Monday, August 18, 2014

Returning National Competitors 2014

Last year, I complied a list of gymnasts who returned to compete at the 2013 National Championships.  It was interesting to find that while it seemed like so few gymnasts who competed as seniors in 2012 returned to compete in 2013, it was actually quite normal.  Last year, I found that the average returning number of gymnasts was about 8.  Instead of analyzing this year's number to last quad, I decided to analyze the number of gymnasts in the mid-quad year.

The six gymnasts returning from last year are...
Simone Biles
Madison Desch
Brenna Dowell
Maggie Nichols
Kyla Ross
MyKayla Skinner

In 2010,  the United States would soon become the World Silver Medalist Team, after winning five medals at the 2009 Individual World Championships.  The eight returning seniors from 2009 to 2010 were...
Rebecca Bross
Mackenzie Caquatto
Kaitlyn Clark
Georgia Dabritz
Kytra Hunter
Annette Miele
Bridget Sloan
Cassandra Wittcomb

2006 was a turning point in USA Gymnastics.  A silver medal at the 2006 World Championships, with promising juniors ready to come up, in 2006 the future looked bright for USA!  The United STates were carried by veterans this quadrennium, however with eight returning seniors from 2005.  They were...youtube.com/USAGym!
Jana Bieger
Kayla Hoffman
Jacqueline Johnson
Nastia Liukin
Hillary Mauro
Chellsie Memmel
Kassi Price
Alicia Sacramone

So, as you can see, the average number of returning competitors in the mid-quad year is seven, which does not sound like a lot, but with the depth of USAGymnastics, does not sound like a problem!  Despite a lot of last minute scratches, the United States could make two World Championship teams and have them both be competitive! 

Watch the P&G National Championships this Thursday and Saturday at youtube.com/USAGym!