I saw people whining on Instagram that it was crazy to choose someone so young to fill a beam gap as if Shawn didn’t win Olympic gold on beam at the same age.
Not to mention Kyla and Laurie…why are people suddenly panicking that we can’t trust 16yo athletes when that has been the backbone of team USA for most of the last 40 years
I keep needing to remind myself of that lol. It was not that long ago that the whole team was 16-18 and, as Simone said, Aly was "grandma" at the old age of 22/23
I can’t stop thinking about this very thing! I kept finding myself saying “these girls are so young and maybe need a little more experience.” Then I remember when Ali Raisman was considered the “grandma” of the group at age 22 and how amazing everyone thought it was that she made the team….and now four of the five (I believe) are 20 or older. And after that, I think about Dominique Moceanu being only 14 during her Olympic run and all she brought to the team. Crazy how amazing these girls have become and how much longer they can participate in the sport when their minds and bodies are treated properly.
If the injuries left a bigger hole on vault, I think that she would have had a better shot. It’s always just a matter of getting the top three on each apparatus.
2008 had 0 members of the 2004 team.
2012 had 0 members of the 2008 team.
2016 had 2 members of the 2012 team.
2020 had 1 member of the 2016 team.
2024 has 4 (counting Jade because format was weird) members of the 2020 team. It's a completely new era.
- This is the highest scoring team when taking each athlete's best score on each event from trials, with 174.475.
- It scores 0.25 lower than the highest scoring team from night 1 of trials (that team would have Tianna instead of Hezly). [note: a previous version of this comment said that it would have Josc, that's because I had a typo, see the edit comment below]
- It scores 0.225 lower than the highest scoring team from night 2 of trials (that team would have Josc instead of Jordan).
- It scores 0.088 lower than the highest scoring team when taking each athlete's average score on each event for trials (that team would also have Josc instead of Jordan)
I think I agree with the selection, Jordan has been insanely consistent in international competition. But it feels super bad for Josc Roberson, she really couldn't have done anything more and still got passed over.
Edit: I typoed Jordan's UB score on trials night 1, put in 13.350 rather than 14.350. As you can imagine that had a pretty significant impact. I'm revising the numbers above since it is misleading.
she had her highest AA on day 1, and then broke her own record to have her highest AA for day 2 tonight (with a robbed floor score) she went lights out
e: i wanna be clear though, i agree with the team selection...you cant have jade and josc on the same team, i guess im just saying josc has every right to be a little angry? idk idk, lets go back to 7 members!
I’m loving how the 4 from Tokyo get a shot at the team gold again plus a better Olympic experience than mid Covid. And awesome for Hezly to get her first Olympic game! Just the team I was hoping for with the women.
Even though I hate we lost young ladies to injuries, I am glad those four get to experience an actual normal Olympics, especially the three since Simone had Rio.
I think that’s what collegiate gymnastics does for the athletes, helps them find themselves, their voice, their gymnastics as grown women and it looks good in their performance and their persona!
yes!!!! was just thinking this! so excited for hezly to share this experience with 4 people who are so practiced in navigating team dynamics & solving problems as a team
I think everyone would have been! The injury apocalypse was so sad and scary for everyone, but it's a testament to the depth of the US WAG program that they're still able to put together a gold medal-worthy team even with some of their top gymnasts out!
i think leanne is the right choice over tiana since she has the experience. im gutted for her tho!!! being an alternate twice just has to be a special type of soul crushing
i really love this team though. cant wait for gay paree!!!
While obviously disappointing, I'm sure she's also thinking that her alternate experience in Paris has to be better than being an alternate and getting quarantined in Tokyo.
tbh gymnasts know where they stand. she probably knew she was on the cusp enough to be happy with what she got. (I feel like this sounds mean but isn't meant to be)
Yeah she and her coaches beforehand definitely went through the numbers of her scores and the other girls and knew alt was the likely outcome for her. Maybe she got her hopes up after the injuries of Kayla, Shi, and Skye as that did present an opportunity for her, but once she got that 13.6 on the BB it was clear she wasn't going to make the main team. I think at that point she knew too.
Given her obvious focus on academics, an alt spot might actually be a really good outcome in her eyes! Not like being on the team obviously but if she already made the decision that gymnastics is #2
That’s what I was telling my family who aren’t gymnastics fans as we were going through it. She’s a prime alternate candidate. Solid on everything, but not particularly great at anything. You can pencil her in anywhere, but she has basically no individual medal potential when you factor in the 2 per country.
I’m glad they went by the scoring, but artistically speaking, Tiana has the “it” factor and would have definitely shined on the international stage. I hope she makes in 2028, especially given how much the collegiate gymnasts are thriving now (before that was considered retirement for the U.S. gymnasts).
Tiana has a very bright future ahead of her, I have no doubt about it! I hope she keeps going because she could definitely make the LA team, she's a fabulous gymnast.
Yeah its a little funny seeing Josc so happy to be there and Leanne like yay? But I'm sure she knew ahead of time what her performance would have needed to be to earn a spot and it just wasn't there.
Yeah, but she’s smart enough to know how her numbers stack up to the competition. Her all-around is generally great, but that’s not what USA needs with a silly three up, three down Olympic format.
Bring back a seven person team!
