Artistic Gymnastics

[kasha6]

I disagree, she couldn't hold it together (& as it's been said she's been all onboard with the I'm the GOAT promotions so she's opened the door for the media pressure) for the team event and it likely cost the team the gold, I don't want to hear that a few days later she is all 'good to go' for trying to win herself some individual medals. Nope, don't want to see or hear it.

The team lost the gold, not just Simone. Each one made some horrible mistakes; if you take away those severe errors, they still could have won the gold without Biles

 

[macy]

No, it would be hypocritical to have to emergency WD from a team competition after the first rotation and claim it was due to a "mental break", then turnaround like 2 days later saying your all good to compete for individual titles/medals, where its easy to argue that there will be more pressure/media attention on her due to her WD. If she competes in the individual events, this claim of 'mental break' leading to her WD from the team event sounds like a lie to cover up whatever her real 'reason' for the WD is.



You want to clean up the sport for 'mental safety of athletes over medals'....Well then she's said she had a mental break and needed to WD from the team event; her coaches should step up and say for her safety they are withdrawing her from the individual competitions so that she can get the proper rest and recuperation vs. only having a few days off then trying to push through the individual events where there will be more scrutiny and attention on her which would be bad for her mental health.

guess what? she withdrew from the AA. Simone is 24 years old and an adult, she knows herself better than anyone else. Her coaches can't read her mind. She knew she couldn't risk sticking it out the rest of the TF to cost them a medal or even worse, seriously injure herself, and her team supported her and had her back. That alone is a complete change from the past- coaches would push gymnasts through serious injuries just for money and medals. the gymnast would not have support from anyone else and even risked future assignments by withdrawing if they were hurt. the entire federation could turn their back on them. The culture is changing and Simone is leading it.

again, what Simone has done is exactly what everyone has been calling on to happen for YEARS. and now that it's happening she is selfish and has abandoned her team and country. straight hypocrisy.

 

[macy]

I know many wouldn't like this comparison but I can't help but notice.. what a difference in attitude between, let's say, Anna Shcherbakova's performance on RusNat competition or Channel One Cup team event - while being in bad health condition - and Simone's withrawing due to 'lost confidence' or 'excessive pressure' despite having teammates relying on you (I have another word for that reason tbh - but let's put it like that). And what difference in fans mentality! While easterners are praising Anna's feat for her power of will or desire to support team at all costs - westerners berate her for the same thing, blaming risking her health too much and viewing it as foolery.
Well, that aside - what I don't get is why everybody are praising Simone for withdrawing? Let's say an athlete is having some problems and withdrawing. That's quite common and natural thing - happens often everywhere. However, are people praising such athletes? No. They can pity them or be sad or be disappointed. That's normal. That I can understand. But praise or even be proud of her? For what? Why? This reaction seems very abnormal to me.

please educate yourself on the culture of elite gymnastics.

 

[Mauvedreamer]

I would recommend watching Sanne Wevers' routine from the 2016 Olympics. To this day it is still one of the best beam routines I have ever seen and I'm so glad it made her Olympic champion!

In terms of elegance my favourite gymnast to watch is Kohei Uchimura, I am still sad about how he went out of his home and final Olympics still a legend in my eyes!

Yes I do remember her beam. Thankyou for reminding me

 

[LongTimeLurker]

Former gymnast here. An athlete can tell when they are "off". "Off" can have varying degrees and types. A gymnast is hyper aware if how "on" or "off" they are. Some "off" you can compete with, and some you can't. When you get lost in the air, it is flat-out dangerous (I suffered a career-ending injury from this). Whatever her reasons are for withdrawing, withdrawing was the correct thing to do.

 

[LadyB]

What a fantastic team event. Congratulations Team Russia on the Gold. A fantastic Bronze for team GB . Can't believe GB got the bronze so happy .

Totally enjoyed the whole event!!! A bit disapointed for Nikita Nagorny today, but there are the single events yet to come. Also hoping for Max Whitlock success!

 

[macy]

i'm still very excited for the AA tomorrow, the entire podium is up for grabs. i think Lee has a great chance if she goes 4 for 4.

 

[lesnar001]

I really only watch gymnastics during the Olympics, so I am not really all that knowledgeable on a lot of things.

Do you think if everything had been "normal" and the Olympics had taken place in 2020 that Simone Biles (and the USA team) would have won the Gold? Timing seems to be such an important factor when it comes to the Olympics.

Although I feel sorry that Simone Biles was not able to continue competing in Tokyo, it would have been far worse if something like this had happened in 2016 when she was going for Olympic Gold for the first time.

Regarding the events....
When/why did the set up of the uneven bars change? I remember back in the Nadia Comenici days the bars were much closer together.

Similarly, at one time the vault looked more like the pommel horse (except for the handles).

