Bailie Key has dominated the junior field nationally and internationally for over a year. She has won gold all-around in the past eight competitions she’s entered, six of which were internationally meets. She seemed like a lock to win this year’s P&G Championships, but just the other day she withdrew from competition, due to recovery from an elbow injury.

 

With Key out, who will take the title? There are tons of great junior gymnasts but below are the ones we think have a realistic shot at winning. 

 

 

Nia Dennis

 

Nia Dennis is an obvious pick to take the junior’s title. She has consistently placed right behind Bailie Key and has the difficulty and execution to get the score needed to win. However, she added a couple new skills and what will determine her placing is her consistency and if she can hit all of her routines.

 

At the U.S. Classic, Nia had a fall in her floor routine and finished with a 56.75 all-around, six tenths behind first place. Nia placed 26th on floor, but with her big scores on the other events, she was still able to finish second all-around. She placed second on vault, first on bars, and tied for second on beam. Watch Nia's beam from the U.S. Classic here.

 

If Nia doesn’t bring her A game to Championships, there is a batch of up and coming juniors ready to swoop in and contend for the title.
 

 

Jordan Chiles

 

Jordan Chiles is coming off of a big win at the U.S. Classic where she scored a 57.35. Watch Jordan's bar routine from Classic here. She had a great meet but still has space for improvement. She has a lot of room to mature and add difficulty but she has the talent and execution in place to do so effectively. 

 

Jordan is relatively new to the elite scene and this will be her second P&G Championships. However, Martha Karolyi definitely sees potential in Jordan in this spring, Jordan was named to the junior national team and selected for the Jesolo Trophy team. 

 

If Jordan is clean and hits her routines again, she has a good chance at taking the title.

 

 

Ragan Smith

 

Ragan Smith is another young junior who was also added to the junior national team right before the Jesolo Trophy. Ragan has had to rework and relearn skills after moving gyms to Texas Dreams but her gymnastics has improved greatly. 

 

Ragan placed 13th all-around at the U.S. Classic after falling on both beam and vault. However, she won floor with a 14.35 and she still had a relatively good all-around score for only hitting two of her routines. If Ragan can hit all four routines, she has a chance at taking the title.

Watch Ragan's winning floor routine from the U.S. Classic here.

 

Norah Flatley

 

Norah Flatley has made a name for herself as Chow’s next star. Some draw similarities between Norah and Shawn Johnson in their style and gymnastics. 

 

Norah tied for third all around at the U.S. Classic with a 56.45. She is known for her incredible beam routine, which earned a 6.2 start value and 15.1 total score for first place at the U.S. Classic. Watch that beam routine here.

She also won gold on beam in her first two international meets this year- the Jesolo Trophy and Pac Rims. Her beam and bar scores will bring up her all-around as her vault and floor are solid but weaker events. 

 

Other notable names:

Jazmyn Foberg

Deanne Soza

Maile O’Keefe
Emily Gaskins

 

What do you think? Who will take the title? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.