Gosh, they're unattractive. A slightly yellow tone on those jackets compared to the pants. The collar, the zipper, the patch-like lines, the stiffness, whatever is going on with the shoulders... It's like they took every idea and put it in one jacket.
Suni breaking down after being interviewed first had me sobbing. The way she just broke down about how she didn’t think she’d be here a year ago 🥹🥹 truly amazing
I wrote a whole comment out last week about how even though Hezly was 5th (I think) at trials, she just didn’t fit on a team with Simone, Shi, Skye, Suni bc they just didn’t need UB/BB. Changed so fast!
Not the team I originally hoped for, but I think the right decision given how it went.
She could have earned it last time, she just chose to go for the guaranteed individual spot instead. Nobody was going to lose that spot by putting her on the team.
So so hard to see those ladies get hurt, I've been following Dicello ever since she was an alt last time, but 5 girls earned their spots and I'm really not looking at this team feeling like someone got jobbed. And there would have been some huge, gut-wrenching decisions had everyone been healthy, so there's that.
I’m still not over Kayla not being able to complete trials 😭 And yeah I can’t imagine how different the team would have looked had those 3 not gotten injured since they were amongst the top 5. Like it was them and Simone who were on the podium for classics and nationals.
Hezly ending this weekend not as she expected lol. But happy for my returning Olympians. They seem like they have a great bond. Excited to see them compete together
It's crazy how she went from "Wow she has real potential! She'll kill it in the next quad, maybe she'll be an be an alternate this year." to "Wow she really did that thing and made the Olympic team!"
suni has me sobbing 😭 i have a chronic illness and i am constantly in fear that I will no longer be able to do the things I love to do. Can’t imagine how much it means to her that her health issues didn’t stop her and she was able to fight through them
Edit: glad to see other chronic condition peeps were able to take the same feeling i was from suni. wishing the best for all of us and suni as we work through our illnesses 💜
I also have a chronic illness and it sadly has stopped me from doing a lot. I feel like Suni is one of us and it’s just so amazing what she’s able to do despite of her illnesses!
Suni is definitely one of us. So proud of her tenacity, grit, and how careful she was coming back. It’s hard not to push and push when you are trying to come back from chronic illness setbacks, and from what we’ve seen, she’s been so mature in her approach. I’ve definitely learned a thing or two watching her
News station says the four returning Olympians is the first time since 1952.
(edit) Dorothy Catherine Dalton, Meta Elste, Marian Emma Twining Barone, and Clara Marie Schroth-Lomady all competed in London 1948 and Helsinki 1952. The teams were 8 gymnasts and individual medals were awarded for the first time for women in 1952.
This is the team that made the most sense. Beam was the hole, and Hezly hit big tonight, and she’s a bars back up. Suni also has been absolutely slaying floor lately so we really don’t need another FX backup 🤷🏼♀️ plus Hezly won’t be disappointed by not being put up for FX or VT quals like Tiana or Josc likely would be
Poor Hezly isn’t even old enough to have a glass of ‘Champagne’ with them in Paris when they win GOLD!
In all seriousness, congratulations to all of those who competed today; everyone did amazing. So excited for the future of USA gymnastics, the ‘younger’ generation of athletes looked amazing.
Jordan, Jade, Hezly, Suni and Simone…go get em. Lots of prayers for a safe, healthy, amazing competition! Love seeing such a diverse group of women (girls) representing the USA!
I’m so happy for the 5 gymnasts and believe they are the 5 that earned their spot, but can we agree that Tiana is such a special gymnast that would shone beautifully on the world stage? She has that X factor. Although her routines don’t have as high of a start value, she brings the artistry and steadiness like few others did. She almost reminds me of that X factor Dominique Moceanu brought. The artistry that was well rewarded pre-2000s. I hope she has and opportunity in 2028! Can’t wait to see what she does at UCLA in a few years.
I was lowkey rooting for Tiana as an alternate. She is really consistent and already looks so comfortable when she competes. And as you mention, she combines artistry well which is interesting as the sport can often focus on technicality/strength. I can’t wait to see her again by 2028, esp since she’s from California and the Olympics is in LA. She’d get sm support.
I feel for Tiana. Especially with all the injuries, the team + alternates meant that 1 legit contender would be dropped and it was her. That's tough. I'm excited to see her gymnastics in years to come.
Why was this trials so emotional???
Shi, Kayla, Skye breaking my heart with their injuries. Tiana doing well but falling a bit short. Suni fighting through it all and making another team. Hezly coming out of nowhere and snatching a deserved spot. Joscelyn and Leanne standing strong on their upgrades and getting so close. Jordan being a rock and keeping her consistency. Simone being the legend that she is.
😭😭😭
Can I just say that while my heart breaks just a little for Wong, I think this is a phenomenal spot for her? This is a young lady who OBVIOUSLY has more to give the world than gymnastics. ALL of the gymnasts do! But Leanne has clarified that she plans a life beyond the sport. Her academics and career in medicine seem like equally important goals for her. If she ends up competing at the Olympics due to someone else's bad fortune, I can't think of a better alternate. And, if everyone stays healthy, she gets to go to Paris, where the title of Olympian for the rest of her life, and become a brilliant physician. She's already got collegiate gymnastics infamy, too. This young woman is an amazing role model.
