Jun 27, 2013
Although only a year after the 2012 Olympic Trials in San Jose, the women's senior elite competition playing field proves full of changes. Out of the fifteen athletes who competed in last year's Olympic selection process, only seven are slated to compete at the U.S. Classic so far. Before introducing the new crop of talented young gymnasts eagerly training for the elite competition season, let's take a look back at those competitors who graced the San Jose Arena July 1st, what they accomplished, how their lives changed since the selection process, and whether they plan on storming the elite track again seeking out international competition once more.
Jun 11, 2013
Your votes are in! The 2012 Gymnastics Breakout Performance of the Year is….
Jan 3, 2013
All Around Results from the 2012 U.S. Men's Olympic Trials - Gymnastics. All around scores are combined with night 1 and night 2 from the 2012 Visa Championships, held earlier this month. Danell Leyva leads the way just ahead of 2012 U.S. National Champion John Orozco after night 1 of competition. The men will conclude competition Saturday night in San Jose, and the complete men's 2012 U.S. Olympic Team will be named the following morning by the U.S. Men's selection committee. Click here for complete results from day 1
Oct 29, 2012
The U.S. mens step on to the 2012 London Olympic podium for the first time. Podium training for the U.S.A. men's team at the 2012 Olympic Games has concluded, and despite a few falls, Head Coach Kevin Mazeika and the U.S. athletes still call it a success. Today was about getting used to the new Gymnova equipment to prepare for preliminary competition on Saturday. "I thought it was a great podium training today", Mazeika stated. "Podium training is about getting used to the little idiosyncrasies of the equipment, so we'll make the adjustments accordingly and take in that information to be ready to go on Saturday." The biggest obstacle for Team USA, and most of the other countries, was the Gymnova vaulting board. Like many of the other gymnasts taking to the competition floor for the first time today, the U.S. team sat down numerous vaulting attempts. Two-time Olympian Jonathan Horton revealed that "the board has been a challenge to get used to. It acts a little weird. Basically when the board bends, instead of throwing us straight up, it throws us forward, so it feels like it throws us straight into the vault instead of up over it. We've been fighting it. Everyone is struggling on vault also, I saw a lot of people crash today. It's going to take a little time to make the adjustments, but I think these guys will be able to land when they need to." Danell Leyva summed it up best saying "vault is all about adrenaline", and he's confident that competing in his first Olympic Games will give him the adrenaline needed to put his tsukahara 2.5 twist to his feet on Saturday. The Americans shook off vault and moved to parallel bars where all five members presented full routines. Sam Mikulak nailed his set to re-energize his teammates down on the floor. He looks to have secured his place on this event for the team final, along with World Champion Leyva. On high bar, the Americans showed promising routines highlighted by a fantastic performance by Danell Leyva, who was the class of the field on the event today. It was the team's veteran and Olympic silver medalist Jonathan Horton, however, who struggled. Horton was 1-4 today on his Cassina release, a full twisting laid out Kovacs. This is the same skill he missed at Olympic Trials. Horton regretted doing so many attempts at a skill he knew he could make and confirmed that the routine has been going well in training. "I shouldn't have done so many. I should've just walked away. I've been on fire with that release lately, and I think I let it get into my head. I hate to say it, but it's kind of shaken my confidence a little bit. I'm going to get back in the gym tomorrow, do a few more, make sure I catch them, and build it back up". Coach Mazeika did not seem concerned with Horton struggles today, and does not plan to pull the release move from his routine, stating: "Jon's a seasoned veteran, and he'll be ready to go on Saturday". The equipment even affected 3-time World all around Champion Kohei Uchimura, who looked uncharacteristically human today. Nicknamed "Superman," he is by far the favorite for the Olympic all around title. However, he started off his day with two falls on high bar, peeling off the bar after catching a Kolman release, and failing to catch a Liukin as well. On floor, Uchimura looked fatigued, and closed out the rotation by attempting an incredibly difficult triple twisting double tuck, landing on his face. While it was shocking to see the reigning World floor and all around Champion suffer a fall like this, Uchimura was unfazed, jumping right back up and laughing it off. Even still, Uchimura left today's arena with moments of greatness we've come to expect from him, like a stuck double twisting double tuck off of rings, and a nearly perfect 2.5 twisting yurchenko vault. The session concluded with a fantastic floor routine by American Jake Dalton, mounting with a clean laid out double arabian. Dalton is looking strong to contend for a medal on the event here in London. The hardest part will be handling the pressure of competing in his first Olympic Games, with the constant presence of the Olympic Rings reminding him what's at stake. "You go out there and see 'London Olympic Games' and the Olympic Rings. Actually, the only thing that feels the same is the gymnastics. Outside, everything is different. It's pretty cool to stay in the village and with all the other countries." 