave for rio. It would save face for both of them and will prob still protect her endorsements. Everybody wins.

        Here is to hoping.

        If not, it’s all bs.

      • Gymbee Says:

        The difference in who has class between her family and the others is astounding. You don’t hear Aly’s mom, or Octagon for that matter (since Natalie is her manager), blabbing to the media about negative stuff like that.

      • Gymbee Says:

        I think it’s also telling that the only things Gabby has added on Instagram is two endorsements (Barbie and Gillette) – no personal messages like the other girls. We know if, but it speaks volumes about her only caring about making the team because of fame and money.

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        People were smart enough to go through her social media and it seems she definitely wasn’t on crutches in November-December….I only vaguely remember her missing half a camp and wasn’t it because she was sick? I don’t think Natalie was thinking.

    • G Says:

      Yeah, good for her. She has every right to be pissed off, I’ll bet it’s only a matter of time for Skinner.

  158. hobarttdavid Says:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3684668/They-NOT-IMPRESSED-Olympic-gymnast-McKayla-Maroney-called-fans-trout-mouth-gold-medalist-unrecognizable-trials-appearance.html

    LMAO Maroney’s “plump pout”

  159. H Says:

    Oly team Great Britten

    “… women’s artistic gymnastics team will be Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold and Amy Tinkler.

  160. Ilanchik20 Says:

    GB announced their team: The Downie sisters, Frags, Amy Tinkler and Ruby Harold.

    Frags will prob go on beam in TF.

  161. Katie Says:

    http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_30116501/gabby-douglas-ordeal-disclosed-after-making-olympic-team

    Wow…. Just keeps getting better!

    It’s so staged… I can’t even

    • tennisgrl456 Says:

      This is 100% bull. If she was actually able to take hard landings on floor/vault through prelims, TF, and AA finals at Worlds WITH a fractured knee then there is no way that that knee wouldn’t have been wrapped/had some kind of brace on it. You just couldn’t hide that thing from all of your coaches/trainers/Marta.

      Also, does Natalie not realize that there are pictures of Gabby all over the place from that time? And from the following weeks on instagram? No crutches or knee braces of any kind.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I pretty much stated that in the comments section and am being countered by idiots. But this is the only way I can vent about this…I’m still pissed.

  162. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Her mom is a piece of work. I think Gabby was a great gymnast and has the potential to be one again. I would love for her to do well and justify being chosen for the team over other gymnasts who have worked just as hard (if not harder), have focused on their tasks without creating drama, have overcome similar injuries and obstacles, placed better than her at the so-called “Trials” – and yet did not make the team.

  163. Ilanchik20 Says:

    If I were Marta and USAG, I would pull her off the team for bring the bad image to USAG. What she is saying lately far outweighs her name. Isn’t there some honesty clause they sign? Ugh.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      She isn’t going anywhere as much as we want her to. It’s Natalie, not gabby. Her mom basically ruins her life. She needs to fire that woman.

  164. dianajc99 Says:

    Sounds like ROM is backtracking and now the July 21st meet will decide their Olympian.

  165. dianajc99 Says:

    Ha..Skinner retweets a photos where someone cropped gabby out and put her in…

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      Skinner either has balls or is just plain stupid.

      I’m surprised USAG isn’t making her stop. It’s only making everything worse.

      But the evil kanevil in me is like GO SKINNER YOU TELL THEM!!!!

    • dianajc99 Says:

      remember this is the girl who mixed up Scotland and Ireland.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        Ashton allegedly tweeted something about the outcome being a joke and then deleted it too so at least these girls know they were screwed.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Someone posted on Twitter that it was unfair that someone who fell twice at trials is going to Rio. Ashton retweeted that.

        Unfortunately, Gabby hasn’t said anything stupid–just her mom.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        Ashton also allegedly had a tweet complaining about the out come and then she deleted it but people want to bitch about Mykayla because she’s against gay marriage which is irrelevant to the decision making of this team. Two sets of rules for those the masses like vs who they don’t.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        To me, there 2 issues:

        1) Marta has publicly said it was between her and Ashton so I’m sure Ashton feels as the next in line, she deserves it more.

        2) As far as I know, Ashton has never said/tweeted something questionable so with her it seems out of character, whereas Skinner has. I think people are eager to forgive something that’s out of character than something that is lol.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        Ashton did tweet somerhing about it all and then she deleted it so the excuses for Skinners hate make no sense. Dave Lease never makes a tweet about Skinner if she wasn’t against gay marriage and he’s gay and anyone that thinks differently is just plain clueless. I still don’t understand why anyone has an issue with anyone standing up for the elves when we all know the were screwed. Marta can say Ashton was the one Gabby competed agaisnt but we all know that’s bull shit
        There is no way Marta takes 2 UB specialists. Not with how injury prone and useless they both are on the other events. Neither can be used in a team final on beam or floor or vault. Imagine Kocian or Ashton having to vault if someone was injured. An FTY in a team finals in 2016 for a gold medal team would be a joke. Ashton doesn’t even vault an FTY. This idea is Marta saving face.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        does ashton even train V/fx
        The only vids Ive seen are 4 years old. no double salto on FX

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        She used to be great on vault/floor. She started as T&T before doing artistic. But she had a back injury 3 years ago which prevents from tumbling basically so no.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I think Ashton’s tweet was something like “it sucks how things are these days”…something like that.

        I’m sure they are all so frustrated it’s hard to contain it. I’m having a hard time containing it and I’m not even an athlete or close to one…shit I never even was a gymnast!
        But I’m tired of seeing them getting robbed every year due to political stupid games.

  166. dianajc99 Says:

    https://www.gofundme.com/2e242xa5?rcid=ddfa074c487b11e68f6dbc764e065bc4

    I general support these for the bubble athletes. If i see one from Gabby I will go batshit crazy.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      I saw MG elite say the petition is for Laurie’s family and Maggie Haney’s mom to attend. Why does Laurie’s coach’s mom needs to be in Rio? Lol.

      At least they started it after Laurie made it, unlike Shayla Worley, haha.

  167. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Here:

    • Cupquaked Says:

      Just looked at her twitter, looks like she’s un-retweeted it. I hope she uses common sense and stops retweeting questionable stuff. Bc if they do pull Gabby, she’s the next option. But not if she keeps doing stuff like this.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        Gabby told the world she was going to work hard to earn this free Olympic birth she received and spent the first day after trials making the media rounds for her endorsement deals Marta didn’t seem to care about that so not sure why Skinners tweeting bis a bigger deal.

      • Case Says:

        You know, I’m glad these girls are speaking out about the USAG injustice. It may not show the most maturity or “look good” to the gym powers that be, but why should they stand in silence when they essentially sacrificed their childhoods for this opportunity? Only to have it basically stolen by someone with endorsements and visibility.

        Too many gymnasts have sold their souls and been quiet for too long. Some on the promise of minimum wage USAG job. Screw that.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        What Case said

      • Case Says:

        Also, Gabby is going to Rio come hell or high water. The only way Locklear goes is if Kocian breaks again.

        They won’t pull Gabby now. They are in too deep at this point.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        Why do you think Natalie waited til after she was named to the team to run her mouth ? It’s too late to g0 back and take her spot away and everyone knows it.

      • KG Says:

        I’m super glad people are talking about how unfair this whole thing is. Is there grounds for a lawsuit or something? I’m not usually for frivolous lawsuits but this feels really fraudulent and misrepresentative. Like they should have to disclose the actual amount of slots actually available for trials. If some girls knew there were only four spots up for grabs they may have opted to save their bodies for NCAA.

        And the only way Gabby isn’t going to rio is if she literally has a broken leg or arm or back, and a giant cast that won’t allow her to do even one event. If the only thing she can do is throw a FTY, she’ll go and they’ll use her. Circumstances might have been different with a more competitive international field, but they will take any score gabby can give above a 12, to be honest, just to keep her on the team.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        USAG should have an appeals process but thru don’t, I don’t think.

        This is interesting case Sam Oldham (British mag) is appealing uk’s decision not to put him on a team after he placed 3rd AA and first on floor at trials.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        I’m pretty sure they new going in there were 4 spots. I think there is paper work they and there parents/coaches have to sign.

  168. Akshay Says:

    I completely agree with what gymmom2 said above. The fact they specifically interviewed Natalie Hawkins, who more or less gave “Gabby’s case” for her problems and why she should be on the team, showed it was more or less a done deal. It felt staged, almost, for PR purposes… to “justify” taking her to four year fans.

    • Cupquaked Says:

      It didn’t work though. I’ve read some of the comment sections on articles about Gabby and it’s like 85% negativity. People are angry. Idk why USAG thought it was a good idea. Who wants to put their child in a sport that is corrupt? People are seeing that now and I’m not sure what the effects of all of this will be. Especially if they put Gabby in the AA over Aly/Laurie and she tanks.

      • Case Says:

        I think the possibility of her tanking is actually quite high. Gymnastics isn’t a sport you can make up tremendous ground in just by applying yourself for a month.

      • Brainy Says:

        Agree w/Case — the combination of poor conditioning & social media unhappiness (which GD is aware of by now) makes it tough for her mentally. Look for GD to put up a 14.9 UB in TF and Tim D. will say “She did her job!!”

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      So I totally read the article and now am in a comment war with some dipshit…I mean, I know I’m better than this but I can’t help myself. I’m just so angry about this “fix.” I’m not attacking her personally but everything she says is so dumb and phony baloney. Like “Gabby downgraded her vault” – I could scream.

  169. Ilanchik20 Says:

    We all prob knew this but Maggie retires from elite. She seems far more gracious than some of those on the team.

