We saw some greats retire in 2011, and 2012. But we must ask ourselves. Why?
Shawn Johnson (Retired 2011): Gymnastics sweetheart, Shawn Johnson retired after failing to make the Worlds Team in 2011. It was not a "I didn't make the team, I am so depressed" Kinda retirement, we saw at the Secret Classic that Shawn blew out her knee in a skiing accident, and she guaranteed us at Nationals that if she returned and contended for another Olympics, she would be a different Shawn, but we saw traces of the Shawn we all know and love. But after becoming the 3rd alternate "The Stay at Home Alternate" Shawn realized it was a waste of time, she was really done with the sport and did not want to risk her knee running towards what she thought was a dead dream, I was sad to see her retirement, because it wasn't a dead dream. She could've done it. She could've been in contention to defend her beam title.
Chellsie Memmel (Retired 2011)- Chellsie Memmel had the intention to return to the Olympic stage. She had the best performance on night one of the Visas. She was in 3rd place behind Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber. She had some great potential and we all knew that she was going to be at the Trials. Going into Night 2, we said "See you at the Trials process Chells. We knew that she was a contender. But all went awry night two, final rotation: Bars. I watched in horror as Chellsie fell off the bar on a EASY skill. The handstand. We watched as Chellsie's father and coach lifted her back to the high bar, and she went again. We watched as she transitioned with a near perfect Pak Salto. But then, she transitioned back up, hit handstand and fell once again. We then discovered after she saluted, routine half done, that her shoulder injury flared up, and she retired.
Nastia Liukin (Came back Late 2011, Retired after missing the Team)- Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic Champion. She was the gymnastics queen. But She wanted more. She wanted to succeed with her team rather than by herself. She told us early on in her comeback that she wasnt all around Nastia anymore she was Specialist Nastia, beam and bars. But after falling too many times to count in the process of selecting the Olympic Team, Nastia was ousted. She retired out of disappointment that her Olympic Chances were really gone.
Rebecca Bross (Recovery Retired Because of Injury 2011, Came Back With Nastia 2012)- We all remember Rebecca's injury on the double twisting Yurchenko. We remembered that day. But Rebecca was so determined to go to London. She came back. But she struggled on bars and beam, her only two events, and it did not pan out, just like Nastia, she realized her dreams wouldn't come true, and walked away from the sport.
Alicia Sacramone (Retired after Trials) Alicia was the 2010 Vaulting Champion and the 2011 World Team Member. She was a great gymnast, but she, with the rest of her Olympian buddies, didn't make the team
Bridget Sloan: Bridget never retired, she went to Worlds, won the all around in 2009. She won it ahead of teammate, Rebecca Bross. Bridget had all the intention to go back to the Olympic Scene, but she injured her shoulder when warming up a Tkatchev and had to scratch the Trials. We said goodbye to Bridge as she decided to stop her elite career and go down to the collegiate level.
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