It has never been a secret that the Road to Tokyo was not going to be an easy one for the members of the Women's National Gymnastics Team... unless your name rhymes with Timon Smiles. There are three spots up for grabs with what is arguably the strongest National Team the US has ever had. The gymnasts were working tirelessly to be sure they peaked at the right time and were in absolutely perfect condition for Trials in June of 2020. With the postponement of the games, these top runners had 12 more months in which they had to STAY on top. This means upgrades, upgrades, and more upgrades.
On the other hand, the handful of girls who had rough 2019 and early 2020 or who were plagued with injury, now have this extra year to fight their way to the top. Not to mention adding in the legends who have shocked the world with inspiring comebacks, the competition to be named to the Olympic team is tighter than ever before.
For gymnastics fans, this fact has led to some exciting videos posted by the gymnasts' on social media showing the upgrades they are working on to set them apart come time for the Olympic Trials in June of 2021.
Grace McCallum, being named to both the 2018 and 2019 Worlds Teams and finishing 3rd all-around at the 2019 US Gymnastics Championships behind only Simone and Sunisa Lee, was a frontrunner coming into 2020 Trials. Her all-around abilities and consistency gave her a great chance of being named to the team. Personal bias aside (she may be my personal favorite), if Grace keeps up with what she was achieving in 2020 and keeps improving and upgrading as her videos have shown, then I would argue that she is still a strong contender. This video shows Grace working on a Cheng. She has announced that she will be competing an Amanar and a Cheng, which are two of the most difficult vaults performed today.
***Video from Grace's Instagram
Jordan Chiles is one that will benefit from the extra year going into the Olympics. In 2017, she placed second all-around at the National Championships, and had a decent 2018 as well, winning gold on both floor and vault at the Pac Rims. In 2019, Jordan switched gyms, moving to World Champions Centre, home of Simone Biles. She withdrew from the US Classics, but competed in the Worlds Team Trials in September, finishing in 11th after a fall on vault and floor. This powerful gymnast has a lot to prove, but is definitely capable. She has posted videos of training sessions since moving to WCC and she looks better than ever. Jordan has upgraded her bars and her routine is beautiful, but this video is one she posted to Twitter of her "Playing Around" with a half in half out pike... AND IT. IS. GORGEOUS! I could be wrong, but I believe if she were to compete this at an international event, it would go down in the Code of Points as The Chiles.
**Video posted to Jordan's Twitter Account
Simone Biles. That alone is a sentence. No other words necessary. There is really no need to add a description to this video, but seriously, is there anything this woman can't do? I wonder how many records she is going to break in Tokyo. I feel like she might come home with 7 medals out of the possible 6, because, Simone.
**Video posted to Simone's Instagram
One thing is for sure, the Road to Tokyo will not be a boring one! Stay tuned for more featured upgrades from the Women's National Team!
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