    • Tortuga Says:

      I’m glad she’s done. She’s been through the ringer and shouldn’t put herself through another year of grueling training to maybe be good enough for individual worlds next year? An interesting thing Lauren H brought up on Gymcastic is that Gabby is the only person getting the benefit of the doubt for the team, when look how far Maggie has come since her most recent surgery. She will be a lot better in a few weeks, with an Amanar. But she won’t get that chance like Gabby will. I hope she stays healthy and kills in NCAA. I’m totally going to OU meets next year just to see Maggie and Brenna 🙂

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        I am going to miss her. I liked her gymnastics and I won’t be able to see her anymore. I was hoping she killed it in Worlds next year but, in any case, I hope she has a great life and career outside elite.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      I agree, she’s smart to move on. It’s surprising she’s announcing it so soon though. She definitely deferred until January and just announced on insta she’s heading to OU in the fall. She’ll have a great career for sure.

  170. onelifeonejourneyonealex Says:

    So over on wwgym forums, there’s an “insider” who has tons of info over the years that has proved to be accurate, including info about Gabby’s coaching change. So, out of curiosity, I asked if there was any truth to the rumors of Gabby and Gallardo having a thing. By far NOT the worst thing being asked. You would fucking think I had accused Gabby of being Satan while wearing a Klan hood, holy SHIT. A couple people said they thought it looked that way but then a couple people, including one who claims to know Gabby and was on her tv show, just jumped on me and saying i was accusing her of all these horrible things and I should be banned, blag blah blah. Mind you, I never said GUYS, GABBY IS BONING HER COACH HEHEHEHE EVEN THOUGH HE’S MARRIED LOLZZZ. I asked a question. That’s it. Days later, there are still people talking shit about me when I haven’t posted since then. Which was Friday.

    And I never even got an answer.

    Fucking gymternet.

    Can I just hang out with you cool kids from now on?

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      I’m getting attacked too for responding to that article where Fatalie (Ms. Hawkins) talks about Gabby’s supposed fractured knee before Worlds (gag).

      I’m literally going back and forth with a bunch of lame-brained idiots. I should be doing something better with my time but I’m still so mad about the situation and I guess this is the only way I can vent about it.

      What’s funny though is that one of the comments on this article (that I’m having arguments with trolls on) someone says something like “I think Gabby is dating the coach…” and someone replied “I said the same thing” – so it’s being noticed by just random fans too, and this is just from watching the Trials broadcast! So you are not crazy and your question is valid. I think many people have that same question.

      • Case Says:

        Love you sanity, you are just killing it over on the Mercury news thread. 100 likes from me!

        Honestly, your posts have more likes than your troll friend does.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        Thanks Case. I just needed to vent…and get it out there that this decision does not make sense mathematically from a Team standpoint.This Troll just doesn’t get it.

        The Troll is still insisting that Gabby makes better sense because “oh look she improved from 6th to 3rd on bars in 2 weeks”…ridiculous. Doesn’t constitute a spot on the team with a bars specialist already in place.

        Troll just doesn’t like Skinner. Which is fine, but then take Maggie with the proven amanar and the argument for Gabby is still moot.

        But I give up. It’s embarrassing too how much I commented. I love this sport and I hate to see it so corrupt.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        can somebody link to the merc news thread? thanks

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        dianajc – enjoy, lol

        http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_30116501/gabby-douglas-ordeal-disclosed-after-making-olympic-team

      • onelifeonejourneyonealex Says:

        I can’t find the comments, damn it. I want to see you slay! Lol

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        Scroll to the bottom…there’s way too many comments. I’m sorta embarrassed. I just kept going and going…but you really can’t reason with some of these idiots.

        Oh well.

        I said my peace…

      • Gymbee Says:

        Great comments sanity!! I’ve been on the USAG FB page, some comments here and there. I love how the comeback is “can you do what this amazing young lady can do? No so shut up”
        And “all true gymnastics experts knows this is the team that makes most sense” bull.

      • G Says:

        Yeah I got into a few arguments on a yahoo article titled, “BIles, Douglas Headline Rio Team”. What a joke. I couldn’t stop myself lol and I knew people would jump down my throat and they did. But I was happy with the amount of users who agreed with me too, I’m sure more people have commented since but I had to step away. It just makes me too angry.

    • Lithi Says:

      I’ve been catching up on that thread. There’s just too much raw emotion in the air and folks need to settle down.

  171. Gymnast41 Says:

    Buckeye gymnastics just released a statement on why gabby made the team and it’s the biggest load of BS they could’ve done. Really bad publicity for them because they confirmed the injury. Everyone is calling them out in the comments. Wonder how much Natalie paid them to do this. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154381095844533&id=130972229532

    • onelifeonejourneyonealex Says:

      I’m curious to see if Coach Chris still has a job with them after the whole firing/not firing Kittia debacle.

      On a further, shallow note…Wtf kind of name is Kittia?

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      That woman is desperate to have her name attached to an Olympian. Even after being fired she let them train at her gym. That says everything about what an idiot she is. She also sold Nia down the river when people were creeped out by that coach. This woman is disgusting on s0 many levels.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I love how they spin it “second highest score on bars AMONG ALL ATHLETES CHOSEN TO GO TO RIO.”
        Oh but wait, if we look at the entire roster she’s third-highest…and if we look at her 2 weeks ago she’s 6th-highest…all signs pointing towards GREAT CONSISTENCY. We need that on Team USA!

        Oh and Gabby didn’t fire her coach guys…she just told Kittia she wanted to get used to the one coach who would be spotting her. So Kittia figured it’d be more comfy to sit in the stands. You know. So she could retweet Gabby accolades in a more private setting.

        And don’t worry folks…if anyone gets inured Gabby can way more easily fill their shoes. Because her scores are sooooo good internationally and she will totally give us a bar routine that is 2 points higher than what she scored at Trials, easy, because she peaks later in the game.

        I mean, just look at how well Gabby did at event finals in London. Yes, we can count on Gabby!!!!!!

      • Uglyfatkid Says:

        Ha ha ha. You’re bloody awesome Sanity. That was perfect. 🙂

    • dianajc99 Says:

      I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. She is stuck. she got caught up in the Gabby shitstorm and she has to protect her business.
      In the gym business it dosent matter how many olympians you have its your rec/preschool kids who pay the bills. So she has to stop any bad publicity from hurting the gym locally.

    • Tortuga Says:

      So Gymcastic posted Buckeye’s defense to Gabby and has since deleted the post on their facebook. Don’t know if the comments got out of control or if they just decided it’s too much bs to handle. Also I’m glad people are calling out O’Berne for being such an obvious Gabby stan. Glad the rest of the crew stood of Aly doing the AA during the podcast.

      • Tortuga Says:

        Oh wait Buckeye deleted it, it was an odd statement for a gym to make to be honest.

  172. dianajc99 Says:

    oh good god what is Nastia Wearing

  173. Guest Says:

    Shawn has opened up about her stresses in Olympics in this short film produced by I am second.

    • dianajc99 Says:

      and round # god knows what starts now on the shawn/nastia AA.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I hate that she got told “I’m sorry” when she got the silver. What’s this world coming to, seriously?

        She made me love gymnastics again – honestly. I hadn’t cared after Mag 7 and the Atler failed…then I started caring again in 2008. And I met you guys at this blog! So I credit Shawn with that.

        Even though I still felt led on with the whole “can’t wait to debut my floor” thing…I’m glad she did what made herself happy though, and not what would have made everyone else (including me) happy.

        If anything, people still perceive her as the gold medalist above Nastia. I do have to wonder though what differences would there have been had she not won that gold on balance beam. I’m just glad she did because she deserved it. When I look at the gymnastics code today, the fact Nastia even got on the podium is insane (in my book).

      • Akshay Says:

        In general, Nastia lucked out with that quad’s code. If we assume they had the same performances as they did in the AA with the 2009-2012 code, I think Shawn comes ahead.

        To this day, I’m not sure Shawn should’ve won, but I do think she was lowballed — relative to how others were being scored — on UB and BB, and Nastia was overscored on UB and FX. And let’s not forget about the infamous Nellie Kim moment on BB, when she raced down to make sure Nastia got extra connection bonus.

        Yes, people still do think she won the gold medal, which is hilarious. Shawn’s BB gold, though, was huge for her endorsement deals and the like. Had she not won that gold, my guess is, she probably comes back sooner and makes a very serious push towards London 2012.

      • Guest Says:

        It reminds me Michelle Kwan vs Tara Lipinski. Kwan was favorite to win in Olympic but finally second to Lipinski. When Kwan was asked how she felt the lost of gold and she answered “I didn’t lose the gold. I won the silver.” I am glad Kwan won the people’s hearts in the end and she is still more memorable in book than most of the gold medalists.

        Different from figure skating, gymnastics has not only one event apart from individual all-around. Shawn may be lucky that she had chance to make redemption in balance beam and the public treat her as champion. But it is hard to judge would she continues gymnastics with the same heart if she didn’t win gold in Beijing.

    • Tortuga Says:

      This got me all emotional :(, I hate that she felt like a failure. She didn’t let me down, she made my eyes light up like a child again when I watched her compete. Miss those days.

  174. Gymbee Says:

    The gymnastics sub-Reddit is also angry at the Gabby selection.

    Reddit.com/r/gymnastics

  175. Ilanchik20 Says:

    I haven’t listened to the whole podcast yet but the fact that oberne doesn’t think Aly should do AA because it’s not good for the team (I.e we need to test Gabby’s bars) or she is not evenly spread out AA’er buffles me. Tell that to Nastia or most other AA’ers. Ugh.

    If Gabby gets to do AA or worse gets into AA, I’m literally going to scream. Marta better give it to the person who earned it when it mattered–at trials!!