 

[Baron Vladimir]

I really only watch gymnastics during the Olympics, so I am not really all that knowledgeable on a lot of things.

Do you think if everything had been "normal" and the Olympics had taken place in 2020 that Simone Biles (and the USA team) would have won the Gold? Timing seems to be such an important factor when it comes to the Olympics.

Although I feel sorry that Simone Biles was not able to continue competing in Tokyo, it would have been far worse if something like this had happened in 2016 when she was going for Olympic Gold for the first time.

Regarding the events....
When/why did the set up of the uneven bars change? I remember back in the Nadia Comenici days the bars were much closer together.

Similarly, at one time the vault looked more like the pommel horse (except for the handles).

Sports commentators on a TV station i was watching was talking how best male gymnast Uchimura planned to compete in 2020 and when the games were postoponed he lost momentum and will to compete during that time. (I think Biles herself was talking how it will be hard to train to get your best form again, when she heard the news about postponing the games)... And those commentators also mentionned the new look of the vault. It is for safety measures, because some athletes nowdays can perform more complex elements which would be harder and more risky to perform on the past equipment.

 

[moonvine]

I know many wouldn't like this comparison but I can't help but notice.. what a difference in attitude between, let's say, Anna Shcherbakova's performance on RusNat competition or Channel One Cup team event - while being in bad health condition - and Simone's withrawing due to 'lost confidence' or 'excessive pressure' despite having teammates relying on you (I have another word for that reason tbh - but let's put it like that). And what difference in fans mentality! While easterners are praising Anna's feat for her power of will or desire to support team at all costs - westerners berate her for the same thing, blaming risking her health too much and viewing it as foolery.
Well, that aside - what I don't get is why everybody are praising Simone for withdrawing? Let's say an athlete is having some problems and withdrawing. That's quite common and natural thing - happens often everywhere. However, are people praising such athletes? No. They can pity them or be sad or be disappointed. That's normal. That I can understand. But praise or even be proud of her? For what? Why? This reaction seems very abnormal to me.

I don’t follow Russian skating at all and can’t tell them apart or know anything about them so I can’t speak to that.

Elite gymnastics in the US had a pedophile as the team doctor for I don’t know how many decades (and one didn’t need to be an elite gymnast, he molested college gymnasts and club gymnasts as well).

Additionally they suffered under a cruel and abusive coaching system which among other things severely restricted food (further allowing the pedophile doctor to groom them because he gave them food and treats. They thought he was the “nice one.”). They were forced to compete injured. Contact with their parents while at the training center was heavily restricted. And if they dared complain about any of it their careers were basically over. Try watching “Athlete A” on Netflix. Then when a few of them gathered up the courage to report it nothing was done.

For Simone to do this is an act of incredible courage and being the best sort of leader. Leading by example to show her teammates if something isn’t right, you don’t have to compete.

Simone is not a quitter. She has been competing on broken toes for awhile and won a World Championship with a kidney stone. I had a kidney stone and the pain was unbearable. I was at the emergency room. She was winning a World Championship. It’s crazy.

Given her history there is a genuine problem. I’m sure she will reveal what she feels comfortable with in her own time.

 

[moonvine]

I really only watch gymnastics during the Olympics, so I am not really all that knowledgeable on a lot of things.

Do you think if everything had been "normal" and the Olympics had taken place in 2020 that Simone Biles (and the USA team) would have won the Gold? Timing seems to be such an important factor when it comes to the Olympics.

Although I feel sorry that Simone Biles was not able to continue competing in Tokyo, it would have been far worse if something like this had happened in 2016 when she was going for Olympic Gold for the first time.

Regarding the events....
When/why did the set up of the uneven bars change? I remember back in the Nadia Comenici days the bars were much closer together.

Similarly, at one time the vault looked more like the pommel horse (except for the handles).

Are you watching the International feed? I think they’ve done a good job of explaining the bars situation. Basically the further apart they are the more complex things can be done between them. They can be adjusted but only within certain parameters. And taller gymnasts can ask to have them raised. But parallel bars favor short, light athletes. Those same athletes tend to have a harder time doing complex vaults because they don’t weigh enough to get a good spring off the vault. Bars, btw, are Simone’s least favorite event. She has said she’d like to take a chainsaw to them.

That pommel horse vault thing (which is the same one I learned on) has been gone for a long time. 2000 maybe? Meh, I have a memory like a sieve.

 

[moonvine]

I really only watch gymnastics during the Olympics, so I am not really all that knowledgeable on a lot of things.

Do you think if everything had been "normal" and the Olympics had taken place in 2020 that Simone Biles (and the USA team) would have won the Gold? Timing seems to be such an important factor when it comes to the Olympics.

