Gymnasts Who I am Excited For To See Contending For Rio

   Yes, Rio is almost a year away. And as we look onto the next Games, we say goodbye to London. And gymnasts like Jordyn Wieber unfortunately. But, as we say hello to the new Games, we have to say hello to some new gymnasts, we have to  do this every quad, but I want to talk about some contenders I am looking forward to seeing in the next year before Rio. Some of them are new, some of them are old, like Larisa Iordache or Aliya Mustafina.

1. Simone Biles

Simone Biles has been dominating since she stepped onto the floor as a senior gymnast in 2013. We won't see her burn out like Jordyn Wieber did in London, because Aimee has been pacing her so well. Simone will be in Rio, and she'll dominate there, just like she did in Antwerp and of course, Nanning. I am so eager to see what Simone does in Rio.

2. Larisa Iordache

Usually, an Olympics is a peak for a gymnast, and after they compete in the Olympics, they retire or start spiraling down. But, for Larisa, that was not the case. Since she was only a ripe 16 year old representing Romania in London, Larisa continued in 2013. And she did well, doing good at European championships, and then she went on to win the bronze on the floor, placing fourth in the all-around, and after an unfortunate fall in beam finals, landing 7th, but if she wouldn't have falled, she would have medaled, maybe even gold. Larisa then went on to Europeans 2014 winning gold with the team, bronze in the vault, silver on beam, and tying for gold on the floor. Bam! She then went onto worlds and got silver in the all-around and placed 4th with the team (I mentioned this because Larisa got the team from 7th to 4th, and carried the whole team on her back!) She did great and I am so excited to see what the world will hold for this girl. She can definitely make the Olympic Team.

3. Nia Dennis

Nia debuts as a senior this year, and I am excited to see her. I have been since Nationals when I saw her stick her Double Arabian, and most of her floor routine. I have Nia Fever and I am amped for her debut this year. She can actually fight with Simone and others for the all-around title

4. Kyla Ross

Kyla Ross has always been known for her perfect form, but has been trashed on for her lack of difficulty. But, last night I was watching Camp Videos, and Kyla said that SHE IS upgrading. If Kyla can upgrade, she can possibly make the second Olympics. For ages, I have been waiting for Kyla to upgrade. I cannot wait for the Italy meet, where Kyla said she wil debuting her upgrades.  I can't wait. When I heard that Kyla was upgrading, I fell out of my seat.

5. Huang Huidan

Despite the loss of her bars title in Nanning, Huang is amazing on the event. She is the definiton of the word uneven bars. Anyway, she can win an Olympic UB finals, and she can be a great addition to the team. True, all Chinese gymnasts are great bar workers, so you may think that Huang's work doesn't differentiate her. But I guarantee, it does. She does great on the connections. She FLOATS up to the bar. Its just gorgeous. Even though she isn't really spectacular anywhere else, she will make the team because she is one of the best bar workers in China.

6. Claudia Fragapane

At first I did not like Claudia because she had no type (Power, artistry) But as I watched this girl more and more, I fell in love with her. Her floor was upbeat and fun, her choreo amazing. Claudia can definitely make Great Britain's Olympic Team, and I would be devastated if I don't see her doing so. She can definitely bring in a great floor score for Team GB, and can also bring in solid scores on the other three events. I can't wait to see  what the coaches at Bristol have in store for this rising star.

7. Aliya Mustafina

Aliya has always been the gymnast everyone loves, including me. I love her because she has a great attitude and is a tough cookie. Aliya has gone through a lot in the last 2 or 3 years and I am glad to see her recovering. I think that the Russian Federation will be stupid not to let Musty on the Rio Team, they need her.  They need her amazing leadership and toughness, they need her bars, her beam, and her dramatic floor. They need Mustafina all-around and that should make her a shoo-in.

8.  Bailie Key

Bailie Key impressed me at the national camp a few weeks ago when she beat THE Simone Biles in the all-around verification. Simone did have falls on a few of her upgrades, but it still proved that Simone does have mistakes. I think its going to be a miniature war between the two, and I cannot be more excited! A Bailie vs. Simone showdown is what I've been waiting for since that camp. I think that Bailie can dominate, just like Simone has been doing. Let the Biles-Key showdown begin.

9. Aly Raisman

Aly Raisman, 2012 Team Captain of the Gold Winning Olympic Team, beam bronze medalist, and floor Olympic Champion is back. I fell in love with Aly's gymnastics in 2011 when she took over the leadership role for Team USA after Alicia Sacramone fell to injury. I then watched her compete at the Games, dominating once again, and then I really got to like Aly when she became a dancer on ABC's Dancing With the Stars. Aly is coming back at the Italy meet this year and is going to come back strong, and I am excited for that. Aly can definitely make the second Olympic Team, because she is a great team captain and has so much experience. She can definitely help the younger girls when they are going onto their last event. 

10. Laura Jurca

Just like Bailie Key, Laura made a huge splash on the junior scene. This little Romanian sweetheard turned senior this year, and I look forward to seeing her compete with the big dogs at Romanian Nationals, European Championships, and other big competitions. I am so excited for Laura, and I think she can definitely make the Romanian Olympic Team. 

11. Emily Gaskins

So, as dominant as the US Team is right now, one area that the rest of the world (Especially Russia and China) are beating them at, artistry. Even though we have girls like Kyla Ross, we don't really have any artistic girls on the senior scene, but that is all set to change in 2016 when Emily turns senior. As we saw at the 2014 Junior Nationals, Emily has a balletic style on floor that we never see from the American women. She can also do great bars and beam sets, on bars she excentuates every key detail. A lot of people on the Gymternet (Mostly Russian Stans) are trashing on the USA for their lack of dance, but just wait till Emily steps onto the stage, that'll show em.

12. Norah Flately

This little dynamo has had my attention for a while now. She comes from one of my favorite gyms, Chow's, the gym that produced Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas. What I love about Norah is her flexibility. Have you seen this girl do a needle on beam?! There's not a bend in her knee! She is also a power athlete but mixes it with the flexibility and precision needed for bars, which you can never find nowadays, like her copatriot Emily Gaskins mentioned above, she also turns senior in 2016. Norah is sometimes incosistent, but she has a year to get that down. She is also competing the Amanar vault, which is why I said she is incosistent (She fell on it at the 2014 Classic). But, once again, she has a year to get that huge vault down. 

13. Laurie Hernandez

Laurie is full of spunk, let me just tell you that. She is a spunky little fireball, and she just overcame an injury. Luckily she got a spot on the National Team after winning the junior competition at verification camp (In physical abilities). Laurie is another junior I've been keeping my eye on, and like Norah and Emily, turns senior just in time for the Games, and boy, am I excited for that!

14. McKayla Maroney

McKayla suffered an injury after the 2013 Worlds, where she successfully protected her World Vault Title from 2011. That took McKayla out of competition for the whole 2014 Season. But now that her Olympic teammates Aly and Gabby are back, Mac's more determined to get into the gym than ever. And I am excited to see that passion back. Mac wants an Olympic Vaulting gold and she's not giving up on the dream. You can pretty much guarantee that by Worlds this year, McKayla will be vaulting towards her 3rd world gold vaulting medal. 

15. Ruby Harrold

I have been a fan of Harrold's bars for a while now. From the Van Leeuren to the bail-out transition, I am a fan. She has just blown my mind with her latest bar set, and she can definitely contend for a world title if she gets more consistent, and I believe she can. An example of the incosistency is in the Worlds Team Final, when she had a big leg split on the Van Lueeren.

   So here are some of the gymnasts I am looking forward to seeing in Rio/Contending for Rio in the next couple of months.