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      I don’t know what podcast you’re talking about, but let’s get real here…

      I personally feel like only Simone, Laurie, and Aly deserve the AA shot.

      But the reality is, Marta took 2 bars specialists and will not be benching them in Quals. So either Laurie or Aly will not be able to go for the AA – probably Aly.

      And since Gabby can score decent on the other 3 events (if she hits), I’m almost positive Marta will let Gabby have that shot. It also falls in place with USAG’s goals of being able to market/promote that Gabby gets to go “defend her last title.”

      The funny thing is, either gymnastics fans aren’t that stupid anymore (at least the 4-year ones), or they aren’t liking Gabby as much because of her obvious sour grapes attitude. Either way, it seems like the overall sentiment is dislike for Gabby.

    • G Says:

      I agree with Sanity. I’ve just accepted that Gabby will most likely do AA in quals, get a crap ton of gifts in scoring and end up competing alongside Simone. I just hope she fails miserably and comes in 7th place again, or worse.
      Sidenote/shameless plug, I wrote about my slightly comical experience meeting Shannon Miller on my blog today, just click on my “G” if you want to read it. 😀

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        You are prob right but I still have my fingers crossed. Gabby is unlikely to be benched but Laurie might.

        But I just just don’t see Marta benching Aly– a 3-time Olympian–in place of a first year senior. Laurie is in a similar position as Kyla was 4 years ago so unfortunately I could see Laurie getting screwed cause of Gabby.

        On a bright side, Laurie can def beat Gabby, if it comes to it.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        I feel like Laurie’s Trials scores were really telling that Marta wants Laurie to compete for the AA over Aly. Going into Trials, Marta knew who was going to Rio, so they were using that meet to “educate” the public why certain people were going, and certain people weren’t. This was especially the case for Gabby (Day 2 was all about why Gabby still needed to be on the team despite her miserable showing) and somewhat the case for Laurie, who was the unknown coming in but the “surprise” consideration. You notice how on Day 2 (vs. Day 1) the Daggett crew were already putting Laurie on their “lock” list for the people who would make the team.

        This plus the fact that Aly has historically messed up in AA finals, usually ending up 4th. That’s not forgotten on Marta’s mind, and this Olympics will be her swan song. Laurie does put up better scores for beam and bars, and while Aly has the lead on floor, her first pass is still not 100% consistent (she can step out of bounds a lot). Plus Laurie’s DTY somehow gets a score very close to Aly’s amanar (think a lot of that has to do with domestic scoring, but we’ll see).

        I wonder if, by the time the US competes on bars in Quals, Marta might make a “switch” decision…if Laurie isn’t getting the scores so to speak, maybe at that point sit out Laurie on bars for Quals and put in Aly. I really feel like Marta wants the AA podium to have 2 Americans on it. But I could be wrong.

      • H Says:

        I hope as well Aly get to do AA.
        But it will be what it will be. (She said to calm her self down).

        Latest “news” rumors are that Liu Tingting has hurt her palm and will not go to Rio …
        I hope this is not correct .. would be grate to see the best of China – I think they this year will give US a bit more competition than previous years.

    • Mim Says:

      I was relieved that everyone else in that room told O’Beirne she was nuts for not wanting Aly doing AA. I like Jessica usually but she she’s biased towards certain athletes. I was pleased Lauren said her opinion was that Gabby got on that team because of her name and some of the other contributors on the podcast weren’t that convinced of Gabby’s potential contributions to the team. She’s got a job with NBC for Rio and still put it out there.

  176. Melanie Says:

    http://www.flogymnastics.com/article/43575-nbc-fails-fans-and-athletes-with-gymnastics-trials-coverage?utm_campaign=OlympicTrials&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_content=Article&utm_term=NBCCoverage&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTjJNM05qRTVZek01TVRVMCIsInQiOiIza21OWTRxbGNEVllwdVdBQXRCd1dMdzh4MVcxZWs3RDB5MUxPN1FLdDZOd2xFQ1ZsV2tUNXJJVTdmQWpUZkM1eEZ4VVUraG91UUhqejRwQ1FGRDI1ZmRCUlNTXC9GMDJjVlUxbjB3Y0J2ZGc9In0%3D

    Poor Flo. They’re so peeved that they don’t get to show the coverage that they’re going after NBC. Don’t get me wrong, NBC’s coverage is terrible at best. But am I supposed to think FloGym is great considering they charge people $20/mo and I still have to watch ads?

    • dianajc99 Says:

      I think they were just going at NBC’s coverage in General. This years Trials was particularly bad as there were 5 athletes that did not get one event shown.

      Its was their screw up. they knew the rules.

  177. dianajc99 Says:

    The latest – Mustafina, Melnikova, Paseka, Spiridonova core. Tutkhalyan has final place but 2 travelling reserves – Afan and Kapi.

    • Rocío Martínez López Says:

      If Afan can do her floor from now to Río, Seda is going to get screwed. Russia needs a good floor worker and Seda has a lot of consistency issues. She has finished second in the AA both in Nationals and in the Russian Cup, so she is one of their best bets, but she poses a risk both in the TF and in individual finals.

  178. dianajc99 Says:

    shade thrown…
    17: Was there anything about the Trials that surprised you?

    MM: There was drama with Gabby, but nothing about that was surprising to me. [Editor’s note: ICYMI, Gabby Douglas finished seventh in the Olympic trials but was still named to the five-person Olympic team, which surprised some viewers.] Basically, Gabby had been training to come back for this next Olympics, and she had a little bit of a rough first day and she fell on beam. Other girls didn’t fall. They did pretty good routines. But Gabby, at the end of the day, she was the one who got picked. So some people were like, why did she get picked over girls who didn’t fall? It has to do with the lineup — they need her on the events that she didn’t fall on. They need her especially on bars. I get why people would be like, wait, that doesn’t make sense! She didn’t get first! [The scoring system] is confusing for people.

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      Who is MM? Maroney? Sorry I’m an idiot.

      Seems to me that this statement is another Gabby apologist. But I keep saying the same thing (to other people, not on this blog) how Gabby’s bars aren’t even needed, and they still don’t seem to get it.

      If Gabby could score consistently in the mid-15s on bars, I’d get it. But she barely gets low-15s, and is still not that consistent. Take Simone’s bars in lieu of Gabby’s and add the enhanced value of Skinner’s vault – that’s what’s best for the team score-wise.

      I can repeat this though until the cows come home and most people still don’t get it.

      Marta further confused the issue by stating that the 5th spot was between Ashton and Gabby, and that did exactly what Marta wanted in terms of outsiders’ reasoning, because Ashton can’t really compete on the other events besides beam, and even on that she’s not top-notch.

      If Marta had said the truth – that the 5th spot was between Skinner and Gabby – there’s no validation to taking Gabby because Skinner beat Gabby on 3/4 events, and has the Cheng vault.

  179. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Missed the Buckeye announcement – anyone copy it? In thinking about the AA situation, I can go two ways without factoring in the GD drama. Either 1) Marta appreciates how hard Aly has worked, knows this is her last Olympics, realizes Laurie likely has another chance in 2020,and wants to reward Aly by allowing her to compete the AA or 2) Marta thinks Laurie has a better chance of doing well in AA with her having better bars than Aly, wants to build a “legacy” before she retires, and sees that having Laurie do AA sets up the perfect comeback story for Laurie in 2020.

    I would personally like to see Aly have the opportunity but am pretty sure they’ll give it to Laurie because, why start doing what is fair or reasonable at this late date?

    Throwing GD into the mix – I have no idea. Certainly logic and a sense of fairness or rewarding those that have worked hard and done well (so sorry Maggie and MyKayla, too bad, so sad) has not factored into Marta’s decisions thus far.

    The more I think about the way they tossed Maggie aside like a used tissue, the madder I get. GD scores worse than Maggie even WITH her knee injury, yet we are told they think GD will improve in 3 weeks, but Maggie isn’t given the same opportunity. She gave a Herculean effort to come back and has done fantastically well. If she really re-injured her knee during Trials, I wish there had been some announcement so fans aren’t left feeling so gypped. Can’t even imagine how devastated she must feel, going from “it” girl in 2015 to Maggie Who? at 2016 Trials.

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      At least Maggie got “some” airtime on NBC – can’t say that about most of the others. I was like “Regan who” almost and she made the alternate list!

      That being said, I had a bad feeling Maggie would be tossed aside. I knew it after Marta told her not to do the amanar (which I don’t understand, and never will, why she would listen to Marta…I would have done it and landed with a big middle finger in the air…).

      Even if Maggie got 4th place like Skinner she wouldn’t have received a nod. Gabby was going to be on this team come hell or high water, and fact of the matter is – I really feel like the “need” for a bars specialist killed Maggie’s chances more than the need to take Gabby. Because let’s face it, Gabby is essentially the bars specialist, with her sub-par routine. Who happens to be backed by endorsement deals and sponsors.

      I love how the Dagett crew were implying how Maggie was going to be on the team (essentially) had it not been for her injury. They “needed the 2015 Maggie.” Well, she was basically there with the exception of the amanar, to which Marta would not allow her to compete.

      So it’s all just a bunch of lies. It’s just sad this is the way it has to be for her.

      Marta’s “legacy” (gag) will end and then watch, in a few years we’ll be like Russia with no great elites because no sane parent would want to subject their child to this political BS. USA gymnastics will be like how USA figure skating is now.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      My 3rd alternative is Gabby and Aly. If they R r using Gabby as an AAer, it would LS be far less embarrassing for USAG if she lost to a returning Olympian than a first year senior.

