UPDATE 3/13: USA's final roster has been released and Desiderio is no longer listed. See the roster here.

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The 2016 Jesolo Trophy will feature strong rosters on both the junior and senior levels, with the bulk of competitors being seniors in order for those athletes to gain international experience in the Olympic year.

For five of the seniors on the roster, they turn 16 in 2016, making Jesolo their first-ever senior competition. These athletes include Ragan Smith, Laurie Hernandez, Christina Desiderio, Emily Gaskins, and Sydney Johnson-Scharpf.

For Desiderio and Johnson-Scharpf, along with it being their senior debut, the competition will also be their international debut.



Hernandez and Smith are the front-runners among these new seniors, both finishing on the podium at 2015 P&G Championships in the all-around.

Laurie Hernandez

Hernandez was the all-around champion, performing her energetically dynamic and high-difficulty routines with ease. Her bars are notably beautiful where she flies high with gorgeous form. She scored a huge 15.20 for her bar routine on day 2 of 2015 P&G Championships and earned herself the National bars title:


At the 2015 Jesolo Trophy, Hernandez competed as a junior and helped USA to first as team, and she also won the all-around, bars, and floor titles.

Ragan Smith

One of Smith's standout events is beam, where she shows great poise while performing difficult elements such as a standing back pike 1/1. She won the beam title at 2015 P&G Championships after nailing an outstanding set on day 2 for a 15.20:


This will be Smith's third outing at the City of Jesolo Trophy. Last year, along with Hernandez, she was also part of the first-place-winning U.S. junior team. She earned 2nd on floor, 3rd on vault, and 5th in the all-around as well. In 2014, Smith took 9th all-around and helped USA take first as team.

Sydney Johnson-Scharpf

Johnson-Scharpf had a great showing at the end of 2015, taking 6th AA at P&G Championships and being named to the National Team. She also took 5th on floor and 8th on vault. Watch Johnson-Scharpf getting ready for a big 2016 in our Beyond the Routine:


Beyond the Routine: Sydney Johnson-Scharpf - Episode 1
Beyond the Routine: Sydney Johnson-Scharpf - Episode 2

Emily Gaskins

Gaskins is currently training with legendary former coach of Shannon Miller, Steve Nunno, and she is making great strides. At 2015 P&G Championships, Gaskins tied for third on vault.


Gaskins competed at the 2014 City of Jesolo Trophy when she was a junior and helped the USA take first as a team. She also earned 5th all-around and 8th on floor. We are excited to see what she has to bring at Jesolo 2016:

Christina Desiderio

Desiderio closed out her 2015 season in style, taking an impressive 5th place in the all-around at P&G Championships, as well as 3rd on floor and 6th on beam. She is very powerful and has a huge opening pass of a double double.



While a lot is at stake for everyone competing, especially in the Olympic year, these five juniors are in a particularly pressure-filled position when it comes to proving themselves in the senior field. These new seniors will be looking to show not only confidence and consistency on the international stage, but also that they can make a big impact on Team USA with their routines.

Jesolo is sure to be an exhilarating competition, and you can watch all the action LIVE on FloGymnastics.


Related:
Final Roster: USA Confirms Team To Jesolo