Although I feel sorry that Simone Biles was not able to continue competing in Tokyo, it would have been far worse if something like this had happened in 2016 when she was going for Olympic Gold for the first time.

Regarding the events....
When/why did the set up of the uneven bars change? I remember back in the Nadia Comenici days the bars were much closer together.

Similarly, at one time the vault looked more like the pommel horse (except for the handles).

As far as would they have won the gold in 2020, who knows? The team almost certainly wouldn’t have been the same.

 

[macy]

I really only watch gymnastics during the Olympics, so I am not really all that knowledgeable on a lot of things.

Do you think if everything had been "normal" and the Olympics had taken place in 2020 that Simone Biles (and the USA team) would have won the Gold? Timing seems to be such an important factor when it comes to the Olympics.

Although I feel sorry that Simone Biles was not able to continue competing in Tokyo, it would have been far worse if something like this had happened in 2016 when she was going for Olympic Gold for the first time.

Regarding the events....
When/why did the set up of the uneven bars change? I remember back in the Nadia Comenici days the bars were much closer together.

Similarly, at one time the vault looked more like the pommel horse (except for the handles).

i've been wondering this myself, and the team would have likely been different. I don't think Chiles would have made it and McCusker may have been able to grab an individual spot. Skinner may have made the main team.

all in all, things would have looked different in every aspect of the Olympics. the other teams and their conditions and who made finals. It could have been Biles and McCallum in AA finals. i think the extra year did no favors for Simone and their chances of team gold would have been much higher last year.

 

[moonvine]

i've been wondering this myself, and the team would have likely been different. I don't think Chiles would have made it and McCusker may have been able to grab an individual spot. Skinner may have made the main team.

all in all, things would have looked different in every aspect of the Olympics. the other teams and their conditions and who made finals. It could have been Biles and McCallum in AA finals. i think the extra year did no favors for Simone and their chances of team gold would have been much higher last year.

Morgan Hurd would have been a force as well…Trinity Thomas wouldn’t be injured…

 

[macy]

Morgan Hurd would have been a force as well…Trinity Thomas wouldn’t be injured…

oh yeah can't forget about Morgan. This year probably hurt her the most out of all the US gymnasts. watching Golden on Peacock really made me devastated for her. she would have likely been on the main team.

IMO it likely would have been

Biles, Hurd, Lee, McCallum

Individual spots- Carey, McCusker/Skinner

 

[moonvine]

oh yeah can't forget about Morgan. This year probably hurt her the most out of all the US gymnasts. watching Golden on Peacock really made me devastated for her. she would have likely been on the main team.

IMO it likely would have been

Biles, Hurd, Lee, McCallum

Individual spots- Carey, McCusker/Skinner

I was gutted for Morgan as well. Maybe she’ll get her mojo back in college and come back in 3 years. I hope that gets more common.

Collegiate gymnastics is going to be next season.

Speaking of collegiate gymnastics, with the changes to the NCAA would someone like Laurie Hernandez be able to compete in college now? Or is it not retroactive? I’d love to see her in college.

 

[macy]

I was gutted for Morgan as well. Maybe she’ll get her mojo back in college and come back in 3 years. I hope that gets more common.

Collegiate gymnastics is going to be next season.

i hope some of the girls like Riley and Morgan who didn't make it this year consider they don't have to wait a full 4 years until the next olympics. 3 is still a long time, but it's probably a lot more doable.

 

[Amei]

She’s pulled out of the AA. I’m really quite concerned.

There wasn't a lot of other options, it would have likely gone very bad in the American media, which she relies on for her endorsement deals, had she 2 days after WD from the team event to compete in the individual event.

 

[el henry]

There wasn't a lot of other options, it would have likely gone very bad in the American media, which she relies on for her endorsement deals, had she 2 days after WD from the team event to compete in the individual event.

Or she had little choice because her mental health, as important as her physical health, (to her as it would be to anyone), would not allow her to continue.

The "American media", as far as I can tell, overwhelmingly supported Simone's decision ETA: that is, the initial decision to withdraw . As far as I can tell, with the exception of a small cohort of Twitter keyboard warriors with an agenda and nothing better to do, Simone's decision is understood and Simone herself is supported.

As one would with any world class athlete who has an injury

 

[jen84]

Simone is essentially suffering from twisties. It’s when you get lost in the air. It’s not always something that is easily fixed. She’s physically ok but her brain and body aren’t connected. I’ve read somewhere within the US delegation that she can flip fine, but she’s struggling with twisting. It explains her issues in the prelims on her beam dismount (full twisting double back) and her tumbling on floor (she flew out of bounds on her full twisting double back).
I don’t think she’ll compete again the games.
The US team would look different if the games were held on time, and so would Russia. Listunova was too young for Tokyo when it was originally scheduled.