Simone Biles leads after day one of the 2016 P&G Championships with a 62.9 all-around. Aly Raisman and Laurie Hernandez are tied for second in all-around competition after both scoring 60.45. Gabby Douglas had a solid night, but was missing her usual spark and sharpness, and totaled 58.9 for fourth place. Madison Kocian rounds out the top five with a strong 58.15. See the full results here. 

Simone Biles is Unstoppable

Biles proved once again she is a level (or two or three) above the rest by finishing two-and-a-half points ahead of anyone else. She floated through her routines with her typical ease, and made even her most difficult skills look like a piece of cake. If she continues on this path, she will earn her fourth straight national title on Sunday. Her highest score tonight came on floor after a jaw-dropping routine that posted a well-deserved 16.1.


Video via USA Gymnastics

Laurie Hernandez Makes a Statement

Hernandez was on fire tonight, and topped off her meet with a nearly flawless beam set to post a 15.3 and tie for the second-highest all-around score of the night. Martha Karolyi and the selection committee are looking for gymnasts who are in the top three, and Hernandez was third on bars, third on beam, and tied for third on floor. With tonight’s performance, she is moving herself from a "gymnast on the bubble" to "gymnast on the Rio team."


Video via USA Gymnastics

“Bar Specialist” Madison Kocian Shines for 5th AA

When piecing together the Olympic team, many think of Kocian as just a bar specialist. She does have a world gold medal on bars, but that’s not her only event, and she proved that tonight. She put up solid routines on the three other events to total a 58.15, which is nothing to sneeze at. While she may not be used on the other three events in a three-up, three-count situation, she’s definitely there as a solid backup.


Video via USA Gymnastics

Is Aly Raisman the Best She’s Ever Been?

Raisman is looking like her 2012 self, and possibly better. She rocked her routines tonight to tie with Hernandez for second all-around with a 60.45. She had the second-highest beam score of the night with a 15.35, the second-highest floor score with a 15.6, and proved she can be counted on for vault after scoring a 15.35. And while the scores speak for themselves, her confidence and maturity also boost her case to be on the 2016 Olympic team. 


Video via USA Gymnastics


Other exciting performances from tonight include Amelia Hundley’s sixth-place all-around finish, and Maggie Nichols returning from injury to compete bars and beam.

Douglas had small mistakes throughout her routines and didn’t look like her usual self. She got through the night with a solid 58.9 all-around score, but she’ll definitely be looking for more on night two.

Ragan Smith, who has been on fire this year, had a fluke mistake on floor, her first event, and seemed to have a hard time recovering from the rest of the night. The highlight for her came on her final event, when she nailed her new(ish) Patterson dismount.

The final day of competition will take place Sunday, June 26, at 7:30PM. Following the conclusion of the event, national champions will be crowned, the U.S. National Team will be named, and the Olympic Trials qualifiers will be announced.


Related:
Full Results from Seniors, Day 1
Highlights from Juniors, Day 1