Thankfully, they're going back to five for Tokyo. FIG realized how stupid this was, and announced that they were dumping it even before the Olympics would have originally started in 2020.
Since the teams were cut to 4 this year, there was a process by which one could qualify as an individual through the World Cup events. Jade qualified as an individual. Technically she could still have been put on the team but the US would have lost that spot.Anyway: My problem with gymnastics for the last couple times I‘ve seen it has been similar to what‘s happening to figure skating right now. Jaw dropping technical achievements but very little else going on. It was especially obvious during floor exercise - sometimes I was wondering why they‘d even bothered to play music when it was so clearly ignored. So, yeah, I didn‘t exactly expect much going into these Olympics.
BUT: I honestly enjoyed the competition - more than I thought I would. In part, of course, because the two Russians who were competing in the AA perfectly encapsulated what I love about this sport. Melnikova and Urazova (especially the latter, gutted she didn‘t medal!) quickly became my favorites. There‘s just something about being able to complete these very difficult and very dangerous elements and make it look elegant, that I really admire.
To structure this rambling mess of a post - some thoughts in the order of their final standings:
Sunisa Lee: She was easily and without question my favorite of Team USA during the Team Final and I was happy to find out she‘d made the AA final. Her consistency and mental strength was just so impressive to watch and she seems like such a sweetheart to boot. I do think she‘s the most elegant of the US ladies but overall, their entire package is just not my cup of tea and hasn’t been for a while. I think they‘ve mainly been favoring power and difficulty, whereas the Russian style is a bit more balanced. But I’m still happy for her! After all, I don‘t really understand the fine mechanics of the sport and judging solely by subjective taste might not be the best idea lol.
I did like Carey a lot, although she fell from the beam. Probably a stupid question that could be solved by reading the rest of the thread but why wasn‘t she in the team final? Overall, she looked more impressive across all events but one than Jordan Chiles. I guess she didn‘t perform well at the Nationals/Olympic trial?
To close this post: Happy for the medalists and I really loved watching this competition. Maybe this will become a sport I‘ll follow even outside of the Olympics? Let‘s see.
PS: This would probably deserve its own post but: I hope Simone feels better soon and good for her for making the best decision for herself. Very brave.
www.nbcboston.com
Eurosport showed us most if not all of Nina Derwael's AA routines and I was so impressed watching her. I really hope she medals in the uneven bars, what an achievement for Belgium that would be!
I enjoyed watching Mai Murakami on floor as well as the Gadirova sisters. I hope someone will upload Mai's olympic floor routine because it stood out to me more than other gymnasts.
Rebeca won a gold medal in vault. Mikayla won the silver.
I was just coming to post this. I could not be happier for all US ladies, especially Mykayla, who looked like she was going home with nothing. And Rebeca and all medalists.
It's been a good meet for the women, no matter what the Biles situation was or is.
amazing accomplishments
I hope so too. A lot of people will be watching the beam tomorrow all to see how Simone will perform, it would be incredible if she was able to medal. But she's still a champion regardless~
Yes, I saw the event (vault). My question was about the floor today. Did she make mistakes? I thought she was favoured for a medal.
I believe she made mistakes. Pretty sure she went out of bounds, but I’d have to watch again.
on Beam!
- Guan Chenchen and silver 
- Tang Xijing.
Sorry, but I strongly against that opinion. There is nothing similar at all. And it's just impossible to have similarities if you think about it. Because there isn't even PCS mark in the first place - so gymnasts have literally zero reasons to train anything resembling artistry. Why they have music for women on the floors is a mystery to me, to be honest. After all, the judges assess only elements and their execution quality - not music. In any case, the floors is the only discipline that can have a speck of similary to fs, in theory - beam, vault etc. are not even close. It's like jumps competition maybe. Their whole focus on elements only is evident.
How many people here were charmed by those new Chinese winners to start following them afterwards? Are you going to wait their next competitions - except maybe Biles? Admit it honestly ) I believe majority of people here do not care about them - and is not going to bother watching them in future. Because their performances is just set of elements - nothing more. Who is performed that set - is not that important. Even if you wanted to discuss them - there is nothing to say. All you would remember in the end is that China won there - not even their names. That's the difference between fs and gymnastics for me. It's huge. Gymnastics is much closer to swimming or running or shooting in that sense. Only results matter there.Simone Biles got a bronze
Better than that though, was her beaming smile when she finished!
Congratulations to Simone!
Also to China for winning the gold
. And Rebeca with a gold! And Suni hangs on for bronze, though I kind of was rooting for Elizabeth. And Max Whitlock repeats!