      Then, if Aly wins, NBC can spin it as “4 years ago she narrowly missed an AA medal and now she comes back and gets one.” In either case, there is a story lol.

      Maybe it’s wishful thinking but no way to know with Marta–it’ll depending how camp and podium training goes.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        Yeah, totally. Marta is known for substituting people last minute based on injury, melt-downs, etc. so I guess it all depends. I feel like Laurie isn’t the type to have a meltdown, but only time will tell.

        Kind of would laugh my arse off if Gabby were to melt down like McCool did in 2004.

  180. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    Interesting (and funny) perspective on Trials. New phrase – “Marthaiest possible team.”

    Olympic Trials in Review

  181. dianajc99 Says:

    Skinner apologized.

    • dianajc99 Says:

      during an international terror event. odd timing

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      ‘I’m so sorry if I offended anyone. I was in the wrong by retweeting that tweet! I’m so grateful to be part of the team! Go USA #Rio’

      A ton of people submitted emails and tweets to USAG so I’m not surprised they alerted her to apologize eventually. What’s funny about her apology is her acknowledgement of the fact that she’s grateful to be part of the team but the whole point was that gabby was cropped out, so she still did a mykayla thing and acknowledged the fact that she is grateful to be on the team..that she’s not really on lol. Just crazy. She had a right to use free speech people.
      She still kept the shade on Instagram though:)

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        What do you wanna bet USAG is taking all those girls’ phones away during camp…nothing USAG hates more than free speech, especially from their own gymnasts.

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        Also wanna bet that gabby and mykayla post a picture together at camp LOL. That situation would remind me of 2012 when gabby wasn’t in any pictures at camp, but then they played the whole “best friend” story throughout London

      • dianajc99 Says:

        she was in the “trash can shot” you know when she was flashing gang signs.

  182. dianajc99 Says:

    ha simone thinks marta will let her walk in the opening ceremony!!

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      I saw that. That’s cute.

      Or maybe it’ll be like last year world’s where Simone told Marra to give them a few hours off and Marta had to oblige, haha.

      • Ss Says:

        I honestly feel like Simone pretty much gets what she wants from Marta, so if she wants to walk in the ceremonies it would not surprise me if she gets to. Someone mentioned on Twitter that wag was a day later this year, but I’m too lazy to verify that.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Men competition is before women this year so at the very least, wag would have a day in between ceremony and competition.

        I hope they get to go. Although I bet Aly won’t lol.

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        Why she wouldn’t let them go to the opening ceremony? They have been getting ready for that competition for their whole life. A day more or less won’t change anything. If anything, it would be better, as it will probably take their minds from their nervers and doubts regarding the upcoming qualifications. Why don’t let them enjoy one of the most important ceremonies of their olympics?

      • Tortuga Says:

        They have to stand on their feet and walk for hours in the ceremony. If it was me, I’d personally chose to skip it so I could be more rested. No use in having tired achey feet if you don’t have to. I know it’s nothing compared to any of their workouts but still. Don’t want to risk anything.

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        I understand that, Tortuga. But it is a very important moment in their carreers. If they have some time to rest after, I don’t see why they shouldn’t go (if they want; if they don’t, it’s fine, of course).

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        They have not walked in the opening ever at lease since pre 1992 Dawes never walked. I don’t know about 88/ 84.

  183. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Saw this on tumblr. Someone has too much time, haha

    http://myfirstloveisgymnastics.tumblr.com/post/147378266069/someone-said-they-wanted-a-video-of-the-2016

  184. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Another ACL tear for Orosco. We’ll see who replaces him.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      Lyeva is the replacement.

    • Guest Says:

      Maybe I am evil-minded. The only word I want to say, why not Gabby 😦

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        Just wait… Have patience

      • Case Says:

        So….I don’t believe for a second that Gabby will get replaced at this point but it’s fun to dream.

        Marta painted herself in a corner by saying the final spot came down to Gabby vs Ashton, because logic would say then that Ashton would replace Gabby if needed. Yet it makes wayyyyy more sense to take Skinner. So how would USAG even begin to spin/explain that?!?

      • Jessica Says:

        I thought the same thing!! Poor Gabby, I wonder if she can sense the I’ll will directed her way?
        I really don’t want Leyva on the men’s team. He’s riding his 2012 AA bronze like Gabby is riding her gold. I would have preferred Whittenburgh, but I think he’s gonna be the next quad superstar as I suspect the current team, along with Legendre and Ruggeri, will be done after this.
        Gabby getting injured and gracefully bowing out would actually cement her perceived superstar (lol on that) status. She wouldn’t fall on her face or lose her shot at repeat AA gold (LOL super loud on that) by her own hand. Instead, we’d have the “what could have been” pity party to deal with. She’d still be the darling of the Olympics, if only in her own mind, and not have to face the reality that she currently sucks.

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        Lleva also medaled at 2014 worlds. They need a pommel guy and that’s not donnell. If dalton brooks or mikulak go down whittenburg is your guy. I honestly think gabby will be replaced also.

  185. JAS4 Says:

    When does camp Marta begin?

  186. dianajc99 Says:

    Baumann differing a year. Smart Move

    • H Says:

      what does that mean?

      • Mim Says:

        Deferring means she’s delaying when she starts college. She’s going to spend the next year doing rehab for her elbow and then start at Florida in 2017. It must have been a significant injury.

      • H Says:

        Thanks!

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      Is she planning on competing Elite or?

      • Ss Says:

        No it’s supposed to be a 9+ month rehab process

      • dianajc99 Says:

        God I really want to know what her injury is. Thats a long recovery

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        I heard it was a brutal injury with multiple torn ligaments, I want to say if it’s a 9+ month recovery time the bone might have been involved too 😦

      • gymnerd Says:

        I had a simple radial head dislocation (elbow) about 7 months ago, and I am STILL unable to put weight on it. I have done my last handstand, and that’s with a way less complicated injury than Baumann’s. She has my sympathy.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Baumann was really upset Rhonda left Florida. She even tweeted about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up going somewhere else next year. Otherwise she could just go to Florida and redshirt. It makes no sense at all to defer unless she wants to change schools.

  187. Guest Says:

    Here is long words from Mckayla’s latest update. Maybe she wants to do the things what she likes and be herself, but I still cannot agree that is a role model act by over-exposing her body or making those reckless iCloud selfies.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BH6YoQ9jgSs/

  188. Gymnast41 Says:

    Flo actually posted something worth it, a full press conference with Simone. They literally asked the same thing over again, and Simone handled each question very well. Even threw some sass on the stupid questions lol 🙂

    Also, I saw something in the New York Times that said USAG confirmed gabby’s “serious” injury of 8 weeks. Did they really or did I miss something?

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      I don’t think USAG confirmed it. But her gym did but they later removed a post about it since it was getting a ton of negative posts.

      She was not injured–the timeline just does not work. At mat, she is blowing it out of proportion cause her knee was taped at American Cup.

      • gymbot Says:

        It’s hard to believe there was injury. On the one hand, I can imagine them trying to keep it quiet for their sponsors, but her gymnastics at american cup was great, considering the timeline. Plus the social media posts, unless they were all staged.

  189. dianajc99 Says:

    he United States and Canadian Anti-Doping Agencies want a complete ban on Russia competing at the Rio Olympics after next week’s key report into allegations of state-backed doping at the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics is published, according to a leaked draft letter seen by Reuters on Saturday.

    • gymbot Says:

      If Russia is denied going, Australia (WAG) gains a berth to the Olympics. Even if there is state-backed doping in the report, I bet the Russians will still go.

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        Peggy lid duck is wearing her depend undergarments in anticipation of the excitement

      • dianajc99 Says:

        ?? a full team birth?
        I wouldn’t ban them from RIO, id ban them from 2018.

      • tulip Says:

        They should be banned from all international competition until the ruskies clean house, which will never happen.

        Everyone knows Putin put together an elaborate doping plan for many sports. The officials are going back to 2008 and retesting B samples with an independent testing lab overseen by many different representatives of different countries. Russia has been paying testing officials big bucks to falsify results and give fake clean reports. Medals are already being stripped and given to the clean winners. As it should be.

        At the track olympic trials, I sat next to a very successful and well known coach. During down time I asked him if there were going to be big changes in medals from 2012. He said first and foremost look for the women’s field events to see lots of dopers who lose their medals. Starting with the high jump gold. I’m sure that is already reported but hearing it from him gave it credibility to me.
        And we all know Sochi was a joke from the bidding. They weren’t doing well until a man known as the world’s biggest heroin dealer showed up at the Asia voting bloc with what one witness called “bags of cash.” Voila. We have a winner. Look at the voting history.

        If that type of behavior doesn’t deserve a complete ban, nothing does.

        Just something interesting. The track coach did say that Kenya and Ethiopia are known dopers but guess who’s not? Jamaica. They just have supremely talented athletes and Bolt is a once in a generation sprinter with freakish talent and an impressive work ethic who takes nothing for granted. <<<<——— Words to live by Gabby Douglas!

      • Gymbot Says:

        Lol. Peggy lid duck depends. I bet it won’t happen for Australia but imagine, China cheating them out of team finals in Athens? And Russia (maybe not wag) cheating them out the games completely?

        Words to live by indeed tulip

    • tulip Says:

      They should be banned from all international competition until the ruskies clean house, which will never happen.

      Everyone knows Putin put together an elaborate doping plan for many sports. The officials are going back to 2008 and retesting B samples with an independent testing lab overseen by many different representatives of different countries. Russia has been paying testing officials big bucks to falsify results and give fake clean reports. Medals are already being stripped and given to the clean winners. As it should be.

