U.S. Gymnastics Nationals

U.S. Gymnastics National Championships

The Men:

I'm more excited about our men this quad than last. I think there is great talent, and more than that, I just feel better about how they compete. I feel they can really accomplish even more than the last group did. I am proud of what the last group did at 07 Worlds and the Olympics, and I liked some of them and rooted for them, but they definitely struggled and were inconsistent. This group seems to be a bit more together somehow. Congrats to Jonathan Horton for defending his national title. I was really happy with how he competed in finals. Finally put together a really consistent day in the all-around. Must have been a relief for him. I think Danell Leyva really pushed him, and I think he liked it and kind of needed it. I think he works best that way. It was good for the both of them. Leyva did an amazing job. I am so excited about how quickly he has come along. I thought he would win. He did an awesome layout Kovacs in which he flared his arms out to the side while doing the skill - I was so impressed by it and it was a competition highlight for me. It was huge, and he really flies on it. It's nice to see some creativity from the U.S. men, as well as the ability to handle that creativity and compete it well. Kevin Tan on rings, Glen Ishino on high bar, Brandon Wynn's arabian looking skill between the parallel bars (yeah, I'm not good with naming skills), and Bryan Del Castillo's overall presence (very aesthetically pleasing) when competing were the other highlights for me. I think the group U.S. men overall have a better swing on high bar as well.

The Women:

Very happy that Rebecca Bross hit eight for eight and won her first senior national all-around. She looked very determined to hit all of her events - sometimes I think she was a tad bit too determined when it came to sticking her landings. I think she seemed to be a bit tightly wound, and I think it caused her to take a step here or there. I was even more excited for Mattie Larson's performance, which garnered her second place. I am so happy to have this gymnast back competing. I hope she (and teammate Samantha Shapiro) stays healthy. She is great to watch, particularly on floor - my favorite performance of the competition. Vanessa Zamarippa surprised everyone with a well done difficult vault in prelims - unfortunately she didn't hit it in finals, when NBC finally decided to show her on vault. Still, she established herself as a contender for the world team, yet she and her coaches decided not to focus on the world team this year, apparently. I'm very pleased she made the national team. I was a bit worried about Bridget Sloan. At U.S. Classic, I knew it was just a tune up for her, but seeing her fall on beam in prelims at Nationals felt a bit scary. No one's perfect all the time, but I was concerned with her chances for making the team. I think the U.S. needs consistent beam workers, and I felt that was one place Bridget could deliver (along with bars), though she is just a good all-around gymnast period. She seems very determined to get in gear, and with that determination, I believe she can do it. Hopefully she does, because I think the team really needs her ability. Still impressed by Alicia Sacramone, and I think she should easily make the team. I felt bad for Mackenzie Caquatto for falling so easily on UB, before really doing anything . That event will be the key for her making the world team, so I hope she does a great job at camp. I don't think she looks like Shawn Johnson (Al Trautwig said he thinks they could be sisters). I think the world team will be Bross, Larson, Sloan, Sacramone, Raisman OR Hunter, and Caquatto OR Whitcomb. I think camp will probably decide between those last four I mentioned. I think Caquatto has a lead over Whitcomb at this point. Not completely sure about Raisman and Hunter, but Raisman has that Amanar. If she can hit it in camp, I think she will make the team.