We're officially 2 weeks away from the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The competition that will determine the US Olympic Team in Paris for Artistic Gymnastics.
How to watch the competition?
Where : Minneapolis, Minnesota (home of Olympic Champion Sunisa Lee)
When : June 27th-June 30th, 2024
Who : 16 gymnasts will be competing on the women's side, you can see the full list here.
If you're unable to attend, you will be able to watch the competition :
Times are Eastern Time - You can add +6 hours if you're from Europe.
Thursday, June 27 – Men’s Day 1 – USA Network, Peacock 6:30-9 p.m.
Friday, June 28 – Women’s Day 1 – Peacock 7:30-8 p.m.; NBC, Peacock 8-10 p.m.
Saturday, June 29 – Men’s Day 2 – NBC, Peacock 3-6 p.m.
Sunday, June 30 – Women’s Day 2 – Peacock 8-8:30 p.m.; NBC, Peacock 8:30-11 p.m.
How does this competition works?
Both the men and women will be competing over 2 days. They will all compete in the all-around.
The highest scoring all-around gymnast from the 2024 Olympic Trials will be automatically qualified for the 2024 Olympic Team. The four other gymnasts wil be selected on discretionary criterias. Two to four gymnasts serving as alternates will also be selected.
2 main criterias should be taken into account :
The Highest scoring team for the Olympic Team Final
The Highest chance of Olympic Apparatus Finals & potential medals.
In 2016 and 2021 Simone Biles was the gymnast who automatically made the Olympic team.
What to expect from the gymnasts competing there?
Simone Biles is not expected to increase her difficulty.. She is leading comfortably the all-around standings with her difficult program. She should able to qualify automatically should she stay healthy.
Shilese Jones: Shilese has not taken part in the 2024 U.S Gymnastics Championships. She decided focus on resting her injured shoulder.
She should still be able to make the team comfortably if she's able to compete her usual routines.
Shilese Jones's coach, Sarah Skorngold stated on Twitter that Shilese could increase her difficulty at Trials, on her uneven bars dismount and Beam. Shilese could be planning to add a layout step out in connection with the aerial on beam, a connection which she did at 2023 World Trials. Her target beam routine could increase to 6.8 difficulty.
Suni Lee : Suni Lee finished fourth all-around at 2024 US Championships. She also placed second a balance beam.
She is looking to upgrade her routine on bars, as per Olympic Channel journalist Scott Bergman, she is planning to compete her Nabieva (F) + Bhardwaj (E) combo and could show a 6.6 difficulty routine. See below for her potential routine on uneven bars.
Jade Carey : Jade is one of the gymnasts that will be looking to upgrade on floor. The Tokyo Olympic Gold medalist on floor has only competed a 5.6 floor routine at 2024 U.S Championships. Her father Bryan Carey confirmed she was planning upgrades.
Jade Carey will need to show strong floor & vault, her two main apparatus if she's looking to make the 202 Olympic Team.
Kayla Dicello : Kayla finished third in the all-around at 2024 U.S. Championships. Kayla will need to prove her consistency across the two days of competition. She is not planning any upgrades. Her main competition will be Jordan Chiles who is also a strong all-arounder.
As a reminder, Kayla was an alternate for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
Jordan Chiles : Same as Kayla, Jordan Chiles will need to prove her consistency on all four apparatus. She will be especially expected to do well on uneven bars and beam.
Joscelyn Roberson : Joscelyn finished 10th in the all-around at US Championships. She's a strong gymnast on floor and vault, she ill be expected to show her best routines to make her case. Her biggest competitor is Jade Carey.
Tiana Sumanasekera & Hezly Rivera are also ones to watch!. They are young gymnasts with strong internationl experience, they are scoring particulary well on beam and floor, which could be a valuable asset for Team USA.
Current predictions?
I've made an article detailing predictions for the U.S Olympic team you can have a look at the entire reasoning there.
You still have some time to make our prediction before June 28th!
Livie.
Header video credits :
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