he 2018 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Championships saw the return of five-time medalist of the 2016 Rio Olympics Simone Biles. She was definitely the one to beat with her also winning the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Championships four times in a row from 2013-2016.
Many others were there as well to battle for a spot on the Olympic team that will compete in 2020 in Tokyo.
Anyone who knows me really well knows that when the Summer Olympics come around every four years that the event I will always watch without fail will be the women’s gymnastics events.
I used to do gymnastics so that’s why I have a passion for the sport and really regret giving it up when I moved from Australia to Canada.
Unfortunately, we just didn’t find a good gym in order for me to train at when we moved.
This year’s championships were held Aug. 17 and 19 in Boston, for the women’s events. The events consist of vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor.
Margzetta Frazier kicked the night off on the balance beam, with a bit of a rough start, nearly falling off the beam and a shaky dismount.
The first on the floor was Jade Carey, a strong contender in this competition after winning two silver medals at the 2017 World Championships, one of which was the floor exercise. Someone who was looking to redeem herself was Ragan Smith, who hurt her ankle last year at warmups for the 2017 World Championships after being the favorite to be the all-around title winner.
Even though there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Simone Biles was going to be named all-around champion, the only one that could possibly give her a run for her money would be last year’s all-around World Champion, Morgan Hurd. She is undoubtedly one of the best on the balance beam.
But this year’s competition was very strong, with everyone eyeing a spot on the Olympics team that Biles likely will lead as a captain.
Unless we see the return of Aly Raisman, who was the team captain for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Possible contenders for the team this year will be, of course, any of those who could return from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But, ladies I would love to see at the Olympics in 2020 would be Hurd, Carey, Smith and another that I haven’t mentioned, Riley McCusker, who won silver for uneven bars and bronze for balance beam at the U.S. Championships this year.
At the end of the competition, gold all-around went to Biles, making her a five-time national champion. Silver was given to Hurd and bronze was presented to McCusker.
Even though some women didn’t get to shine at this year’s competition it is still very early in the season for these women and we have two more years until the Olympics take plac. So anyone could be a part of the team.
AMY BENKOVICH