      At the track olympic trials, I sat next to a very successful and well known coach. During down time I asked him if there were going to be big changes in medals from 2012. He said first and foremost look for the women’s field events to see lots of dopers who lose their medals. Starting with the high jump gold. I’m sure that is already reported but hearing it from him gave it credibility to me.
      And we all know Sochi was a joke from the bidding. They weren’t doing well until a man known as the world’s biggest heroin dealer showed up at the Asia voting bloc with what one witness called “bags of cash.” Voila. We have a winner. Look at the voting history.

      If that type of behavior doesn’t deserve a complete ban, nothing does.

      Just something interesting. The track coach did say that Kenya and Ethiopia are known dopers but guess who’s not? Jamaica. They just have supremely talented athletes and Bolt is a once in a generation sprinter with freakish talent and an impressive work ethic who takes nothing for granted. <<<<——— Words to live by Gabby Douglas!

  190. Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

    NYT article on GD. Tidbits I found interesting:

    “…at least three other coaches refused to coach her following her breakup with Chow.”

    “Right now, though, there are no plans to mass-produce the Gabby Barbie, said Marissa Beck, a Mattel spokeswoman. “Sometimes they go into production, sometimes they don’t,” Beck said. “You never know.”

    Worth a read.

    • dianajc99 Says:

      obviously written by an every 4 year writer.
      Who were the 3 coaches?
      there is still internet at the ranch.

    • Case Says:

      Good article. What jumped out at me is that Natalie and one of Gabby’s sisters work full time at “Gabby, Inc.”

      Leeches.

    • allie Says:

      you know, I’m certainly not a Gabby fan. I was out, pitchfork in hand, when she made the team. (I thought alternate was a fair position)
      However, I have to say that when I take a step back, I do feel sorry for her. She’s the sole breadwinner in the family, and the reason they’re “out of poverty.” That pressure, coupled with what seems to have been a tumultuous upbringing and a lack of good parental guidance… well, it seems tough. Does anyone know if USAG helps look out for these athletes financially? Like set up a trust for minors so their families can’t take such advantage? I know she’s 20 now, but I have to think that most of the money came when she was a minor. I don’t know. I think that happens in film/TV for kids; I don’t know if such protection exists in athletics.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        No USA GYM doesn’t. They don’t even have a wellness program anymore.
        They tend to steer the more talented athlete toward pro status so they can reap some of the rewards.

      • Gymbot Says:

        It’s business in the end, but usag should really be lobbying to let pro athletes compete in ncaa

      • allie Says:

        @Gymbot- totally agree. Not fair that pro gymnasts can’t compete NCAA. I get it for the major sports- basketball, baseball, football, even for tennis, track & field… but it just doesn’t make sense for our sport.
        @dianajc99- that is so irresponsible. I just can’t believe that they don’t help protect the minors’ earnings. Even though they’re not minors when they receive paychecks, I think other pro sports (like football, for example), provide the players with financial consultants, or at minimum some financial training.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        maybe it should be like hollywood where a percentage is placed into a trust that cant be touched until the minor turns 18.

    • tulip Says:

      I thought she went to Nastias dad pre London and was shown the door out of respect for Excalibur. And others did too.

      As for post Chow, who would take her after the remarks about Excalibur, subpar coaching and then the family refusing to pay their bill there. Who would be so desperate? How many coaching changes did she make this quad?

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        I heard that she tried Hill’s Gymnastics too. Not sure how valid that is.

        Hill’s is not exactly coaching elite anymore lol.

      • Guest Says:

        I feel sorry for Chow. I never heard Gabby (and her family) gave any respect or thankful words to Chow after London.
        Shawn always looks Chow as her second Dad and she never forget to show how she is grateful to Chow. That’s all about how do you behave as a person not only a gymnast.

      • Gymbot Says:

        Well Kittia is probably kicking herself for taking her. Chow often said in documentaries over and over that he didn’t poach her, that she came to him after a clinic he taught. She’s now tainted three big gyms in the US but chows looks best to get beyond her bull s

      • JAS4 Says:

        Wasn’t she at Waller’s near L.A. for awhile getting in shape before she officially started her comeback and went back to Chow before going to Buckeye

      • Gymbot Says:

        She trained with Waller and left his reputation intact

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Yes she was at wallers in LA. I wouldn’t doubt Kelli hill and WOGA turning her down, we knew the WOGA thing a long time ago. I think I actually feel sorry for her. Cordelia Price pointed out if you add up AA scores from trials and PG that the top 5 are Simone Laurie Aly gabby and Kocian. I guess at least in that sense it’s fair. THat Barbie doll gig is about a 15k payout considering they aren’t producing the doll, even for charity, that’s what she got paid just for taking the pictures. They won’t make the doll, no one will buy it. Also this is all very sad in that we should all be talking about Simone and Peggy lid dock peeing her pants and Vanessa Ferrari and cata versus Larissa. Not gabby the trainwreck / hot mess banging her coach. This is so sad everyone knew what don peters was doing to doe yashimiro and did nothing, and we’re in the same culture of silence. Even consentually it’s sexual workplace harassment. I feel like no one is going to have Gabbys back and they are all just waiting for her to fail tremendously whichever is just sad. All of it. It’s a tragic side show circus.

  191. dianajc99 Says:

    The girls are on there way to camp hell.

  192. Gymnast41 Says:

    Loved this interview with Simone

    Simone on Aly:

    “It would stress me out if I always thought about gymnastics,” she said. “Aly Raisman (a 2012 gold medalist and one of Biles’ 2016 Olympic teammates) loves talking about it. I love her to death, and she’s like an older sister, but when we’re outside the gym, dude, chill out.”

    Simone on gabby *ahem reality tv shows:

    The Biles family was approached about the possibility of a reality television show but declined.

    “Absolutely not,” Simone Biles said. “I don’t think everything you do should be projected out there. Reality TV is like real, but it’s kind of not.”

    Simone on gymternet:
    “Some people think this is so easy, and they say things like ‘Why can’t you do this?’ and I’m, dude, you can’t even jump 2 feet in the air,” she said. “I thought I did a pretty good job, but if you want to think otherwise, that’s OK, too.”

    • Akshay Says:

      Simone’s answer re: reality TV shows was 100% on point.

    • JAS4 Says:

      I really wouldn’t be surprised if the girls on the actual team not just the alternates are upset about Gabby being on the team. If Gabby is being given the benefit of a doubt to improve over a few weeks then so should Maggie, Skinner, etc…. I am not a fan of secret camp decision but it would have been better to leave the 5th spot open and name a training squad for the last spot and alternate positions and decide closer to Rio.

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        I think they should have just named three at trials and had Maggie, Ragan, skinner, gabby and Maggie and even meals fight it out in secret

      • fatam Says:

        Agreed w/Exgymgurl.

        Name three or Top Three @ Trials, let the others fight it out at the secret camp (wild cards).

        Or take the Top Five @ Trials, otherwise, what’s the point of Trials or training for Trials –the moment of truth– other then breaking girls’ heart, giving them false hope, displaying your unfairness, and profiting off screwing gymnasts over on live TV.

        Don’t call it “Olympic Trials” when a gymnasts who worked long and hard to get 4th and 5th (the moment when it matters), and cannot even go to the Olympics.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        I think i read some wear that the USOC is the one who demands a trials.even if it dosent count for much

  193. Exgymgurl Says:

    And Kocian and locklear…. Sorry

  194. Lithi Says:

    I’m going to call it right now: four years from now Gabby will release a tell-all memoir regarding her family and the pressure she was under for this year.

    Regardless of how I feel about the trials situation I do feel bad for her, she’s the family cash cow and she probably feels she has to take care of them because they’re family.

    • dianajc99 Says:

      I call 8 years.

      • JAS4 Says:

        Ponor to do All-Around in Rio


        This might have been before it was announced that the spot was still up for grabs but it looks like she was planning on trying AA

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        Didn’t know there was an official announcement, but we all saw that coming. I mean, so many videos of her training bars “for fun” weren’t normal. She is going to compete AA final for sure, because her other apparatus compensate her weak bars, but too many people have to have a disastrous competition for her to achieve a medal, while Iordache in her 2015 form would have a real shot to bronze or even silver. What makes me mad is that she could have been an AA medalist, even a gold medalist, in 2004, when she was at her top form and the code would help her to compesate her weak bars with her expertise in other appartus, and she had to wait until now, when Romania can only send just one gymnast, to attempt to do AA because it would be shameful for Romania to not have an AA representative. And it would give Lari more chances to be chosen instead of her. But Cata has already been announced as the chosen gymnasts and the flag bearer. I think that the only way for Lari to compete now is if Cata gets injuried.

  195. H Says:

    How are you GTT?

    From tumblr world:

    The reason I respect her so much (Aliya Mustafina) is because I still can’t work out how she does what she does. In principle we all train at the same level. She doesn’t stand out from the rest of us that much during training. We all work equally hard, we all try equally hard but when she steps out into the arena during a competition she becomes a goddess.
    – Ksenia Afanasyeva (via agymnasticsfan)

  196. dianajc99 Says:

    How does Gabby have time to be going to the movies??

  197. dianajc99 Says:

    rumors.. ernst leaving Florida.

    • Ilanchik20 Says:

      Her and Bailey r attached basically. Wonder if Bailey will recommit too.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      She got placed on medical scholarship and will never compete for Florida again.btheyre trying to make her a team manager of some sorts

      • dianajc99 Says:

        I swear they picked the most unflattering picture of her to post.

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        What happened to her?

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Shoulder injury again. She was only able to compete beam her freshmen year–and that was a hands free routine.

        She doesn’t seem like someone who wants to be a team manager and moving mats or whatever else that may entails.

        I say she will transfer if she can and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bailie to recommit elsewhere.

