One of the two gymnasts who wasn't a surprise is veteran Ragan Smith, whose first year as a senior was last year, where she had a successful year, falling just short of making the Rio Team. Now many don't see alternate as a success, but with a team that had basically been set in stone since late 2015, it was a huge accomplishment for the young gymnast. Ragan had several international assignments over the first half of 2017, winning the American Cup, as well as snagging this year's National All-Around title. Ragan has been on everyone's radar, and it was no surprise when she was announced as part of this year's World Championship team and will be competing all-around in Montreal.
The other gymnast who wasn't really that big of a surprise was the first year elite, Jade Carey. Jade made her elite debut at Classics this year. Many were shocked when they heard that Carey went from Level 10 to make her first Worlds team in a span of six months. Something that was basically unheard of since Kayla Williams did it in 2009, where she went from Level 10 to becoming the 2009 World Champion on vault. Jade vaults an Amanar and a Tsukahara double. This gives Jade one of the highest difficulty in the world on the event, at a combined difficulty at 11.4. This puts Jade in contention for the title, this would be the first time a US gymnast has won the world title since McKayla Maroney in 2013. Jade's floor is impressive as well, coming in at a 5.8 D-Score, and if all things go as planned, she would be in contention for a medal in that event as well. Unlike vault, she would have to rely on others to have a few mistakes, like a few out-of-bounds, and then she'll have to hit the routine of her life since there are others that have higher D-scores than her. But you will never know what will happen on such a huge stage. I for one, am excited to see what she can do.
The next gymnast is one that people thought would not make the Worlds team because of her shaky performance at Nationals. But, the gymternet is collectively glad that she did, because, in addition to being on the gymternet herself, this gymnast is one that everyone has watched grown up in the sport, and that is Morgan Hurd. Now, there are not that many gymnasts who are universally adored by the gymternet, but somehow, Morgan is one of them. If you have followed her since her debut at the 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup, it is hard not to fall in love with her. Well, let's be realistic, if you've seen any of her routines, or have started following her at any point, it's hard not to love Morgan. She has that combination of power and elegance that is nearly impossible to achieve. Everyone and their brother were in tears when Morgan struggled at Nationals, and they wondered if the gem of the gymternet would even get invited to camp, but after she did, Morgan came into that selection camp with a vengeance. And that was to hit. Luckily, she did, and she was named to the team, making the gymternet collectively cry tears of joy for Morgiboo. She is the second and final gymnast doing the all-around for the U.S., and everyone is praying that she will do well.
The final gymnast on the Worlds Team is a gymnast who not a lot of people on the gymternet are
a fan of and that is the Rio Olympic alternate, Ashton Locklear. Ashton has never really been a favorite of the gymternet. But in my opinion, the disliking of this gymnast really sparked last year when she hashtagged a tweet supporting a political candidate in the 2016 Presidential Election, and then liked some questionable tweets concerning the composition of the Rio Olympic Team. Ever since then, the hate surrounding Locklear has grown. So, you could imagine the reactions when Locklear made the team. Many argued that her difficulty score on bars was lower than many of the other bars workers, and that was why they were upset that Locklear got on the team. Ashton has struggled with a shoulder injury, and that is why she took out her inbars, which would take her difficulty from somewhere around the 6.0+ range, to a 5.5. So, why take a gymnast with a 5.5 D-Score rather than someone like Alyona Shchennikova, a first-year senior and the 2017 U.S. Classic All-Around Champion, who boasts a 6.1 D-Score? Now I can't exactly know what was going on in the mind of Valeri Liukin and the rest of the selection committee, but if I were to guess, I would say that it was because of consistency. Despite how gorgeous Schennikova can look when she hits all of her connections and her routine as a whole, she has struggled with consistency. Ashton has been cleaner in the past and was able to hit her sets. Even though her dismount, the full twisting double back has been an issue at certain times, Locklear can still hit, and making event finals is about hitting your routines. While her lower D-score might be an issue in a fairly stacked field if she hits cleanly and other frontrunners make mistakes, she could be not only looking at a spot in the EF but can also be looking at a medal. Sure, she would have to rely on mistakes from others or add her inbars back in, but by now, we have discovered anything is possible in the world of gymnastics. Another reason why Ashton isn't a favorite is because of who she "beat out" for the spot, Jordan Chiles. But, realistically, Jordan was never in contention for Ashton's spot, as she has been historically weaker on bars. If Jordan was in contention for anyone's spot, it would have been Jade Carey's VT/FX spot, or Morgan Hurd's spot in the all-around.
