With such a small field, we were able to see each and every gymnast compete at this senior national championships. This was such a treat! Here are all the national champions, the best routines on each event, and your new national team. All photos and videos are from USA Gymnastics.
Vault
1. McKayla Maroney
2. Simone Biles
3. MyKayla Skinner
Without a doubt, McKayla’s amanar on day 2 was the highlight of vault. A 9.7 execution score for a 16.0.
Bars
1. Kyla Ross 30.95
2. Simone Biles 28.95
3. Brenna Dowell 28.75
Kyla’s routine the first night scored the highest of the meet, a 15.5. Her bars are just breathtaking.
Beam
1. Kyla Ross 29.95
2. Simone Biles 29.9
3. Kennedy Baker 28.95
Kyla Ross needed a 15.45 to tie Simone in the final routine of the night. A big wobble kept her from it, but she still put up an awesome 15.2.
Floor
1. McKayla Maroney 30.1
2. Simone Biles 30.0
3. MyKayla Skinner 29.75
McKayla Maroney is making the case to be on the world team as a floor specialist as well. Three stuck passes, gorgeous turns and leaps, performed her heart out… THAT was a floor routine. 9.15 execution on floor…
Whenever you first tune into a gymnastics broadcast, you are often struck with, wait, what happened to so and so. So here are some girls you might be missing from Nationals.
Katelyn Ohashi
We have anticipated Katelyn’s performances as a senior for so many years now, it is sad to be deprived of her gymnastics beauty. After the American Cup she had surgery on her back. Though it was thought at the time she would return quickly, she still has not made it back to the elite gymnastics scene.
Lexie Priessman
Another big name in the junior ranks, the current Junior National Champion will have to miss out on trying to earn back to back National Championship titles. A strained achilles is preventing her from competing.
Madison Kocian
Madison sprained her ankle in her third pass on her floor routine, her third event. She had a phenomenal beam and bars routines before the sprain that has taken her out of the rest of the competition.
Sabrina Vega
Sabrina was a part of the 2011 World Championship gold medal team and barely missed making the 2012 Olympic team. Devastated by the news, she quickly stated she would be returning to training. However injury has kept her out of the elite scene this year.
Sarah Finnegan
Known for her incredible beam and floor routines, her poise and beautiful dance, it was hoped that 2013 would be Sarah’s year after making the 2012 team as an alternate. However, Sarah too has been missing from the elite scene all year due to injury.
All of these girls are incredible gymnasts. The first three especially may still make quite a splash this year if they are able to get healthy in time for the world championship selection camp.
Floor was quite a treat! I think the next few years we are going to see quite a change in the US floor offerings. We are seeing quite a few girls who can tumble AND dance in the mix! Not to be missed is my favorite routine of the meet – Laurie Hernandez and McKayla Maroney’s new floor routine.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was all the sparkles. Really, it is hard to miss! But the second thing was how much more businesslike the women are. Even these little juniors. There were definitely some stand outs and the future of USA gymnastics is looking great. For a full effect, read through Gym Examiners quick hits and check out all the routines on USAGymnastics youtube.
Overall Impressions
I think that US gymnastics has heard the complaints of no artistry. There were so many beautiful, well danced, polished floor routines out there today! It was a delight for this floor lover’s heart. Also, Texas Dreams is a force to be reckoned with. Kim Zemeskal’s girls look awesome on every event. Polished, with great attention to detail. She is also delightful to watch with her girls.
Standout Gymnasts
Of course, you can’t ignore Lexie Priessman with her almost 2 point lead after night one. Her floor routine was on fire- she REALLY danced it up and did some incredible tumbling to boot. Her 15.25 outclassed the rest of the field by over half a point! Priessman, Amelia Hundley and Katelyn Ohashi all look like seniors out there. They just have a different quality to their competition and will be ready for next year without missing a hitch. And then there is Bailie Key. It is hard to believe she is only 13. She competes with the finish and professionalism of a senior, and has the difficulty to match her poise. It is hard to imagine how incredible she will be by the time she finally becomes a senior if she continues on this pace.
Three other gymnasts must be mentioned. First up, Simone Biles. She is just a little bundle of dynamite! What power! Even when she is just walking across the floor she looks like she could combust. She is a delight to watch on every event. Second is Nia Dennis. This little girl is a young Awesome Dawsome. She has beautiful dance and tumbles and does release moves on bars up in the rafters. Last but not least is Lauren Hernandez. I must say, she is my new favorite junior. The girl can dance! And every movement is finished with precision and grace. I love watching this one! She didn’t have the best day, but I can’t wait to see her again.
Beam Dreams 