Updates on the New Seniors

At the beginning of the year, I highlighted some new seniors who I thought were in contention for the Olympic Games. Well, most of those teams have been named, and some of those gymnasts are now 2012 Olympians. Keep reading to learn what happened to the gymnasts featured in Meet the New Seniors! six months ago.

The Probable (and definite) Olympians

The Beautiful Anastasia Grishina (photo: Stefan Wurzer)

Kyla Ross is the youngest member of the 2012 United States Olympic Team. She has competed well on both bars and beam this year, and should compete both events in team finals in London. Although she has not been the rock she was as a junior, Kyla could be looking at two event finals in London (bars and maybe beam). The all around does not look likely at the moment, as she probably will not compete vault or floor in prelims.

Larisa Iordache, perhaps, has been the most exciting new senior of the year. She won the silver on beam and the gold on floor at Europeans, and looks ready to challenge for gold on those two events, as well as a medal (gold with the rumored Amanar) in the all around competition in London.

Anastasia Grishina became the Russian MVP at Europeans, hitting 4/4 in team finals for the first time in a year. She may be a victim of the 2 per country rule, but otherwise could make a handfull of finals in London. She has my favorite floor routine of the year.

Victoria Moors will probably compete all around in London, but her best shot at an individual final is probably on floor. She has been getting more and more consistent with her very difficult routine this year.

Erika Fasana has been a huge contributor for the Italian team this year, both in helping them qualify for the test event and helping them win the bronze at Europeans. She has been doing well in the all around, and could be Italy’s second all around finalist in London.

Anne Kuhm has steadily been contributing to the French effort this year and will travel to London as the French Champion. She won the title in June, and was top 2 on all four events!

Janine Berger earned a surprise trip to London, presumably because she beat wold and olympic medallist Oksana Chusovitina on vault at the German Championships. her double twisting tsukahara and rudi could earn her an Olympic medal.

Valeria Pereyra qualified for the Olympics at the test event, and followed up with a title at Argentinean nationals.

Rebecca Tunney was not featured in my original post, but has had a fantastic year, capped off with a surprise win at the British Championships and a ticket to London (okay, that doesn’t work for the Brits). She will contribute to the team on vault, bars, floor and maybe even beam.

Maybe Next Time?

US Alternate Sarah Finnegan (photo: Stefan Wurzer)

Anastasia Sidorova will not be in London, in part due to an injury that has taken her out of Russia’s training squad. Prior to this announcement, she had been having a good but not great year. She made the team for Europeans, but ended up falling on beam in team finals.

Huang Huidan missed out on the final training squad (the 4 chosen team members plus 3 alternates) for London. She may be able to become the Sui Lu or Huang Qiushuang of the next quad, though.

The same goes for Shang Chunsong, who was not featured in my original post but showed up with some spectacular routines this year. Those included a bars routine with a gorgeous tkachev-gienger combination and a jaeger-pak combination, and a floor routine with a triple full-punch front combination. Look for her in 4 years.

Zeng Siqi made the final training squad along with Huang, but also did not make the top 7. Teammate Luo Peiru did not make it, but did manage a medal on bars at the pacific rim championships.

Francesca De Agostini is injured, but contributed to the Test Event, Jesolo and European teams earlier this year.

Murakami Mai somewhat surprisingly missed out on the Olympic team after so-so results on everything except for floor in selection meets.

Lisa Top was the top Dutch all-arounder at the test event, but was promptly dropped in favor of Wyomi Masela and then Celine Van Gerner. Her chance could very well come in the next quadrennium.

Ruby Harrold came in as a replacement for Imogen Cairns at Europeans and shocked everyone with a DTY and a trip to the uneven bars finals, which put her solidly in the Olympic picture, but did not end up making the strong British team.

Sarah Finnegan was beautiful but shaky in the trials process, and ended up as an alternate. Teammate Elizabeth Price, not featured in my original post, came on strong at trials and earned an alternate position.

Ji Hye Sung competed on the Korean team at the test event, and was the second finisher from her team in the all around. I would assume that would mean that she won’t be competing in London, but I have not seen anything official.

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