Perhaps one of the most controversial things to happen at this year's World Selection camp was the fact Jordan Chiles didn't make the team. She had appeared to become a frontrunner in many's eyes at the P&G Championships in Anaheim, California just a few weeks ago. Despite the disappointing finish to Chiles' year, I doubt that this will be the last time we see the young gymnast. After all, this is only her first year as a senior. We have seen many gymnasts struggle as their first year entering the senior ranks. With over two years left until Tokyo 2020, Jordan still has time to grow. As a matter of fact, she might just have made the Worlds team this year if it was in a team format, where there would be 5 gymnasts instead of just 4. Jordan is strong and has a ton of potential. She just needs to up her consistency. If she is able to do this, and learn from her disappointment of just missing the worlds team, she will most likely be better next year and make the 2018 Worlds Team and have success with the US Team, as well as some possible individual success.
a fan of and that is the Rio Olympic alternate, Ashton Locklear. Ashton has never really been a favorite of the gymternet. But in my opinion, the disliking of this gymnast really sparked last year when she hashtagged a tweet supporting a political candidate in the 2016 Presidential Election, and then liked some questionable tweets concerning the composition of the Rio Olympic Team. Ever since then, the hate surrounding Locklear has grown. So, you could imagine the reactions when Locklear made the team. Many argued that her difficulty score on bars was lower than many of the other bars workers, and that was why they were upset that Locklear got on the team. Ashton has struggled with a shoulder injury, and that is why she took out her inbars, which would take her difficulty from somewhere around the 6.0+ range, to a 5.5. So, why take a gymnast with a 5.5 D-Score rather than someone like Alyona Shchennikova, a first-year senior and the 2017 U.S. Classic All-Around Champion, who boasts a 6.1 D-Score? Now I can't exactly know what was going on in the mind of Valeri Liukin and the rest of the selection committee, but if I were to guess, I would say that it was because of consistency. Despite how gorgeous Schennikova can look when she hits all of her connections and her routine as a whole, she has struggled with consistency. Ashton has been cleaner in the past and was able to hit her sets. Even though her dismount, the full twisting double back has been an issue at certain times, Locklear can still hit, and making event finals is about hitting your routines. While her lower D-score might be an issue in a fairly stacked field if she hits cleanly and other frontrunners make mistakes, she could be not only looking at a spot in the EF but can also be looking at a medal. Sure, she would have to rely on mistakes from others or add her inbars back in, but by now, we have discovered anything is possible in the world of gymnastics. Another reason why Ashton isn't a favorite is because of who she "beat out" for the spot, Jordan Chiles. But, realistically, Jordan was never in contention for Ashton's spot, as she has been historically weaker on bars. If Jordan was in contention for anyone's spot, it would have been Jade Carey's VT/FX spot, or Morgan Hurd's spot in the all-around.
Perhaps one of the most controversial things to happen at this year's World Selection camp was the fact Jordan Chiles didn't make the team. She had appeared to become a frontrunner in many's eyes at the P&G Championships in Anaheim, California just a few weeks ago. Despite the disappointing finish to Chiles' year, I doubt that this will be the last time we see the young gymnast. After all, this is only her first year as a senior. We have seen many gymnasts struggle as their first year entering the senior ranks. With over two years left until Tokyo 2020, Jordan still has time to grow. As a matter of fact, she might just have made the Worlds team this year if it was in a team format, where there would be 5 gymnasts instead of just 4. Jordan is strong and has a ton of potential. She just needs to up her consistency. If she is able to do this, and learn from her disappointment of just missing the worlds team, she will most likely be better next year and make the 2018 Worlds Team and have success with the US Team, as well as some possible individual success.
Hopefully, all four of these gymnasts will prove their worth at the World Championships taking place in Montreal, Canada, in just over a week.