2012 U.S. National Champion John Orozco agreed. "The experience so far has been really fun. I'm trying to think of it as another interernational meet, but the village and the whole atmosphere is making it impossible to do that," he says with a smile. John Orozco and Team USA in the mixed zone following podium training. Dalton, like many of his teammates, is reflecting on past performances for confidence. He says that aside from seeing the Rings everywhere, "today felt a lot like World Championships to me. It felt like I've already done this before, like we just did this not too long ago. I'm just ready to get out there, I think we all feel comfortable with the equipment now. We know what it looks like, we know what to expect, and we're ready to go." You can count on team veteran Jonathan Horton to deliver a strong pep talk to the team tonight. When asked what he would say, he quickly replied: "Don't be worried. Stay relaxed. We all got here for a reason...because we are great gymnasts." The U.S. men will begin competition on Saturday in subdivision two of three, starting off on the pommel horse. The top 8 teams from the prelims will advance to team finals. Americans to watch in the all around race will be 2012 Olympic Trials Champion Leyva and 2012 U.S. Champion John Orozco.
Jul 25, 2012
Gymnastike was on-site in San Jose's HP Pavillion providing quick hits and commentary of the 2012 Olympic Trials. To relive the women's final night of competition and the moment the 2012 USA Gymnastics Olympic team was named, read below. To read in chronological order begin at the bottom of the page.
Jul 3, 2012
Gymnastike was on-site in San Jose's HP Pavillion providing quick hits and commentary of the 2012 Olympic Trials. To relive the men's final night of competition, read below. To read in chronological order begin at the bottom of the page.
Gymnastike was on-site in San Jose's HP Pavillion providing quick hits and commentary of the 2012 Olympic Trials. To relive the women's first night of competition, read below. To read in chronological order begin at the bottom of the page. For more coverage of the Olympic Trials click here. Our view of Olympic Trials
Gymnastike was on-site in San Jose's HP Pavillion providing quick hits and commentary of the 2012 Olympic Trials. To relive the men's first night of competition, read below. To read in chronological order begin at the bottom of the page.
Gabby Douglas was in a familiar spot heading into the second day of Olympic Trials. Trailing national champion Jordyn Wieber is a place that Douglas has found herself many times before. After four solid routines, she passed Wieber (123.450) and earned the one guaranteed spot to the 2012 Olympics in London. Douglas was the first competitor of the night, starting off with a huge 16.0 score on her Amanar vault. That was the highest score she has ever earned on the event. Moving into the second rotation, Douglas performed her crowd favorite uneven bar routine. After missing one of her hands on her Pak salto, she managed to get her grip and later stuck her double layout dismount earning her another huge score of 15.9. This score allowed her to tie with Kyla Ross for first place in the event with a total score of 31.150. Next, Douglas showed a few weaknesses on the balance beam. Although she had two close calls almost falling off the beam, she managed to stay on and score a 14.85. It came down to the wire between Douglas and Wieber in the last rotation. Gabby finished off the night scoring a 15.3, just edging her ahead of Wieber by one tenth. Wieber was also named to the 2012 Olympic Team which came as no surprise after her four usual solid performances scoring a 15.35 on the bars, 14.9 on the beam, 15.6 on the floor and 15.8 ending on the vault. Wieber continued to show consistency placing second in the all-around (123.350), easily proving why she should be part of the Olympic Team. Distant from Douglas and Wieber was third place Aly Raisman (120.95). Raisman earned first place on the beam (30.350) and floor (31.100). Showing her consistency on the beam and floor made Raisman a lock for the Olympic team. Coming up a little short with a step on her Amanar vault, Raisman still scored a 15.3. Elizabeth Price had another set of consistent performances to keep her in fourth place (120.100). She was named