It was a day with inconsistencies from all teams but also many great moments. Here is the final ranking in the team competition:
USA – 237.350
Brazil – 223.700
Italy – 222.400
France – 221.150
The US team started on vault, and a sort of a reality check. Looking at the score it was not a disaster – Douglas had a 15.30 for her DTY, other big scores came in for the great DTYs from Laurie Hernandez (15.100) and Ragan Smith (14.850). But Aly Raisman crashed her Amanar only getting a 13.95 while Skinner’s Amanar looked in danger of not being fully turned and quite low (15.200).
In the 2nd rotation, on bars, Raisman opened for the US with a routine with a few flat releases but other than that no big breaks, a hop forward on the landing of her double front dismount (14.350). Then MyKayla Skinner had her usual routine with some form issues in the beginning, legs apart in transitions between the bars, but good inbar Tkachevs and nice full in dismount with just a hop (14.400). Laurie Hernandez was showing great work and lovely form until she brushed the floor on transition to low bar, such a shame (13.800). Gabby Douglas had a very secure routine, including the trademark stuck double layout dismount (15.05) while Ashton Locklear nailed her routine – she was perfect and then did the full in dismount the arms started to move up and down, but the feet didn’t move. She receive a gigantic score (15.650).
Ashton Locklear was then first on balance beam for USA: flick – layout, punch front, L turn to full turn, side somi, side aerial to leap, switch leap to switch half, round-off double back (13.900). A very good routine from Laurie Hernandez followed, good execution overall, stuck dismount (double pike). She only had low flick loso loso series (wobble) but afterwards shook off nerves and she was good (15.300). Gabby had a super secure routine with pike front, flick loso, standing full, switch leap – switch half, punch front, L turn, switch ring leap, very tidy in aerial walkover to split leap, double back tuck dismount (with one step) – 14.750. Aly was also determined to make up for the bad start with a very secure routine – good tumbling (pike front, flick layout to two), ok connections (L turn to full turn) and rhythm but really not ideal form in split jumps and leaps, at least in the angle she was filed from, 14.95. Emily Schild was up next: Johnson, flick loso, front tuck, side aerial, switch leap, switch half, aerial walkover to jump, flick flick double pike (14.100). Ragan Smith ended the rotation for USA with a double wolf turn, flick – layout to two feet, amazing standing full, aerial walkover to jump, flick, flick double pike (15.100).
Floor was an amazing rotation from team USA, who went from strength to strength, with very small exceptions – Emily Schild had a good routine for a 13.500. MyKayla Skinner had a few form issues in tumbling and a big step after the triple full, for a 13.850 (6.1 D). Lauren Hernandez managed another crowd pleasing routine with a lovely Arabian double front to stag as second pass, just a hop back a the punch front (14.35). Gabby Douglas had a good routine, with controlled pirouette combo in the beginning, followed by an Arabian double front to stag, full in, double pike and double back (14.550). Aly Raisamn was all business hitting everything: 1 ½ twists to double Arabian, tour jete full, Arabian double pike to stag, DLO, double pike. She nailed all her passes and had quite good leaps and jumps (14.600). Ragan Smith finished with probably the most catchy routine of the day on the Addams Family theme song – DLO, triple full, Arabian double full, double pike or tuck, lovely routine (14.500).
I also managed to follow a little bit the team from Brazil : they started a bit nervous on beam: Daniele Hypolito fell on a layout to two feet (13.150), Rebeca Andrade had a super watered down routine (switch half (which didn’t look fully turned), aerial walkover, front tuck, L turn, big wobble, side aerial to side aerial, double tuck dismount – 13.150). Jade Barbosa mounted with a layout stepout, hit her round-off layout to two feet, Johnson, side aerial, punch front, switch leap back tuch, double pike (14.05). Flavia Saraiva looked a tad nervous in the beginning of her routine but managed to power though and overcome her emotions (flick – layout layout, round-off layout to two feet, switch leap, switch ring leap, sheep jump, punch front, aerial – aerial – side somi, double pike dismount for a 14.95). Carolyn Pedro received a 13.350 for a routine with tourjete, flick, layout, Y turn, aerial walkover, double tuck.
Flavia Saraiva continued her amazing day with an almost perfect floor routine ( 2 1/2 to front full, full in, double pike double tuck – just a step on the double tuck landing and a small hop on the full in – 14.00). Barbosa brought the second score with – full in, full in pike, (leg issues) 2/1/2 to 1, double pike (low) 13.500. Daniele Hypolito only received a 12.9, while Pedro had an easier routine for a 13.05 – double Arabian, Y turn, double Pike, switch ring leap, 2 ½ twists, double back tuck.
On vault, a wonderful thing happened: Flavia Saraiva debuted her DTY in great style – the score of 15.05 was a bit high, I thought, as she had a step forward, but it looked very comfortable for her. Pedro, Barbosa and Andrade all did FTYs, mostly easy looking for them. Hypolito crashed her 1 1/2 Yurchenko.
The star of the Brazilian bars rotation was Rebeca Andrade, hads down. She received a massive 14.600 for a routine that looked extremely accessible for her. Saraiva was 2nd with a 14.40 (which seemed a bit high as she was quite low in the releases and had a visible break in the low bar). Barbosa worked really well too for a 14.45, while Pedro and Hypolito had successful routines but had a few execution deductions.
Team Italy started their performance on floor and the highlight of their rotation were Ennus Mariani (13.850) and Carlotta Ferlito (13.800). On vault, it looked like Carlotta Ferlito had a very good one – she usually does a Yurchenko 1 1/2 – 14.650. Carofiglio also brought a big number for Italy (14.550), while Leolini, Ugrin and Mariani did good FTYs. Tea Ugrin had the best score of the team on bars (14.05), while Mariani and Ferlito had the best beam scores (for 14.100 and 14.150 respectively). Giuly, our Italian writer, who was at the meet, will tell us more about Italy’s performance, soon.
Team France looks to be having a lot of potential and also a lot of consistency issues going into the preparation for the Test Event. On bars, their strongest competitors were Louise Vanhille (14.25) and Loan His (14.400) and Oreane Lecenault (14.250). Beam was hit and miss today with good routines from Vanhille (13.85) and Marine Brevet (14.100) but disappointing performances from Kuhm (13.100) and Lecenault (11.450). Floor looks to be their weakest event, where they don’t have the necessary endurance and difficulty yet. Vault looks to be good with six FTYs to choose from at the Test Event. But we will pay more attention to France’s performance in the days to come and for sure we will get a better understanding of where they are at in their preparations. It till looks like they have a lot to tweak until Rio in April.
Results after rotation 1:
2nd Rotation:
3rd rotation:
4th rotation:
Article: Bea Gheorghisor