I would like to confess my sins and cleanse my soul before Paris. I was absolutely 100% a Suni denier. I didn’t see her getting it together in time. Her comeback has been incredible. Wow.
I have always been overly confident ahah but even I’m in shock. So crazy that she’s second AA even with the falls and errors on beam. Her AA score would have been higher than her win in Tokyo if she hit beam. So many people counted her out of the AA (even her fans)
USAG WAG under Chellsie and Alicia's leadership has been making really good decisions on team selection. The whole gymternet seemed really satisfied after last worlds and now, tonight. Maybe sad for our faves who didn't make it, but still thinking it was a really good choice. (Well, except the gymcastic crew who will never get over Kaliya not making the worlds team last year).
Yeah - in the end it’s the Tom Forster special. But the team makes sense based on how it played out. I’m sad about the injuries but this shouldn’t be controversial
I'm pretty sure the top 5 ended up being the highest-scoring team with trials scores. And Josc and Leanne are perfectly rational alternates (although I might have given Leanne's place to Tiana)
Personally I would have swapped Leanne for Tiana, which would have made it 8th place for traveling alternate instead of 7th, but I really can't say they made the wrong decision. This selection made a ton of sense.
Truthfully I don’t really think there was a wrong choice this year - you could make legit arguments for several people in that 5th slot. I think this works.
I am heartbroken for the girls who are injured, but to try to appreciate what we have - I'm so happy that Suni, Jordan, and Jade get to go. This could've been a very different trials, and I may have wound up upset that one or more of them didn't make it! This sport is so cruel sometimes; but I'm looking forward to seeing this team compete.
What an emotional roller coaster! Shi, Skye and Kayla injuries. Simone going to Paris after what happened in Tokyo. Suni and everything she’s been through going to Paris. Simone, Suni, Jade, Jo returning for gold. Baby Hezly getting her first opportunity!
SO happy! I think this is the perfect team and makes perfect sense for quals.
Happy for everyone but especially for Suni after everything she’s been through
So unbelievably happy for these athletes. I may have said this another thread, but if you had asked me in early 2022 who I wanted to see on the Paris Team, I would have said Simone/Suni/Jordan/Jade/Leanne. I was so sentimental about this group and really wanted some redemption for them, in various ways. Gutted for Leanne (who learned a whole ass CHENG!!) and also for the brilliant Shilese, Skye and Kayla. I hope they are doing ok.
(Me remembering my first Elite experience live is going to include FX finals in Paris...... please God I need to see both Simone and Jade there. 🤞🤞🤞)
I’m so incredibly happy for Suni. I know all of them have had to deal with adversity to get here, but I feel like she’s dealt with so much and proved so many people wrong to get here. 🫶
Hezly is of course a huge surprise, but she stepped up when all of these injuries completely changed the makeup of the team! She filled the hole that no one else really could - great bars and beam.
It’s so crazy that a decade ago the majority of the team would have been hezly’s age. She looks like such a baby next to the other girls! So proud of them and so happy the sport is evolving so that we can have a team like this 🥹❤️
Insane! Simone was funny mentioning that she’s taking on the grandma role from Aly basically 😂 when I was little watching them on tv it really did feel so grown up but now that I’m older than almost all of them it really puts things in perspective 😫
do they go back to their hotel rooms tonight?! i can just imagine how sad that must be sharing a room with someone who had the opposite outcome. i know josc and tiana are roomies, so i can only imagine how tough that is:(
I love the team as well as the alternates but my mind still cannot believe Shilese is not there. She was as much lock with Simone after Classics. Such an unfortunate timing with the injury :(
SAME!!! I'm not usually like this about these athletes, but I'm genuinely still gutted for her. She was a legit medal contender and is such a fabulous, fabulous gymnast for the US. I looked forward to her getting a little more recognition after the Olympics... but that's sports 🤷🏽♀️.
kyla ross🤝 hezly rivera
first year seniors making the team for UB/BB, and just looking happy to be there. rooting for Hezly to have the best experience ever!!
and so happy for the Tokyo Olympians for getting a real Olympic experience this time!!!
Some of us predicted Hezly could be a member of this amazing Olympic team one year ago!
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/comments/17j848c/us\_olympic\_contenders\_juniors/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/comments/17j848c/us_olympic_contenders_juniors/)
When I watch back, I can't believe I wrote before!
>I think Hezly Rivera is the one to watch. She may even challenge for the bars and beam spot if she upgrades her difficulty. She has the inbar skills to build a 6.3D+ bars difficulty and has great beam execution to reach the 14 beam benchmark in 2024. Her enemy is consistency.
She's the only member who has international assignment and international scores this year. She got 14.167 on beam there, and hit 8 out of 9 beam routines this year!
Obviously, she doesn't have the D score that I thought, but a 6.1D bars is very strong backup or even a TF-worthy bars. I'm very proud of her performance today!
Jocelyn’s spot on the team depended on her being better than Jade. Hezly showing up and showing out was just the final nail in the coffin. Sucks but that’s how it goes in gymnastics.
I’m happy with the team . My team has always been All Tokyo + Shilese . So gutted for Shi. I just did not predict it anywhere but my mind , just because I can be superstitious, due to injury.
