Chellsie Memmel speaks out on Classics and a denied petition...

Property of Gym Examiner

I'm not going to catch you up on the whole Chellsie Memmel situation, but if you've been under a rock, you can read my post from earlier this week. A few days ago, I realized that we had heard from just about everyone in the gymnastics community on this issue with the exception of Chellsie Memmel, herself. I wondered what she had to say on the issue.

"Classics for me was going to be a tune up meet. We decided to just do one event so I could petition to do all around at Championships, " Memmel said, "No one actually said to me that I needed a 14 in order to be considered for a petition."

Was a score of 14 arbitrarily made up in order to keep the "princesses" in and keep Chellsie out? Many fans think so and are understandably outraged. In under a week, a petition published on Change.org has received over 2500 signatures asking USA Gymnastics to reconsider Chellsie's petition.

"I am so grateful to have this amount of support. It honestly took me by surprise how quickly people jumped into action. It's so nice to have such amazing fans," Memmel told Get a Grip.

USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny however, didn't feel as positive about the support, calling her fans "not very cordial or nice" to Andy Memmel according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article published Thursday. Penny also asked Chellsie to retire outright.

"He just suggested that I retire right away. I'm not ready to shut the door completely; I need some more time." But whether or not we'll see Chellsie on the floor next year is still to be determined.

"Right now, I am taking things one day at a time.  I don't know if I will continue, I was planning on being done after this year no matter how things turned out.  I just thought that I would have at least been given the chance to compete at Championships.  My first one was in St. Louis, it would have been cool to be able to have my last one there as well. Since I did take the judges course, that is definitely a path that I can take.  I am also thinking about college," Chellsie said.   

I'm sure that nearly all of Chellsie's fans would love to see her continue, successfully pursuing her 4th quadrennium in elite gymnastics. But I think that it's worth mentioning that few fans are surprised with the exceptional amount of class and professionalism Chellsie exhibited throughout this entire ordeal. When I asked if she thought that she was given a fair chance she simply responded, "I'm just going to say 'no comment'."

Inconsistencies keep Chellsie out of Nationals.

Property of Heather Maynez

I don't mean Chellsie being inconsistent, I mean the selection committee.

I originally thought that being a Pan Ams Team member wouldn't put you through to Visas. It's not mentioned on the Elite Qualification Chart whatsoever. But then, in the Olympic Selection procedures, I discovered this listed as a way to qualify.

"By being one of the seven (7) members of the 2011 World Championships or one of the six (6) members of the 2011 Pan American Team."  


If you remember, Chellsie was named to the team and after sustaining an injury and was replaced by Grace McLaughlin.

But she was replaced by an alternate, so she must not be considered a team member, right?! WRONG.

Gabrielle Douglas was supposedly originally the alternate for the Worlds Team. Thus, Anna Li & Alicia Sacramone both sustained injuries and were replaced. Yet, they are still being allowed to proceed to Championships even though they did not compete as part of the World Championships team.

This is a blatant inconsistency. It's not okay in the slightest. I don't know why the rules are different for Chellsie and Alicia, 2 wonderful gymnasts who have given a combined 20+ years to USAG, but it is downright wrong. It's not okay.

EDIT 5/28/12:  I just found out that Juniors Lacy Dagen and Ashley Foss were put through to Championships without receiving the qualifying score of 52.5. Neither of the two have ever qualified to Championships before. Although the two are beautiful gymnasts, please, tell me why the selection committee will bend the official rules for 2 juniors, but not bend the unofficial rules (meaning getting a 14.0) for a former World Champion.

BREAKING NEWS : Senior Scratch List

I just got a list of girls who will NOT be competing all 4 events tonight. Here are the events that they WILL be competing.

Of these girls, Magee is the only one who we're sure needs to qualify to Championships.

Rebecca Bross - UB, BB
Gabrielle Douglas - UB, BB, FX
Sarah Finnegan - UB, BB, FX
Nastia Liukin - BB
Casey Jo Magee - VT, UB, BB
McKayla Maroney - VT, BB
Chellsie Memmel - BB
Jordyn Wieber - UB, BB

I don't know why this is the case, and I suppose that it's subject to change. I'm just relaying the info I was given.