        I also think that Alyssa will go elsewhere. She expressed some frustration when Rhonda left and now that she is rehabbing, she has time to look at other schools. Perhaps Georgia since that’s where her sister is committed.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        her beam was consistently 9.8 and above.I think shes being a little screwed over here.

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        I would love Alyssa to come to Georgia, God knows they need a beamer

      • Mim Says:

        Peyton had some shoulder surgery recently, right? I didn’t realise it was so serious she can’t compete. Or is Florida being a giant douche to her and not letting her compete? What a shame for her, she seemed to like that school.

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        She had a shoulder injury the summer before she started. She healed up and competed hands free beam almost every week. She was allowed to use her shoulder mid-season so she competed one normal beam and reinjured her shoulder so she had another surgery and rehabbing now.

        She was always underscored too which is weird cause that’s Florida lol

        They r prob being douche because they have so many elites coming in anyways.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      I think the new Florida coach is putting her own stamp on the program. There’s a reason Ashton decommitted, Baumann is deferring, and until bailie signs an NLI it’s just a verbal. Pretty sure this is all over Rhonda leaving. I can’t believe this new coach would risk losing bailie over doing this to Peyton. They won’t win a national championship next year McMurtry and Baker are not Sloan and Hunter. This also level sets as to why Baumann is deferring. She may not have been given an option to redshirt which again hurts recruiting big time. This coach may want to build her team out of level 10 gymnasts and may not care. I think it’s the start of a huge decline for Florida. The elites all talk and no one is going to want to put up with their scholarship being at risk. This means they lose four. Laurie will likely go pro which leaves jazzy and meals. LSU would make room for Peyton as would Georgia. I see Ashton as he Hollie vise of this quad without a world medal. BTW Hollie and the baby aren’t going to Rio 😦 but I wouldn’t take a young baby either. I know Michael Phelps is going to take Boomer but I don’t blame Hollie at all.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        Can the NCAA do that? Refuse a redshirt?

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        They can medically retire you, if you have already competed and they don’t think you are able to compete to the level they expect.. Until you are on campus and proven fit for the team they can drop your scholarship. Football red shirts freshman all the time so that the freshman have time to learn the new system before actually having to play.

  198. dianajc99 Says:

    so according to Oprah Gabby is an “Olympic legend”

  199. Gymnast41 Says:

    The girls all went shopping and had a nice dinner at a steakhouse after workouts today lol. I couldn’t believe it, but it’s true. There are actual photos of Marta out of a warmup for the first time I can remember! Gymternet is jokingly saying it’s all because of Simone’s needs 🙂

  200. Mim Says:

    Afan has announced her retirement 😦

  201. tulip Says:

    http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/30/simone-biles-is-the-best-gymnast-in-the-world

    I’m sure you’ve seen and discussed this since it was 6 weeks ago… but just in case some haven’t it’s a good read

    Interesting points about Marta calling her a spoiled brat and diva because of one bad workout. About the 21 straight days of training pre-worlds and Simone telling the press they were tired. Martas response- the famous 20 minute walk in Glasgow captured on social media.

    Emilia Eberle from Romania saying Marta hit and kicked her (I loved her gymnastics – reminds me of Porgras)

    Simone being asked by young girls who’s better, her or Gabby? (Proving the GD love is the younger set). Aimee telling a boy Simone likes that if he messes with her head before the Olympics, she’ll kill him.

    And finally my favorite. Simone: “why does Marta care such about how I’m going? ” Aimee: “because you’re her swan song “.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Alec yonder did mess with her head, and looks to be dating some other girl, she told Maggie not to like something he posted on Instagram.

  202. Gymnast41 Says:

    Nice article written by Maggie talking about this entire experience. Apparently she got invited to the Olympic camp? https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=18945&prog

    • Tortuga Says:

      This made me proud to be supporting her this long. I doubt she’s lying about being asked to camp. Sounds like a non traveling alternate. But I’m sure she knew there was no chance of them using her and she would just be putting her body through so much pain just to not travel or be used. She made the right decision, and it takes a lot of maturity to be so positive about it.

  203. dianajc99 Says:

    Hey Maggie liked one of my tweets!!

  204. Exgymgurl Says:

    http://olympics.si.com/olympics/2016/07/13/rio-olympics-team-usa-gymnastics-leotards This’s was buried. UA says all Leo’s are red white blue. Plus a pic of one

  205. Gymbot Says:

    Dear GTT, I hope all is well and that you’re on a vacation from posting, but I’ll admit I am worried since you haven’t responded to gym news or even the sweet message from H. Take care for now

  206. Guest Says:

    I just noticed that now Sheryl Shade signed both Shawn and Nastia as agent in the same time.

    Home

    We may remember the time-line that Shade left Shawn and signed Nastia in 2014, then re-signed Shawn but left Nastia in 2015. Now that’s what happened I mentioned. I am just curious that is the agency stuff related why Shawn and Nastia suddenly become friends together this year.

  207. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    Lari and Cata compete in Germany this weekend. I don’t remember in which city, but supposedly it was going to be their last competition before deciding for sure which one would go to Rio. But as Cata has been already announced as representative and the flag bearer for Romania, we can say that the writing is on the wall for Lari.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Larissa fell on bars, her score would have put her 28th aa and cata did not compete bars, but outscored Larissa on floor and beam. Larissa edged on vault by 0.10

  208. Guest Says:

    Ponor wrote a long article in IG. I just wonder who called her b****h and old/ugly.

    • Rocío Martínez López Says:

      I don’t know, but I think she has been receiving some hate because of the situation with Romania’s only spot for the Olympics. Some people who think that Lari should have been named instead of her have told her some unsavory thinks over the social media and have especially critized her age, saying that she was too old and Romania’s past while Lari is the present and the Romanian Federation should concentrate in the future and heavily insulting her. I don’t think she has been called old before and Chuso and Danielle Hypolito, who is going to compete with Brazil at 32, are source of respect and admiration for remaining competitive in a sport in which you are considered old at 20. I don’t think the issue is her age per se, but that people who think that Lari should go instead of her have used that excuse to attack her.

  209. Exgymgurl Says:

    There were pics of her and lari at the airport, they’ve had a complete falling out obvious they don’t like eachother at all. It’s sad.

  210. Gymbee Says:

    Aly named team captain again, Aimee head coach and Mihai assistant coach. Happy for her and Mihai 🙂

  211. dianajc99 Says:

    I agreed with a quote of Dr. Bill Sands – Pretty Girls in Little Boxes was a work of fiction. Very poorly researched. I’m surprised Dvora even mentioned the 1996 book.

    Shade thrown at Joan Ryan by Rick mC.
    in his review of the end of the perfect 10

  212. dianajc99 Says:

    Where we you 20 years ago when this happened?

  213. dianajc99 Says:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3705101/ENTIRE-Russian-team-387-athletes-banned-competing-Rio-Olympics-punishment-country-s-state-sponsored-doping-programme.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline

    Keep in mind the daily mail is a cross between tabloid/real paper. its rum by Murdoc

    • Melanie Says:

      Wowza. Not sure how I feel about this. I feel badly for the athletes who are clean and have been clean, but I also am glad that Russia is being punished for such an egregious act of cheating.

      Here’s the latest Mustafina interview. Poor girl sounds so done.
      http://rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.com/2016/07/no-regrets-aliya-mustafina-reflects-on.html

    • dianajc99 Says:

      It just entered my mind that any wins will be considered “not truly earned” with out russia. Like in ’84

      • dianajc99 Says:

        Soo not fair we should be able to relax until RIO..

      • Guest Says:

        Banning whole Russian Gymnastics team would make some people comparing Simone’s achievement with MLR in boycotted LA in 84. Although now US is dominating, it still isn’t helpful to crown Simone as GOAT.

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      Okay it also says federations can plead their case for exceptions for each sport. FIG has already done this very strongly for Russia to participate. Just breathe until tomorrow.

      • dianajc99 Says:

        yes but lets not forget the the Russian Gymnastics Federation has been caught doping before.
        can the federation throw rhythmic under the bus?

      • Mim Says:

        Remembering Komova’s comments about Simone in all of this. Oh dear, wonder what she thinks of it all now.

        Such a shame for the innocent athletes but I daresay they are conditioned to be all for Mother Russian no matter what and wouldn’t consider competing under the IOC flag (not even sure if that’s possible).

        The Russian WAGs are hardly doping surely. Otherwise they would be competing stronger/better right? But I’m so against cheating so maybe a blanket ban is the way to go who knows.

        Puts us Aussies in a weird place. I wonder if there is a provisional team in place training just in case.

      • Akshay Says:

        What Komova comments about Simone? I missed this.

      • gymbot Says:

        Akshay, at the 2015 WC she made a social media post claiming that it’s unfair that the Americans are on steroids so of course they won the team medal (after the Russian’s failed to secure bronze)

    • dianajc99 Says:

      I think they should be banned too..I just don’t think it should be for. RIO. 2018/20 for sure but its not fair to the athletes at the last minute.
      and what about aus I’m sure they would want to field a competitive team? “not that they have one right now”

    • Guest Says:

      Breaking news: The Russians survive.
      https://www.yahoo.com/news/doping-ioc-not-impose-blanket-ban-russia-rio-140958028–spt.html

      • Exgymgurl Says:

        Yes but it’s up to FIG and the IOC out very strict conditions on the sport federations acceptance of athletes

      • Melanie Says:

        FIG will let them compete. They’ve already said that it would be unfair to impose a blanket ban on the Russian athletes who were clean.

      • tulip Says:

        In reading reactions to this all around the net, it blows me away that people are making the IOC out as the unfair bad guys. (I’m not saying this to anyone here at all, just venting frustration at the reaction out there in general).

