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I felt very sorry for her as well. It reminded me, however, of the whole selection process for the women’s team. Alicia did not have to compete on all four events as did all other American gymnasts who wanted to make the National team and Olympic trials. Martha kept stressing that the girls who would go to training camp had to prove themselves capable of standing up to the pressure that would no doubt be a factor at the Olympics.

I’ll skip talking about other gymnasts who could easily focus on two events and perform extremely well on those events if they could just avoid the other nemesis event(s). But only Alicia was given this privilege. (for two years, I think)

Another thing about this women’s team is that they went into the Games with one gymnast only able to do bars. They could have allowed one of the alternates to take her place, but they didn’t. She did not perform her best on Bars yesterday, and she was a better choice than the other girls on the team. I think bars is our weakest event depth-wise. The one Martha wanted on the team for Bars was Shayla Worley. She was invited to training camp despite not competing at Nationals or Trials. And she broke her leg during camp. She is one of our best bars’ workers, but should she have been invited to camp at the expense of another gymnast who was healthy AND who made the National team?

OK. I’ll stop saying wouldda, couldda, shouldda. :) The Chinese girls appear younger than 16. The US women’s team is hampered with injuries and head cases. I think Alicia will win the Vault gold medal. She’s got what it takes. I’m hopeful Nastia will win bars. All Around will be a contest between Shawn and Nastia. Shawn has the edge due to vault. That will be fun to watch.