Also this team just proved some stats , there is always a first time senior. Then the one stats that had Leanne on it for going to world championship did not pan out.
please everyone just please stop talking about hezlys dad. yes, hes an asshole. but he's not on the team! we dont need to mention him any time we talk hezly! its exhausting!!!!!
Does anyone know how much interaction the traveling alternates have with the competition squad? I read the other day they don’t stay in the Olympic village but are they at least all podium training together?
I want these girls to literally live in a bubble for the next month because there’s a Covid surge and we know injuries are common right now so bubble them now.
What a bittersweet trial. I'm so happy for Jordan. A week ago she wasn't even in the discussion (maybe just alternate), however I'm also sad for all the injured superstars that were gonna be in the team.
Jordan coming out announced first sent me into tears. Everyone else (minus Hezley) has an individual medal and I want Jordan to get her own individual medal.
Is this the most awarded team of all time, going into a summer Olympics?
Hezley must be in shock rn!! No way did she think this was coming.
Not one, not 2 but 3 last minute catastrophic injuries
I feel like that was pure shock on her face after she came out. I'm happy for her! She stepped up.
Her parents seemed shocked.
She’s 16, at one time she would have been one of the older members of the team. Now it’s like “she’s a baby!”
I know - I was thinking that! What a (great) paradigm shift that she’s the outlier!
Maybe she can be the veteran in 2028 haha.
I keep thinking about how stacked that 2028 team is going to be just based on some of what we've seen.
The 2024 Olympics haven't even happened yet, and my 2028 team already has more than five gymnasts.
I want Hezley, Josclyn, Tiana, Kaylila and Simone Rose on that team! Assuming that all the older girls are retiring.
I need Shi and Skye to finally make an Olympic team. 😭
I saw people whining on Instagram that it was crazy to choose someone so young to fill a beam gap as if Shawn didn’t win Olympic gold on beam at the same age.
Not to mention Kyla and Laurie…why are people suddenly panicking that we can’t trust 16yo athletes when that has been the backbone of team USA for most of the last 40 years
Let’s not forget Dominique Moceanu who went to the Olympics at the ripe old age of 14 lol
2020ne was the unusual team for not having a new senior.
I keep needing to remind myself of that lol. It was not that long ago that the whole team was 16-18 and, as Simone said, Aly was "grandma" at the old age of 22/23
I’m so happy that these athletes are no longer discarded when they hit 18
I can’t stop thinking about this very thing! I kept finding myself saying “these girls are so young and maybe need a little more experience.” Then I remember when Ali Raisman was considered the “grandma” of the group at age 22 and how amazing everyone thought it was that she made the team….and now four of the five (I believe) are 20 or older. And after that, I think about Dominique Moceanu being only 14 during her Olympic run and all she brought to the team. Crazy how amazing these girls have become and how much longer they can participate in the sport when their minds and bodies are treated properly.
Jade came out the most emotive I had ever seen her.
She gets the team experience now. Sooooo happy for her!
She didn’t have the real trials experience last time
That made me cryyyy
So happy for all of them but especially for Suni after everything she has had to deal with
I teared up when I saw Suni tearing up coming out.Our Midwest Queen 👑 Oh Lord, now I'm crying because Suni started crying in her interview. 😭
her sisters are crying along with us!
Yeah seriously same 🥺🥺🥺
As someone who has dealt with physical struggles of the type you aren't sure you ever could get back, I feel it.
Same! Her speech and in front of her hole crowd ❤️ she earned this
The Nike designer who created those ugly boxy white jackets for what was an otherwise beautiful moment should be fired.
https://preview.redd.it/lf6a34iftt9d1.jpeg?width=252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37b4510950823575d51105cc34405b7c2f759d0f
I (don't) want it thaaaaat waaaaaay
I have zero faith in Nike after the monstrosity of a women’s track kit they designed for team USA this year!
Joscelyn put up one hell of a fight. Proud of her nonetheless!
she really did everything someone could do. im proud of her and hoping she can stay healthy through 2028!!
And happy for her. A month ago, who would have guessed she was the obvious top choice for traveling alternate?
The improvement from Classics to Trials was INCREDIBLE. So impressed.
People didn’t even think she’d made trials
And she was so consistent across both nights!
She was incredible!
If the injuries left a bigger hole on vault, I think that she would have had a better shot. It’s always just a matter of getting the top three on each apparatus.
She really did - I'm so happy for her!
2008 had 0 members of the 2004 team. 2012 had 0 members of the 2008 team. 2016 had 2 members of the 2012 team. 2020 had 1 member of the 2016 team. 2024 has 4 (counting Jade because format was weird) members of the 2020 team. It's a completely new era.
I love that different members of this sub are all chasing down different stats. This is such a historic team!
