Sunday, March 18, 2012

In Defense of Gabrielle Douglas

Olympic years have the potential to make people exceptionally passionate, perhaps too passionate about the sport of Gymnastics. Personally, I'm more effected by the team selection than I am about the Olympics themselves.

For instance, 2004, the first Olympic year in which I really followed the sport, I was all about Hollie Vise. I mean come on, how can you not love that Piked Jaeger and back bendy beam mount thing? She is, and was phenomenal and when she didn't make the Olympic team, I cried. It was harsh that the reigning world champion on bars didn't make the team and even harsher when they shoved cameras in her (and the other girls) faces as the whole thing unfolded.

Inside Gymnastics
Then came 2008, where I was mesmerized by the "headcase" that was Ivana Hong. Oh, how I loved that floor routine and her beautiful lines on beam. I remember watching trials and saying to my cousin, "Bridget Sloan won't make the team; she can't point her toes on her releases," and "Jana won't make it, she's been a mess since 2006," and even "Shayla's too beat up to make this team, they're running out of options." I was convinced, literally 100% convinced, that Ivana Hong was going to be the 6th member on that team. Looking back, I should have realized that there's no way she would have fit, with or without her foot ordeal, as the US did not need a bars/beam specialist. But, I loved the idea of Ivana on the team and I didn't want to give that up.

Kathy Willens 
And now we come to 2012. Who am I rooting for? Miss Gabrielle Douglas. Now, part of me wants to walk away and say "Hey gymnastic gods! I don't like her, okay?!" just so I don't curse this girl who really deserves this Olympic spot. But obviously, Ivie & Hollie not making the team have nothing to do with me so I'm just going to throw it all out there. Gabby Douglas is amazing. She's phenomenal and could easily win a medal on bars this year. But I can't help but wonder, how long will she be "on the bubble" for? She's got an Amanar that she hit at the American Cup. She was one of the top 8 in the world on bars in 2011 , has 15+ on beam, and a phenomenally choreographed floor. Why, seriously, why shouldn't Gabby make the team? If you can come up with a reason, just stop and look at this girl.

Associate Press

Sure, she might have had a "rough" Pacific Rim Championships, but she missed her hand on vault and "tweaked her ankle". That could have happened to anyone. Although she fell on beam, there wasn't anything "headcasey" about that routine. She had a bad day which followed one of the most phenomenal all around performances I've ever seen at the American Cup. How could you not want this girl on the Olympic team? It will be different this time.

11 comments:

  1. I agree, this meet did not completely ruin her chances. And today she posted pictures of her ankle on Facebook. Also, I saw someone write that her tweaked ankle could have been the problem on beam because the same thing happened to Jordyn a couple years ago. Jordyn rolled her ankle and fell off of the beam a couple times. That just goes to show that this was not a headcase performance!

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  2. I agree with you that gabby's great on bars and beam! Not to mention the amanar. But as for her floor choreography, please someone get her something that isnt that awful!!

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  3. AGREE! Gabby is amazing, and all her haters need to STFU because they have no evidence to back up their BS claims that she's not worthy of an Olympic spot. I love how they like to ignore that she was FIFTH in quals at worlds 5 months ago. Had she had an amanar then, she would have been in AA finals no doubt. I honestly can't imagine why she won't make the team this year (other than a serious injury).

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  4. Also, it's probably been a draining few weeks for her, what with two training camps and two meets all squished together. Go Gabby!

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  5. I just worry about her consistency is all. Im not the biggest gabby fan at all, but I was at American Cup and she did look phenomenal! you could totally see all of the hours that she put in over the past few months. American cup was good for her; thats the only reason i now think she could really be a contender for the Olympics, because I was definitely not convinced last year

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  6. phenomally choreographed floor? I like Gabby but her floor choreo is a disgrace

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    1. Haha, maybe it's a personal preference thing, but I love it.

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  7. Gabby is good. Her floor routine is horrible. Beyond horrible choreo. I'm still trying to figure out what she's doing after the first pass

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    1. Haha I completly agree!

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  8. Gabby you are the best in the world dont let anyone bring u down remember who has the gold!!!!!!

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