to the Olympic Team as one the three alternates. Price started off the second night of Olympic Trials with a solid scores on bars and beam, which set the tone for the rest of Price’s night. She moved forward scoring a 14.95 on floor and a 15.7 on vault. Price’s powerful tumbling passes and height on her Amanar vault reminded the crowd not to forget about her. Placing fifth (120.00) right behind Price was Kyla Ross, who was named to the 2012 Olympic Team. She proved to Martha Karolyi that she can be consistent and display confidence. Earning a 15.65 on the uneven bars placed Ross in a tie with Gabby Douglas for first on the event with a total score of 31.150. Watering down her vault after falling on her Amanar during night one, Ross performed only a DTY scoring a 15.15. Sarah Finnegan placed sixth in the all-around (118.500) and earned a spot as an alternate on the 2012 Olympic Team. She had a night of good performances, turning in scores of a 14.9 on vault, 14.75 on bars, 14.8 on beam and a 15.0 floor score. 2008 Olympian Alicia Sacramone had two great performances to end her 2012 Olympic run. Starting on the beam, she had a few small wobbles, but executed her routine well earning a 15.15. Finishing up the night Sacramone earned a 15.8 on her first vault and a 15.2 on her second vault. She finished second to McKayla Maroney who was named the fifth member to the 2012 Olympic Team. Maroney overall had a good floor routine but landed out of bounds on her third pass ( 1 ½ through to double back). Holding her title as the best on vault, she scored a 16.15 and a 15.75 on her vaults, earning first place ahead of Sacramone. Former 2008 Olympian, Nastia Liukin, finished her elite career tonight on a bittersweet note. After struggling on a pirouette and falling to the ground on her Gienger release during her bar routine, Liukin managed to land her double front 1/2 dismount for the first time since she has returned to competition. Liukin ended her career with a solid beam routine (14.95) and waved goodbye to the crowd, knowing that was the last routine she would perform in her elite career. Rebecca Bross had a rocky start to her night falling three different times on her bar routine. She didn’t finish her full routine, earning her a 10.55. Bross then rotated to the beam where she finished strong scoring a 14.9 on the event. Former UCLA star, Anna Li was shocked when her named was announced as an alternate for the 2012 Olympic team. She placed third on the bars with a total score of 31.050 and earned a 15.55 on night two. Li’s bar routine captivates and astounds the crowd. She also earned a decent score of 14.5 on beam, with well executed skills. The U.S. 2012 Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team has been announced.
Jul 2, 2012
2012 U.S. Olympic Trials - Gymnastics
The 2012 U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team has been announced, following the final day of competition at the Olympic Team Trials in San Jose. Gabby Douglas moved ahead of reigning World Champion Jordyn Wieber by just 1 tenth to secure the Olympic Trials all around title and automatic berth to the 2012 US Olympic Team. The remaining members were selected by the US women's selection comittee.
Jul 1, 2012
After four days of competition at the Visa Championships and Olympic Trials, USA Gymnastics has announced the five men plus alternates who will represent Team USA at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The 2012 USA Men's Olympic Team: Danell Leyva Miami/Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics) John Orozco the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center) Jonathan Horton Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress) Sam Mikulak Newport Coast, Calif./University of Michigan Jake Dalton Reno, Nev./University of Oklahoma Alternates: Chris Brooks Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress) Steve Legendre Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (University of Oklahoma) Alex Naddour Gilbert, Ariz./Team Hilton HHonors (USA Youth Fitness Center) The Head Coach of Team USA is Kevin Mazeika, who had this to say following the announcement: "It is an amazing team. We knew all along it was going to be difficult to select the team because of our depth. It wasn't easy but I think we have selected a team that is going to go to London and vie for a gold medal. I am proud of each and every one of our guys and I look forward to continuing the journey." The women’s team will be named following the conclusion of the final day of women’s competition later today at the HP Pavilion at San Jose. All athletes named to the Olympic Team are subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors. The members of the Men’s Selection Committee were: Kevin Mazeika, men’s national team coordinator; Mike Burns and Yoichi Tomita, coach representatives; Kevin Tan, athlete representative; Steve Butcher, at-large representative; and Dennis McIntyre, USA Gymnastics men’s program director (non-voting).