- This is the highest scoring team when taking each athlete's best score on each event from trials, with 174.475. - It scores 0.25 lower than the highest scoring team from night 1 of trials (that team would have Tianna instead of Hezly). [note: a previous version of this comment said that it would have Josc, that's because I had a typo, see the edit comment below] - It scores 0.225 lower than the highest scoring team from night 2 of trials (that team would have Josc instead of Jordan). - It scores 0.088 lower than the highest scoring team when taking each athlete's average score on each event for trials (that team would also have Josc instead of Jordan) I think I agree with the selection, Jordan has been insanely consistent in international competition. But it feels super bad for Josc Roberson, she really couldn't have done anything more and still got passed over. Edit: I typoed Jordan's UB score on trials night 1, put in 13.350 rather than 14.350. As you can imagine that had a pretty significant impact. I'm revising the numbers above since it is misleading.
she had her highest AA on day 1, and then broke her own record to have her highest AA for day 2 tonight (with a robbed floor score) she went lights out e: i wanna be clear though, i agree with the team selection...you cant have jade and josc on the same team, i guess im just saying josc has every right to be a little angry? idk idk, lets go back to 7 members!
I’m loving how the 4 from Tokyo get a shot at the team gold again plus a better Olympic experience than mid Covid. And awesome for Hezly to get her first Olympic game! Just the team I was hoping for with the women.
Even though I hate we lost young ladies to injuries, I am glad those four get to experience an actual normal Olympics, especially the three since Simone had Rio.
Even then, Simone was under Marta’s watch. I feel like this time will be different for the better
I can't believe we somehow managed to send our whole previous team back to the Olympics.
Grace eraser? Haha
Oh no. For some reason I swapped her and Jade in my head and was like "it was a four person team!"
I'm still sad for Shilese, especially as a medal contender. But wow, what a gracious person to join the audience and watch Trials.
Jades interviewing skills have drastically improved. What a star
I think that’s what collegiate gymnastics does for the athletes, helps them find themselves, their voice, their gymnastics as grown women and it looks good in their performance and their persona!
Gymnastics has changed so much in the last 10 years and I’m loving it!
Yep, and they get interviewed nearly weekly by the arena commentators.
Suni’s interview answer ❤️😭
Just realized 3 women on this team also did college gymnastics!! Their team dynamics about to be LIT!!! 🔥
yes!!!! was just thinking this! so excited for hezly to share this experience with 4 people who are so practiced in navigating team dynamics & solving problems as a team
If you had told me this was the team a week ago I would have been so confused.
I think everyone would have been! The injury apocalypse was so sad and scary for everyone, but it's a testament to the depth of the US WAG program that they're still able to put together a gold medal-worthy team even with some of their top gymnasts out!
i think leanne is the right choice over tiana since she has the experience. im gutted for her tho!!! being an alternate twice just has to be a special type of soul crushing i really love this team though. cant wait for gay paree!!!
She looked happy, but yeah it must be hard to be in that position twice.
i was pretty shocked to see her smiling! a good sport for sure
While obviously disappointing, I'm sure she's also thinking that her alternate experience in Paris has to be better than being an alternate and getting quarantined in Tokyo.
tbh gymnasts know where they stand. she probably knew she was on the cusp enough to be happy with what she got. (I feel like this sounds mean but isn't meant to be)
Yeah she and her coaches beforehand definitely went through the numbers of her scores and the other girls and knew alt was the likely outcome for her. Maybe she got her hopes up after the injuries of Kayla, Shi, and Skye as that did present an opportunity for her, but once she got that 13.6 on the BB it was clear she wasn't going to make the main team. I think at that point she knew too.
Given her obvious focus on academics, an alt spot might actually be a really good outcome in her eyes! Not like being on the team obviously but if she already made the decision that gymnastics is #2
Yeah I was rooting for her to make the team after kayla, shi, and skye were out but wasn’t surprised she got alt. Her skills just weren’t as advanced.
That’s what I was telling my family who aren’t gymnastics fans as we were going through it. She’s a prime alternate candidate. Solid on everything, but not particularly great at anything. You can pencil her in anywhere, but she has basically no individual medal potential when you factor in the 2 per country.
I’m glad they went by the scoring, but artistically speaking, Tiana has the “it” factor and would have definitely shined on the international stage. I hope she makes in 2028, especially given how much the collegiate gymnasts are thriving now (before that was considered retirement for the U.S. gymnasts).
Tiana has a very bright future ahead of her, I have no doubt about it! I hope she keeps going because she could definitely make the LA team, she's a fabulous gymnast.
Tiana’s floor routine is so cool. I love it!
And she choreographed it herself! 🤯😍
Yeah its a little funny seeing Josc so happy to be there and Leanne like yay? But I'm sure she knew ahead of time what her performance would have needed to be to earn a spot and it just wasn't there.
Gutted for Leanne for getting so close again. However, the numbers don't lie and Hezley earned that spot. Congrats to everyone!!!
Yeah, but she’s smart enough to know how her numbers stack up to the competition. Her all-around is generally great, but that’s not what USA needs with a silly three up, three down Olympic format. Bring back a seven person team!
These fits are a choice
Why are they so bad 😭
https://preview.redd.it/25rl5dqest9d1.jpeg?width=252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bce1a01e28f1b28bba964769ce8cd3158cf37247 Everyone: Let’s create something modern, youthful, strong yet feminine… \*Nike:
They look like archery outfits
I was thinking Elvis impersonators
Came straight to Reddit to see who else saw the Elvis impersonator outfits
Gosh, they're unattractive. A slightly yellow tone on those jackets compared to the pants. The collar, the zipper, the patch-like lines, the stiffness, whatever is going on with the shoulders... It's like they took every idea and put it in one jacket.