        Wrong. The bad guys are the Russian officials who led the cheating racket for so many years. They are the ones who put their athetes ability to compete at risk through lying, cheating and putting doubt on everything done by a Russian athlete. What I read about what they did in Sochi to get doped urine out of there and replaced by clean is astounding to me. I have visions of people wearing all dark clothes in a cat burglar outfit like you see in the movies lol… And we have no way of knowing if anyone has competed clean from Russia since 2008. They even doped table tennis players. You can not make this up!

        And Bruno who considers himself Mr Fair… I can imagine Nelli Kim breathing down his neck as she screams about how unfair it all is. Whats unfair is that she is allowed to be part of the FIG anyway with her history of cheating as a judge. Super fair Bruno.

        Rant over.

      • gymtruthteller Says:

        The thougjt process is that Russia knows all the IOC ‘s hidden cheating and lies and there for let Russia get away with the blatant cheating so they wouldn’t tell the world what the IOC has been doing for oh so many years like taking bribes to decide who gets the Olympics. It’s pretty obvious Russia bought off the IOC for those recent winter Olympics so there is a lot of guilt floating around. Enough for everyone 🙂

      • dianajc99 Says:

        Just like FIFA.. whole house
        needs to be cleaned

      • tulip Says:

        I agree with everything GTT and Diana said. Many of the Russian higher ups involved are also pretty high up in the IOC food chain and is one of the very many reasons that the IOC kept saying that they don’t believe that there was any cheating. Also I’m guessing that some $ were available to make them look the other way.

        The IOC is beyond corrupt. I’m sure the secrets they are protecting by allowing Russia to cheat would be really bad but not surprising.

        Some of the federation heads have either been under investigation or suspected of foul play. And they will be deciding if Russia gets to compete or not. Genius.

        In the end it’s all about the $$ and a ‘give me mine’ mentality. I agree they need to clean house from top to bottom. I think it would be completely appropriate for the US to do what it did with FIFA. Arrest the ones who used US banking systems to launder money. Can you imagine that one? IOC members taken from the games I’m handcuffs.

  214. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    Thought a lot about you guys yesterday. I was in the JFK to catch my plane back to Spain and Moceanu was in the airport’s TV. It was on mute, but after while, her long lost sister appeared, so I supposed it was going about that topic. But I couldn’t help to thing of GTT when I saw her. 🙂

  215. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    About Cata and Lari, they both compited in Germany yesterday. Cata didn’t do UB and Lari fell in UB. Rumour says that she hurt her ankle in said fall, but is not confirmed yet. 😦

    • Exgymgurl Says:

      As I said cata outscored lari on floor and beam, and lari beat cata on vt by 0.1, both of Catas floor and beam scores would have put her into EF at worlds last year. She’s earned it. Larissa is too injured and doesn’t have the difficulty or the consistent execution.

  216. Gymnast41 Says:

    It’s happening y’all. The “Simone/gabby showdown”. Media is taking promos for the Olympics with only them two in it. If they were smart they’d know that Simone needs her own promo and Aly and Laurie will be the true showdown, but we know better. Either the media portrayal of the showdown will translate into what will actually be happening at the Olympics, with gabby being a “miracle after a disastrous trials” and living up to her fame or we would see her living her worst nightmare. You know NBColympics loves drama, so maybe building this unrealistic expectation will stem into major disappointment. Either way, I’m not happy about it. How many times do we need to tell them (with obvious evidence) that this “rivalry” doesn’t exist.

    • JAS4 Says:

      I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t put in Madison and Gabby as AA with Simone just to ensure that Gabby gets that second AA spot.

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        Even then, Kocian had better scores than Gabby in Trials and, if Gabby had the same perfomance in quals than then, she will score even lower, so Kocian and Simone would advance to AA final. In any case, I think that the AAers will be Simone, Laurie and Gabby, because Aly won’t do UB in quals and Kocian won’t do vault, so Gabby will benefit for the third post to try to get into AA final. But in normal circunstances, Laurie should surpass her by far.

  217. Exgymgurl Says:

    Probably Simone will do aa, Aly will be used vt flr beam, gabby will do aa, Kocian bars, Laurie aa. Laurie will beat gabby in quals, and gabby will get the crying Jordyn story. Everyone has to learn to deal with disappointment. Aly into beam and floor finals, gabby into no finals and not used in TF except for bars to rest Simone. Laurie into no EF. Kocian and gabby into the bar final. Simone into the other three finals. TF lineup VT Laurie Aly Simone Bars Laurie gabby Maddy Beam Laurie Aly Simone Floor Laurie Aly Simone. If gabby / Kocian injures out replaced with Ashton. If Aly or Laurie or Simone Injures out replace with MyKayla. Ragan is window dressing.

    • H Says:

      care to elaborate on Laurie no EF, Laurie on vault in TF Aly beam EF (personal very happy with that:)

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      I really want this to happen.

      • JAS4 Says:

        I don’t know I have a feeling they will do whatever to have Gabby in that AA final unless they say she is “injured” and can only do bars. Unless they are going to rely on the judges to do their bidding and make sure she is in the AA final just like they did in 2012

    • dianajc99 Says:

      I agree that they will have her do AA, what I want to know is the line up order. If she is right before Simone you know their tring to screw aly and laurie.

    • Beth Tennant Brigham Says:

      Great analysis, exgymgurl. Agree with all except Ragan would be a great backup on beam.

  218. dianajc99 Says:

    Is it me or is there no Seda in the russian airport photo?

  219. dianajc99 Says:


    this poor girl has had a crap year

  220. byrdisthewyrd Says:

    Well Marta just did an interview basically stating that Gabby will be doing the AA. I’m feeling more disheartened in this sport every day. https://thegymter.net/2016/07/25/martha-karolyi-conference-call-live-blog/

    • dianajc99 Says:

      So USA gym bought a ranch..Nice to see what my memberships dues are paying for..

      • Gymbee Says:

        Quote from the article “Martha will always want to drift into the gym” – like the old crazy grandma no one can get rid of 😂

    • JAS4 Says:

      Marta admits in the interview that Madison is the UB specialist which contradicts her original reasoning for putting Gabby on the team for UB. I think Gabby will do AA and with Marta talking about her beam I wouldn’t be surprised if she puts Gabby on beam in TF lol.

    • Rocío Martínez López Says:

      Aly is officially screwed. I seriously doubt that Martha would put her near beam. It would be suicide, especially taking into account that her D-score is not better than Simone’s, Aly’s and Laurie’s.

      • JAS4 Says:

        I was surprised she put her on beam in TF in London. I know Jordyn was having trouble with some connections but she was usually scored ok and was reliable and Gabby was iffy and most people wouldn’t have taken the risk of putting her on beam in TF so I wouldn’t be surprised if she does it again lol

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        Marta may be crazy but who would she replace Gabby with? It would be stupid to put Gabby over Simone, Aly or Laurie. Simone won beam at the last 2 worlds, Aly is there to do beam (among other things) and Laurie won beam at trials. If these 3 r not doing beam in TF, Marta has officially lost it lol. Or maybe she has haha.

      • JAS4 Says:
      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        The only excuse she might present for Gabby to do beam in team finals is to substitute Laurie for Gabby and for her to say that she wanted someone with experience for such a difficult apparatus and was worried that Laurie could be betrayed by nerves in her first Olympics. But that would be stupid, especially when every Olympics there are newcomers perfoming beam flawlessly for team USA, but is an excuse as good as the next. That or Marta really was forced to bring Gabby and wants for her to expose herself as payback. She knows that USA can win gold even with one fall on beam, so she has room to be a little spiteful if she wants.

  221. Gymnast41 Says:

    From The Gymternet’s live conference with Marta Karolyi:

    12:36 pm. “Can you give us an update on Gabby’s progress?”
    “Gabby is doing very very good. Her attitude is extremely positive, very open to any suggestions and corrections in her training, and actually I don’t even know if she missed any beam routines in our last four or five days. I’m pleased. It certainly is a work in progress and every day we’re doing improvements, so I’m pretty confident that she will be able to function well.”
    “Will there be an Amanar?”
    “She is improving. She gets in shape in the last stretch. Most girls were at a higher level at trials, but she’s made great strides and she is really really looking good. I’m thinking that by the time we get to Rio, she will be able to be proud of her second Olympics. There will be no Amanar, but she improved her beam consistency and her bars look excellent at a 6.5 start value. You can’t put everything on one single skill.”

    • tulip Says:

      Can’t put everything on one single skill but that same skill is the rationale for not choosing Maggie. Liar.

      And she really said that by Rio Gabby WILL be able to be proud of her gymnastics? How about all the girls who have been proud of their gymnastics since nationals and we’re ready? What hypocrisy and blatant lies. I’m more disgusted than ever. Thanks Steve Penny you greedy ahole.

      • JAS4 Says:

        They should’ve let the camels and peacocks decide the team. They probably would’ve been less biased and greedy.

      • tulip Says:

        JAS4 wins the Internet today!

