Returning Gymnasts

With all of the US gymnasts making returns to elite competition it has both a bitter and a sweet taste in my mouth.

The bitter part of this is that gymnastics needs to grow with different athletes who will help to keep the sport fresh.

There are a few returning Gymnasts in the USA and some I am excited for such as Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee. These two are some great athletes and both have been Olympic champion in the all around. Both had earned individual medals as well both on the world level and the Olympics.

The next one I am happy to see return is Jordan Chiles who has done a lot of great gymnastics on the collegiate level.

Gabby Douglas has also started to train and she is an Olympic all around champion. I am not really excited about this as it’s the second time she has come back to try and make the team. Her skills while they were very big at this point I can’t see how she will fit in. Her vault she downgraded from the amanar to the double twisting yurchenko which won’t help her. She isn’t the strongest of those who could make the team. Her bars did have a lot of potential but there are many others who are stronger than she is. Her beam always seemed to be inconsistent.

Jade Carey while she has great difficulty but she doesn’t have the greatest of technique. Her form is questionable and she is weak on bars.

With all of these returns it leaves a lot for me to think about. These people who are returning are great but haven’t competed regularly and I’m unsure if they should be given the chance to take away spots from those who have regularly competed for their country?