The Canadian women traveled to Brazil last weekend to test out the favorites for the Olympic Team. Victoria Moors was scheduled to compete with withdrew. She previously won silver on floor at the Zibu World Cup and looks ready for some training before Nationals and Trials.
The new girl being buzzed about is Ellie Black. Talented, but sloppy as hell, she is someone whose difficulty could get her on the Olympic Team.
Her main competitor could be Talia Chiarelli, who from Brestyan's, also has difficult skills and a lack of form, finesse and execution.
Kristina Vaculik looks ready to finally claim a berth on the Olympic Team. After being royally screwed by the powers that be in 2008, Vaculik looks to be a favorite to earn a spot on the team. Vaculik does not have enough difficulty to contend for medals in event finals, but she will be a key team member for the Great White North.
Peng Peng Lee is also as close to a lock as one can be when they've had a career filled with injuries.
Also key to Team Canada is Brittany Rogers. The Canadians struggle on Uneven Bars, which is where Rogers excels. Though she loses some form and shape throughout her exercise (especially when turning on the high bar), her D-score more than makes up for it. Every time Victoria Moors does bars or Vaculik misses a geinger, the powers that be make sure Rogers' bar score is more than enough to make the squad. Expect to see her in London and except to see Jay Clark figure a way to get her more useful on bars than Shayla Worley.
On the bubble: Dominique Pegg and Madeline Gardiner
In Trouble: Mikaela Gerber was one of the strongest team members at Pan Ams and the World Championships, yet she was relegated to the alternate position at the Test Event, wasn't even on the Canadian squad at Gymnix and was not selected for the meet in Brazil. After a less than stellar outing at Elite Canada, momentum and favoritism are not in her corner. Her weakness on Uneven Bars and current lack of a DTY all but seal her fate.
I think they have let Victoria compete all over lately. I think she is gonna burn herself out before the olympics. I am glad she withdrew, she needs a break. I am Canadian and especially fond of her....and I really want her to do well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing some Canadian coverage.
ReplyDeleteThey should take: Moors, Black, Rogers, Lee & Vaculik
ReplyDeleteI would dump Lee, she is doing well but has never come close to fulfilling the massive potential she has had. She has not upgraded vault in years. She does seem to score higher then the other canadians, but they could penalize her like they did for many others in the past due to the fact that she is going to college next year.
ReplyDeleteWe NEED LEE. She is doing really well and seems to have confidence the others lack.
ReplyDeleteDumping Lee would be insane! She is the only Canadian with any sort of an international reputation aside from Moors on floor.
ReplyDeleteUseless post.
ReplyDeleteThey dumped vaculik last time when she was clearly the best gymnast out there. Instead they put Hibbs because she managed to medal at worlds {due 100% to some great politics between Canada and Russia}, they established themselves as being corrupt. Nothing has changed. I would personally put Lee on the team as she seems to be peaking, but nothing is guaranteed.
ReplyDeleteAs an outsider, the decision was right for the 2008 Olympics. Damianova performed well with execellent form and upgrades. She came close to making finals on vault. Hopfner Hibbs had a so-so meet but was definately underscored. It was up to the athletes and coaches to follow the points system for Olympic selection. In 2008 Vaculik had he best form (but not the difficulty) of the three gymnasts. She was not getting enough World Cup medals and therefore points for selection. Damianova and Hopfner Hibbs did- thus they got to go to China. Those were the rules.
DeleteI am curious about this idea of politics between nations. What makes you 100% sure this is true?
ReplyDeleteOh, and I don't suppose if the post was on your country's gymnasts you would consider it useless. Even if Canadian girls are not even close to the top nations they deserve some credit for their efforts.
ReplyDeleteI had heard before that Hibbs medal was made possible due to Russian exchanges much like hippolitos placement in the all around at some worlds. While this could be true, nothing can happen unless the kid hits. Hobbs was medal worthy on beam at that worlds with out a doubt.
ReplyDeleteHibbs should have won the gold. Did you see the routines of the gold and silver medalists??? Her medal was earned.
DeleteI'm hoping/assuming the "useless post" was aimed at the person who said Lee should be dumped, and not this whole post, which is great! So psyched for Canada after what happened to them last time. Vaculik is looking much better this year after a less-than-stellar outing at Stanford last year. I love Peng-Peng Lee!! I just hope she can work on her consistency and details... would love to see her medal on beam.
ReplyDeleteCanada sucks. Talia proved she should be given a shot by winning floor
ReplyDeleteDump Lee??? Insane. Look at her performance at Pac Rims! She's still planning upgrades. She is a potential olympic finalist on BB and FX. Her upgraded AB will have a D score above 6. She does a FTY to protect her knee- a smart decision to focus on the other three events. One bad vault and you're out ie Savona, Mustafina, Bross... The team will be Lee Vaculik Rogers Moors. Black and Chiarelli should battle it out for the last spot. They have the same strengths- Black has more difficulty but Chiarelli has the experience.
ReplyDeleteIf China and Romania falter, I can see Canada standing on the podium. Assuming Black is the team, then they have potential finalists on VT (Black, Rogers), AB (Lee with the planned upgrades), BB (Lee 6.4D score plus more upgrades, Black) FX (Lee adding full twisting double layout, Moors) This team is stacked!!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't sense any favoritism. The choices for the team seem pretty clear. Just look at the perfomaces of these athletes online. Gerber was injured for the test event. She had made some upgrades, 1.5FTY on VT, Double Layout dismount on AB, Double arabian on FX.
ReplyDelete