My random thoughts after seeing Classics Training Coverage

I'm bored to death with this Shaposh half combo.

I thought that Kim Zmeskal rechoreographed new routines for her girls every year. WHY DOES BAILIE KEY STILL HAVE THAT MUSIC?!?!?!

Polina Shchennikova will make the national team this year if she doesn't headcase.

McKenzie Wofford is fierce as hell. Everyone better respect her for that.

I want Nastia Liukin to do well. Her beam is pretty but I'm VERY disappointed that she won't be competing bars.

Kyla Ross could earn her spot with her bars. I'm impressed with this tumbling pass, but honeychild has GOT to get some less horrible music.

I would guess that the Gedderts are just planning for consistency at this point. I therefore, am not overly impressed with World Champion Wieber.

When I heard that Anna Li was getting a new floor routine that she wanted to be college like, I didn't expect it to be this artistic. YAY. Her bars are of course, phenomenal as always. I love the new skill.

Elizabeth Price reminds me of Olivia Courtney in '08. Hopefully Marta will send her to a meet post Olympics. Could she win Classics in 2013? Possibly. She impresses me more and more each time I see her. Apparently she's got an Amanar that I have yet to find video of.


Abby Milliet's leotard makes me want to cry.

Chellsie Memmel is a beast. LOVE.

Aly Raisman's Amanar still scares the hell out of me.

Can we please find a new birth certificate for Katelyn Ohashi?

Ariana Guerra is blossoming since her move to Texas Dreams.

Amelia Hundley's going to be 5'6 by the time she turns 16.

I absolutely refuse to call this the "Secret Classic". That's creepy as hell.

All photos property of USAG

Your Questions Answered - 11/21-11/27

I've gotten a some questions this week. Here are my answers!

(PR Photos) 

Izzi B asked: "I'm confused about what it means that Chellsie's now a judge. What exactly will she be judging and how can she still compete if she's a judge?"


Chellsie is a Brevet Judge which means she can judge JO, NCAA, Elite and International competition. Kathy Kelly (VP of the Women's Program) has been asking Chellsie to take the course for a while, but Chellsie thought now would be a good time because she's recovering from her shoulder surgery. She said she spent a lot of time studying and only had a month to learn it all! Chellsie and Tabitha Yim both tested as Brevet Judges at the last development camp. Chellsie is still training, and plans to compete this season, but sees judging as something good to have as an option. 


Bridgette asked: "You posted a link to a 'day in the life' for Jordyn Weiber (sic) which indicated she already has endorsement deals but they're just not public... am I reading that right? I thought she wasn't accepting endorsements yet even though she went pro? I'm confused!"


In the first press release stating that Jordyn went pro, her mom said that they "might look into representation" after the Olympics. Apparently, Mama Wieber didn't realize that the bulk of sponsorships come before the games. Jordyn does indeed have endorsements which are rumored to include Proctor & Gamble and Kellogg's. 

(Property of John Cheng)

Anonymous asked: "I saw another blog that said Komova would be unlikely for the American Cup? Do you agree with this? I already have my tickets, and I was really hoping to see a Komova/Wieber showdown. Do you think Jordyn and Aly will for sure be there? Who else do you think will show?"


The American Cup is a World Cup event, so the Top 8 All Around gymnasts from Worlds are invited. If anyone declines the next girl down on the list will attend. My personal opinion? I don't think Komova will come. In my opinion, Mustafina only attended because she thought she had no real competition. If Wieber is there, as she's said she plans to be, Komova WILL have major competition. Last year, the lowest ranking competitor from Worlds competing WAG at the American Cup was Hannah Whelan, who placed 16th at Worlds. Anyone who placed above 16th is a good possibility.  Another possibility could include Ross being thrown in similarly to Wieber last year.


Izzi B asked: "How come McKayla doesn't preform (sic) two vaults at events like Visa Nationals? Sacramone does to show what she would do at event finals, and obviously McKayla competed in EF at worlds, so why doesn't she show two vaults too?"


McKayla did compete two vaults! She competed both of her vaults at both Championships and Classics, but NBC chose to only show her Amanar. That's how she came to be the National Vault Champion! Brandie Jay competed 2 vaults as well. 