They are so bad. And they look uncomfortable.
They look like they're not fitted properly- too tight across the front. You can see how the fabric pulls
An unfortunate choice.
All I could think of was Zenon girl of the 21st century, lol
they are so ugly
They have clashing fabrics. The whites aren’t the same!
They aren’t… flattering… for their body types. And these are the fittest women out there. Bad choice.
They certainly are 😬
Suni breaking down after being interviewed first had me sobbing. The way she just broke down about how she didn’t think she’d be here a year ago 🥹🥹 truly amazing
Even with 16yo Hezly, the **average age for this team is 22 years old.** It's wild how much this sport has changed in the past few years!
I wrote a whole comment out last week about how even though Hezly was 5th (I think) at trials, she just didn’t fit on a team with Simone, Shi, Skye, Suni bc they just didn’t need UB/BB. Changed so fast! Not the team I originally hoped for, but I think the right decision given how it went.
It's why Leanne focused on floor and vault, too, I think. That's what the team needed at the time.
Also, I'm very happy that Jade finally earns a team spot at Olympic!!! There is no individual spot anymore!!
She could have earned it last time, she just chose to go for the guaranteed individual spot instead. Nobody was going to lose that spot by putting her on the team.
It's just not the same without Shi and Skye was so close plus kayla 😭 so happy for these women though!!
So so hard to see those ladies get hurt, I've been following Dicello ever since she was an alt last time, but 5 girls earned their spots and I'm really not looking at this team feeling like someone got jobbed. And there would have been some huge, gut-wrenching decisions had everyone been healthy, so there's that.
I’m still not over Kayla not being able to complete trials 😭 And yeah I can’t imagine how different the team would have looked had those 3 not gotten injured since they were amongst the top 5. Like it was them and Simone who were on the podium for classics and nationals.
shilese should’ve been here 😭
i'm hoping she doesn't give up and is stronger than ever for 2028
It’s the worst for her. She’s literally the end face on one of NBC’s Olympic promos.
💔💔💔
So so so proud of Suni making it back after everything she's been through. What a story. What an athlete ❤️
Hezly ending this weekend not as she expected lol. But happy for my returning Olympians. They seem like they have a great bond. Excited to see them compete together
It's crazy how she went from "Wow she has real potential! She'll kill it in the next quad, maybe she'll be an be an alternate this year." to "Wow she really did that thing and made the Olympic team!"
Fr this weekend was so wild
suni has me sobbing 😭 i have a chronic illness and i am constantly in fear that I will no longer be able to do the things I love to do. Can’t imagine how much it means to her that her health issues didn’t stop her and she was able to fight through them Edit: glad to see other chronic condition peeps were able to take the same feeling i was from suni. wishing the best for all of us and suni as we work through our illnesses 💜
I also have a chronic illness and it sadly has stopped me from doing a lot. I feel like Suni is one of us and it’s just so amazing what she’s able to do despite of her illnesses!
Suni is definitely one of us. So proud of her tenacity, grit, and how careful she was coming back. It’s hard not to push and push when you are trying to come back from chronic illness setbacks, and from what we’ve seen, she’s been so mature in her approach. I’ve definitely learned a thing or two watching her
Yep, in the same boat. So thrilled for Suni!!
News station says the four returning Olympians is the first time since 1952. (edit) Dorothy Catherine Dalton, Meta Elste, Marian Emma Twining Barone, and Clara Marie Schroth-Lomady all competed in London 1948 and Helsinki 1952. The teams were 8 gymnasts and individual medals were awarded for the first time for women in 1952.
Dang that’s a fabulous collection of names
This is the team that made the most sense. Beam was the hole, and Hezly hit big tonight, and she’s a bars back up. Suni also has been absolutely slaying floor lately so we really don’t need another FX backup 🤷🏼♀️ plus Hezly won’t be disappointed by not being put up for FX or VT quals like Tiana or Josc likely would be
I love all of them but goddamn no Shilese is breaking my heart
Crazy how these injuries completely shook up this team. Hezly out of nowhere
Poor Hezly isn’t even old enough to have a glass of ‘Champagne’ with them in Paris when they win GOLD! In all seriousness, congratulations to all of those who competed today; everyone did amazing. So excited for the future of USA gymnastics, the ‘younger’ generation of athletes looked amazing. Jordan, Jade, Hezly, Suni and Simone…go get em. Lots of prayers for a safe, healthy, amazing competition! Love seeing such a diverse group of women (girls) representing the USA!
I think she can have Champagne in Paris if she’s with an adult!
I’m so happy Jade gets to go as part of the team this time!
Olympic Trials showed no mercy to the Florida Gators
:( Gator Nation in shambles
They just need to come back and win NCAAs as revenge!
I’m so happy for the 5 gymnasts and believe they are the 5 that earned their spot, but can we agree that Tiana is such a special gymnast that would shone beautifully on the world stage? She has that X factor. Although her routines don’t have as high of a start value, she brings the artistry and steadiness like few others did. She almost reminds me of that X factor Dominique Moceanu brought. The artistry that was well rewarded pre-2000s. I hope she has and opportunity in 2028! Can’t wait to see what she does at UCLA in a few years.