      • JAS4 Says:

        Unless NBC Olympics were using camels and peacocks as code for Penny and Marta in which case I wonder who is the camel and who is the peacock? I don’t know how people can defend Gabby being on this team and I definitely don’t know how they can defend her being in the AA. MyKayla or Maggie (or even Smith) should have been on this team. Either of them would have complemented well with Madison. Gabby on the team takes a shot at AA finals away from one of the girls who has earned it. Not to mention Gabby’s performances since the beginning of the year deteriorated while Maggie and MyKayla continued to improve. If anything that last spot should have been left open and they could have competed for it at camp.(Although I am sure the camel and the peacock would have made sure the outcome was still the same)

  222. Guest Says:

    GTT needs to start a new page. This thread is too long to read now. LOL

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      I know sorry I am trying to get motivated but I can’t think of anything to blog
      Even my blog title are becoming repetitive. I don’t even know when the Olympics starts

      • sanitynmotion Says:

        CalL the blog “new comments page…I’m clocked out” and we’ll be satisfied lol

      • Gymnast41 Says:

        Name it “Olympics are coming: lets just see what happens” lol

  223. Guest Says:

    Any one guess the secret project that Shawn/Nastia is working for? Though I love Shawn in person, I still think it is weird and she may be too kind that she is getting close with Nastia from last year because Shawn was mocked and thrown shade by her not only one time.

    • gymnerd Says:

      Pokemon Go?

    • Rocío Martínez López Says:

      I would say that the relatioship between Nastia and Shawn has the same goal that the one between Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly at the end of “Chicago”. An ex-gymnast is something we see with regularity…two united in the same espectacle, however, is much more profitable.

    • Gymbee Says:

      My naivety strieks again haha! I thought for a while how lovely it is that they put away their differences, forgive and forget, they have the same experiences and can relate to each other blabla and then BOOM there it is “cant wait to show you our project” lol.

  224. Case Says:

    So we totally already knew this but per the Washington Post “But Karolyi has been sufficiently impressed with Douglas’s progress that she hinted she’d compete in all four events during preliminaries — a requirement to vie for the individual all-around gold.”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/us-gymnastics-coach-gabby-douglas-making-strides-after-disappointing-trials/2016/07/25/64bfd2bc-52a8-11e6-b7de-dfe509430c39_story.html

    Sorry Aly!

    • JAS4 Says:

      Didn’t Aly make the comment awhile back that she knew she wasn’t there for bars or wouldn’t be used on bars or something like that? I wonder if she was told awhile back that she isn’t going to do AA? Unless they decided to keep Laurie from AA since she is new and not pro like Kyla in 2012. I could see them keeping the AAers all pro like in 2012 unless they are sure Laurie will go pro after the Olympics.

    • gymtruthteller Says:

      She also said Gabby has had a great attitude bit there have been several pictures of her in the back ground from camp where she is the same miserable little bitch she’s always been. Marta can say what she wants and maybe pictures don’t tell everything but there is no way Gabby has changed her attitude.When people pretend to be nice it shows. No o ne buys this bull shit Marta is selling

      • JAS4 Says:

        They are going out of their way to make up any reason whatsoever for her to be on the team and do AA. Aly and Laurie should be doing the AA and I think MyKayla or Maggie should be on the team.

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      I called this weeks ago (that Gabby would be doing the AA). They need to sell the story of her “defending her former title.” She was going to be doing the AA no matter what.

      I doubt she can change her attitude much in 9 days. It’s been 4 years and she still has the same shitty attitude, only worse now that she has “Olympic gold medalist” attached to her name.
      Entitled as all get out.

      So anyways, Aly probably knew she’d be getting screwed for AA but she’s had her chances and at least she can go for a floor and beam medal.

      I feel like Laurie will be given the privilege of doing the AA this time around too. Last Olympics it was Aly, Jordyn and Gabby this time it will be Simone, Gabby, and Laurie.

      And last Olympics we had Maroney as the event specialist “but had to back up on all 4 if needed” – same with Kocian this time around.

      So basically Aly is the 2012 Kyla (limited to being a specialist despite having proven herself in the AA).

      • G Says:

        Yep, I felt the same way. As soon as Gabby was announced to that team I knew she be doing AA. Sucks but it is what it is. I can’t get mad about it anymore, too much wasted energy lol but it does infuriate me

      • Ilanchik20 Says:

        I’m so frustrated but I need to stop. Both Aly and Laurie worked so hard for those AA spots. And Aly looks better now than she did in 2012. Unlike Gabby, she made this team fair and square.

        If Aly doesn’t do AA, at least Laurie is consistent. She should be able to beat Gabby, if the judges don’t make some wild scores for GD a la 2012.

        I’m still not convinced that Marta will give an AA spot to a first year senior over Aly but who knows.

        I guess we’ll know when they do podium training.

      • Laura Says:

        I agree entirely and in a perfect world….Maggie wouldn’t have been hurt, would have retained her Floor and Vault scores and would be on the team to complement Kocian, so we could have 3 all-around spots available. Problem is, Marta sees Gabby as a potential for UB finals (ala 2015 worlds), so not using her in the prelims doesn’t make sense because she may lose a medal (…although I think it’s unlikely that she would medal). So, if she uses that thought as she did when she elected not to take Skinner for a possible vault medal, it is possible that Gabby may sit bars and Aly and Laurie go up for AA, but Marta will do what is best for the TEAM, not the individuals, so guess it will depend on how the girls do in the next couple of weeks. Maggie sat out bars in prelims and ended up doing bars in finals, so she’s done this trick before.

      • H Says:

        Martha said in c-call that some gymnast didnt have the same level as trials. I guess Miha is good pasing so Aly should normally be in a good place. So maybe her aa chances are good?

  225. dianajc99 Says:

    Simone emoji coming soon..

  226. Ilanchik20 Says:

    Russia is cleared to compete but it seems there are some injuries:

    1) Paseka’s back is injured again. It seems they have to wait until Aug 3rd to see if her doctor will clear her
    2) Melnkova will compete watered down routines because of the hamstring injury

    This doesn’t bode well for a team medal

    http://rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.com/2016/07/russian-artistic-gymnasts-all-clean.html?m=1

    • sanitynmotion Says:

      Gawd, as if the field weren’t weak enough already.
      As to Marta doing what’s best for the team, they could fall 5 times and still get gold at this point. Marta will do what Penney wants and what’s best for advertising. Put Gabby in the AA to “defend her title.” Wouldn’t be surprised if Gabby makes it over Laurie either in fact I expect it. Marta can’t have Aly mess up those plans for Gabby so Aly won’t be going for the AA. And if Laurie makes it she’s another face for diversity and a pretty girl with pretty gymnastics. Penney doesn’t mind having her be the next face for USAG.

    • Rocío Martínez López Says:

      Sorry for publishing the same information, Ilianchik, it seems your post appeared while I was writing mine. Sanity, I don’t think that Russia is a threat for the USA. The only competitor they have is China if they don’t fall. Russia can get bronze if they don’t have a meltdown and GB does. But it seems that they will rely on Aliya to bring home any individual medals (and maybe on Dasha). Aliya can be a threat for the AA (not for Simone, of course) if she has been able to improve her floor, as the rest of her scores are similar to those she had in London (even she improved her beam a little bit). But if she still has a watered down routine on floor, she is out of contention. In Gabby’s case, I have trouble believing she will improve in less than a month so much to be able to get close to Laurie, who was around five spots above her in Trials even with gifts. If she presents a similar perfomance as Trials (without discounting the gifts they gave her at Trials, that were a lot), she had a maximum of 58.900. There are at least ten gymnasts with AA scores above hers this year. Simone (61.850), Laurie (60.850), Melnikova (59.525 at Russian Cup), Seda (59.075 at Russian Cup), Chusong (59.050 in Chinese Nationals, even when we know that Chinese judges are specially though in Nationals), Ellie Downie (don’t remember exactly, but she was above 60.000 in british qual nationals this year), Claudia Fragapane (had 58.100 in the AA final of the British Nationals, but had more than 59.000 in quals), that without adding Giulia Steingruber, Onyshko, Flavia Saravia, Eugenia Shelgounova, Sophie Schreder and Eythora, who had scores around the big 58 this year without the improvements they were getting ready for Rio. In the case of Giulia, if she debutes her new vault, she would surpass the 59 mark if she doesn’t mess up in bars. And we can´t forget about Aliya and Cata, who is going to go for the AA for sure. Nobody trains so many times UB for “fun”. Many of this gymnasts aren’t known for their consistency, but Gabby isn’t very consistent either. Do you really think that, if Laurie mess up for nerves or inexperience and Gabby surpasses her with a score of around 58.000, there won’t be three of these gymnasts who will surpass her in the finals, even with gifts? If Marta is going for two AA medallists, she would have much more options if the third AAer was Aly or even Kocian, who had higher scores in Trials. If Gabby manages to qualify for the AA, I don’t think that she is going to end up close to the podium with the latest scores we know of her. No way.

  227. Rocío Martínez López Says:

    Following Keine Kleon, Paseka has an injury in her back and they don’t know if she is going to compete. Melnikova isn’t at her best either. If they end calling Nabieva to Rio, it would make my day, really. I know it’s a very long shot, but not as long as it seemed. Nabieva was about sixth or seventh in the AA at Russian Nationals.

    • Gymnast41 Says:

      Oh my god…I really hope Paseka isn’t injured

      • Rocío Martínez López Says:

        They say that they won’t know if she can compete until August 3rd, but I don’t know how serious her injury is. It could have been going on for some time, as she didn’t have a good performance at Russian Cup and Nationals either, and missed Euros. They said that it was minor and, in Nationals, they said that she was sick, but it seems way more serious than that. Melnikova was rumored that she had a pulled hamstring, but that she was going to compete despite the injury.

  228. dianajc99 Says:

    wonder where the alternates are staying.

  229. dianajc99 Says:

  230. Gymbee Says:

    Little documentary on Simone: https://vimeo.com/175789869

    What strikes me is the humility and the grace. She had a very hard early life, but they’re not spinning it as a sob story at all, unlike certain others……

  231. dianajc99 Says:

    #twitterfail
    MLR..really, really wants us to save the children..

  232. dianajc99 Says:

    Warning..how would you like to be in the store and turn the corner and run into that..

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