(Property of USA Today)

A asked: "Is Aly Raisman bringing back the Amanar?" 

While I haven't heard one way or another about Aly's Amanar status, I'd guess that if she stays healthy  (knock on wood), Aly will try to bring back the Amanar. It's been said across the internet that to make this Olympic team, you either need an Amanar or a finals worthy bar set. I think that Raisman will try as hard as she can for the former. Her landings have been scary in the past, but I think that with a little bit of work she can get it rotated all the way around.

If your question wasn't answered, check back Thursday for an entire post on your question, or early next week! (An insider has answered one of your questions for Thursday!)

Do you have a question? Whether it's fact or opinion, I'll answer it! Ask me here! 

10 Things your Favorite Gymnasts (may) be doing this Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

 

If you're not from The USA, this is the day when we celebrate killing hundreds of indigenous people... Okay, not really, but that's how it originated. We typically just eat a ton of turkey, get together with family and give thanks for the things that we have.

Here are 10 things that I think some of our favorite gymnasts may be doing this Thanksgiving: 

10. Miss Val & Rhonda Faehn give thanks for the fact that they won't even have to recruit soon; gymnasts will just come running to their teams.

9. Nastia Liukin makes a "handprint turkey" with no paint; she uses the blood from her newly formed rips.

8. Chris Burdette and Kim Zmeskal Burdette spend their day feeding an entire school of 150 displaced children. How nice! Oh wait, that's just their elite group.

(Property of Karolyi Camp Website) 

7. National Team Doctor Larry Nassar gives thanks that he won't have to set any broken bones until the next Training Camp in Early 2012.

6. Chellsie Memmel cheats her meal plan (as she stated on HBO) and eats Turkey and Fruit. 

5. Jordyn Wieber gives thanks for her spot on the 2012 Olympic Team. 

4. When Anna Liukin asks Valeri to pass the Mashed Potatoes, he becomes oddly overly protective of them and exclaims, "THESE ARE MY POTATOES, I MAKE WORLD CHAMPION POTATOES, DO NOT TAKE MY POTATOES LIKE BITCH TATIANA SCHEGOLKOVA!" 

3. Bela Karolyi attempts to "fit in with the American Traditions" and serves a thanksgiving dinner to Marta & Andrea. Bela says he never knew that stuffing paired so well with roasted camel. 

2. Jen Sey gives a press conference on how Elite Gymnastics caused Indian Turmoil, and how if the Parkettes Coaches weren't so mean, the pilgrims wouldn't have had to move to North America. 

1. Mustafina, Yao,  Komova, Iordache, Qiushang, Afanasyeva, Mitchell, Whelan, Ferrari & Grishina train, while the Americans eat turkey and stuffing!  

Of course these are jokes, thus the "(may)" disclaimer in the title. Don't take anything to heart. It's all good Thanksgiving fun. 

A Day in the Life of Olympian & World Champion Chellsie Memmel

Although Chellsie is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, she agreed to give us a look inside her average daily schedule. 

(Property of Sports Illustrated) 

8:00 AM -  "A typical day for me starts with waking up at 8:00. I have some breakfast and get ready to head to the gym."


9:00 AM - "I start .. with a run to get moving then the National Team warm up and conditioning. I generally will start on beam then move to floor, and do a few timers on vault then finish on bars."


12:30 PM - "I finish and go home to have lunch. I like to read a lot so I walk on the treadmill while reading for about 35 minutes, unless I am completely absorbed in the book then I end up walking longer then intended."


4:30 PM - "I head back to the gym at around 4:30 and I hit bars, beam, floor dance and full vaults. This practice is shorter [than the first].


6:30 PM - "I go back home for dinner. I will do a little cleaning then probable walk again for a half hour to wind down. I finish my days by hanging out on the couch with my boyfriend, Kory and my dogs, Lexi and Lucy." 

Chellsie Memmel is one of the the Most Decorated US Gymnasts of all time, and is a Three time World Champion, 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2004 Olympic Alternate and has two skills named after her. She's been an elite since 2000. She's also appeared in commercials for Gatorade, P&G and was featured in a Vogue photoshoot shot by the legendary Annie Leibovitz.