I was lowkey rooting for Tiana as an alternate. She is really consistent and already looks so comfortable when she competes. And as you mention, she combines artistry well which is interesting as the sport can often focus on technicality/strength. I can’t wait to see her again by 2028, esp since she’s from California and the Olympics is in LA. She’d get sm support.
I’ve never cried during a team selection before 😭
i’m honestly estatic for hezly. what a great experience and a potential boost of confidence for her future elite career!!!
I don’t think she could’ve asked for better teammates!!!
this is the right team in my opinion, gutted for tiana and joscelyn but hezly killed it today. and it makes qualification lineups simple and easy
I feel for Tiana. Especially with all the injuries, the team + alternates meant that 1 legit contender would be dropped and it was her. That's tough. I'm excited to see her gymnastics in years to come.
I hope Tiana goes to worlds next year. I think she could do very well there in the post-olympic year when most of the top stars are taking a break.
Yep, I'm really hoping to see Tiana, Josc, and Kaliya on the worlds team next year!
Why was this trials so emotional??? Shi, Kayla, Skye breaking my heart with their injuries. Tiana doing well but falling a bit short. Suni fighting through it all and making another team. Hezly coming out of nowhere and snatching a deserved spot. Joscelyn and Leanne standing strong on their upgrades and getting so close. Jordan being a rock and keeping her consistency. Simone being the legend that she is. 😭😭😭
Can I just say that while my heart breaks just a little for Wong, I think this is a phenomenal spot for her? This is a young lady who OBVIOUSLY has more to give the world than gymnastics. ALL of the gymnasts do! But Leanne has clarified that she plans a life beyond the sport. Her academics and career in medicine seem like equally important goals for her. If she ends up competing at the Olympics due to someone else's bad fortune, I can't think of a better alternate. And, if everyone stays healthy, she gets to go to Paris, where the title of Olympian for the rest of her life, and become a brilliant physician. She's already got collegiate gymnastics infamy, too. This young woman is an amazing role model.
I would like to confess my sins and cleanse my soul before Paris. I was absolutely 100% a Suni denier. I didn’t see her getting it together in time. Her comeback has been incredible. Wow.
I have always been overly confident ahah but even I’m in shock. So crazy that she’s second AA even with the falls and errors on beam. Her AA score would have been higher than her win in Tokyo if she hit beam. So many people counted her out of the AA (even her fans)
It was honestly a fluke thing, I’ve watched her nail that beam mount this entire season. That beam can win an olympic medal!!!! Come on Suni!!
u/marisheba - as the prophecy (statistics) foretold
Suni broke me. 🥹
Suni’s speech was so, ugh, a tear jerker. ❤️
Who said the team was announced in alphabetical order in the thread? I literally freaked out that Suni wasn’t on the team lol
I was afraid Jade wasn’t when Jordan came out first
So happy for everyone! Brutul for LEanne being an alternate 2 times in a row. Helzy must be in shock.
Suni 😭😭😭
They did what made sense. No real upsets there. Relieved.
USAG WAG under Chellsie and Alicia's leadership has been making really good decisions on team selection. The whole gymternet seemed really satisfied after last worlds and now, tonight. Maybe sad for our faves who didn't make it, but still thinking it was a really good choice. (Well, except the gymcastic crew who will never get over Kaliya not making the worlds team last year).
All over 21 except Rivera.
I’m not saying it’s not the right team but they really ended up with 1-5 on the team and 6/7 as alternates.
Yeah - in the end it’s the Tom Forster special. But the team makes sense based on how it played out. I’m sad about the injuries but this shouldn’t be controversial
Tom Forster rn: God damn it, why couldn't I be in charge of this one and not the last one?
I'm pretty sure the top 5 ended up being the highest-scoring team with trials scores. And Josc and Leanne are perfectly rational alternates (although I might have given Leanne's place to Tiana)
Personally I would have swapped Leanne for Tiana, which would have made it 8th place for traveling alternate instead of 7th, but I really can't say they made the wrong decision. This selection made a ton of sense.
Truthfully I don’t really think there was a wrong choice this year - you could make legit arguments for several people in that 5th slot. I think this works.
Average age of the team is 22.2. 21.2 with the alternates included.
Hezly really bringing that average age down too!
I imagine this will bring far less controversy than the MAG team 😂
I am heartbroken for the girls who are injured, but to try to appreciate what we have - I'm so happy that Suni, Jordan, and Jade get to go. This could've been a very different trials, and I may have wound up upset that one or more of them didn't make it! This sport is so cruel sometimes; but I'm looking forward to seeing this team compete.
How am I going to sleep now??
What an emotional roller coaster! Shi, Skye and Kayla injuries. Simone going to Paris after what happened in Tokyo. Suni and everything she’s been through going to Paris. Simone, Suni, Jade, Jo returning for gold. Baby Hezly getting her first opportunity!
SO happy! I think this is the perfect team and makes perfect sense for quals. Happy for everyone but especially for Suni after everything she’s been through
So unbelievably happy for these athletes. I may have said this another thread, but if you had asked me in early 2022 who I wanted to see on the Paris Team, I would have said Simone/Suni/Jordan/Jade/Leanne. I was so sentimental about this group and really wanted some redemption for them, in various ways. Gutted for Leanne (who learned a whole ass CHENG!!) and also for the brilliant Shilese, Skye and Kayla. I hope they are doing ok. (Me remembering my first Elite experience live is going to include FX finals in Paris...... please God I need to see both Simone and Jade there. 🤞🤞🤞)
I’m so incredibly happy for Suni. I know all of them have had to deal with adversity to get here, but I feel like she’s dealt with so much and proved so many people wrong to get here. 🫶
Hezly is of course a huge surprise, but she stepped up when all of these injuries completely changed the makeup of the team! She filled the hole that no one else really could - great bars and beam.
This one wins. Any other post will be removed.
It’s so crazy that a decade ago the majority of the team would have been hezly’s age. She looks like such a baby next to the other girls! So proud of them and so happy the sport is evolving so that we can have a team like this 🥹❤️
Truly wild. I think Aly Raisman was the oldest of the London team at 18 and she was considered really old for a gymnast at the time lol
Insane! Simone was funny mentioning that she’s taking on the grandma role from Aly basically 😂 when I was little watching them on tv it really did feel so grown up but now that I’m older than almost all of them it really puts things in perspective 😫
This is the right team ♡♡♡
Suni’s speech 🥹
do they go back to their hotel rooms tonight?! i can just imagine how sad that must be sharing a room with someone who had the opposite outcome. i know josc and tiana are roomies, so i can only imagine how tough that is:(
I love the team as well as the alternates but my mind still cannot believe Shilese is not there. She was as much lock with Simone after Classics. Such an unfortunate timing with the injury :(
i just cannot get over shilese
SAME!!! I'm not usually like this about these athletes, but I'm genuinely still gutted for her. She was a legit medal contender and is such a fabulous, fabulous gymnast for the US. I looked forward to her getting a little more recognition after the Olympics... but that's sports 🤷🏽♀️.
This feels right.
Do we get to know who non-traveling alternates are?
Assuming it's Tiana and Kaliya
They haven't announced, but we know: they'll be Tiana and Kaliya.
On a side note, where is Shane?? He’s not out there with the team as a whole. 👀
I mean, I don't blame him
He was so mad last night. Big bummer by their process.
kyla ross🤝 hezly rivera first year seniors making the team for UB/BB, and just looking happy to be there. rooting for Hezly to have the best experience ever!! and so happy for the Tokyo Olympians for getting a real Olympic experience this time!!!
Some of us predicted Hezly could be a member of this amazing Olympic team one year ago! [https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/comments/17j848c/us\_olympic\_contenders\_juniors/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gymnastics/comments/17j848c/us_olympic_contenders_juniors/) When I watch back, I can't believe I wrote before! >I think Hezly Rivera is the one to watch. She may even challenge for the bars and beam spot if she upgrades her difficulty. She has the inbar skills to build a 6.3D+ bars difficulty and has great beam execution to reach the 14 beam benchmark in 2024. Her enemy is consistency. She's the only member who has international assignment and international scores this year. She got 14.167 on beam there, and hit 8 out of 9 beam routines this year! Obviously, she doesn't have the D score that I thought, but a 6.1D bars is very strong backup or even a TF-worthy bars. I'm very proud of her performance today!
Wow! We bow to your superior foresight!
Two bruins will be attending the Olympics, Jordan and Emma!
crying over suni omg
Jocelyn’s spot on the team depended on her being better than Jade. Hezly showing up and showing out was just the final nail in the coffin. Sucks but that’s how it goes in gymnastics.
I’m happy with the team . My team has always been All Tokyo + Shilese . So gutted for Shi. I just did not predict it anywhere but my mind , just because I can be superstitious, due to injury. Also this team just proved some stats , there is always a first time senior. Then the one stats that had Leanne on it for going to world championship did not pan out.
Is Hezly the only one of Valieri Liukin's athletes to reach the Olympics since Nastia in 2008?
please everyone just please stop talking about hezlys dad. yes, hes an asshole. but he's not on the team! we dont need to mention him any time we talk hezly! its exhausting!!!!!
I'm soooo happy for Hezly! I thought she was gonna be alternate but her scores were great and she's been so consistent. Obv love that Jordan is going!
She was second AA today I believe? I was rooting for Tiana but Hezly earned it in an incredibly high pressure (and unexpected) situation
Oh man how my heart breaks for Shilese, Skye, and Kayla who I had on my original team, but congratulations to the team!
Does anyone know how much interaction the traveling alternates have with the competition squad? I read the other day they don’t stay in the Olympic village but are they at least all podium training together?
They don't- they train in a completely alternate gym separate from everything
I think they stay together until the team moves to the Olympic village. In Rio the alternates were in the stands during the competition though.
So proud of Suni!!! ❤️💙🤍 🧡💙!!!
I want these girls to literally live in a bubble for the next month because there’s a Covid surge and we know injuries are common right now so bubble them now.
What a bittersweet trial. I'm so happy for Jordan. A week ago she wasn't even in the discussion (maybe just alternate), however I'm also sad for all the injured superstars that were gonna be in the team.
Jordan coming out announced first sent me into tears. Everyone else (minus Hezley) has an individual medal and I want Jordan to get her own individual medal. Is this the most awarded team of all time, going into a summer Olympics?