Which Women Gymnasts Will Compete at the Olympic Games?

The selection process continues for the six women who will be chosen to compete in the Beijing Olympics beginning Aug. 10. As announced at the Olympic Trials, four more women need to be chosen during a "selection camp" process at the Karolyi Ranch near Houston, Texas. Apparently, even the two gymnasts who finished in the top two at Olympic Trials, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, are not completely safe from being eliminated from the team. Injuries can happen and the final Olympic Team won't be solidified until very close to the Olympics.

The 12 Gymnasts Who Are Competing For a Place on the Olympic Team
The 12 gymnasts who were selected to go to the "selection camp" include Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin, Chellsie Memmel, Samantha Peszek, Alicia Sacramone, Jana Bieger, Chelsea Davis, Ivana Hong, Mattie Larson, Corrie Lothrop, Bridget Sloan and Shayla Worley. The camp involved a competition yesterday and today, with performances being judged and scored.

Shayla Worley Injured and Most Likely Eliminated as a Contender
According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, Shayla Worley injured her right leg during warm-ups yesterday before the competition. She will most likely not be going to the Olympics. Chellsie Memmel did not compete on all of the events after suffering a whiplash like injury during a tumbling pass during her floor exercise routine during the competition. Hopefully, that injury will not be a deciding factor and can be worked on before the Olympics.

There are other factors besides just the athletes' performances to consider. For example, one of the rules state that the USA must have a female coach on the floor at the Olympics. Most of the USA gymnasts have male coaches. Jana Bieger is coached by her German-born mother, Andrea. That fact could help her chances of making the Olympic Team. She is already a strong contender, but including her on the team will make it possible for the USA to meet the female coach requirement.

Announcing the Members of Team USA
At the last Olympics, the selection camp process was also being used. The finalists were broadcast live on national TV in July 2004. There was sobbing and confusion. NBC won't make the mistake of broadcasting the results live this year, so we will have to wait and see who gets chosen.

The final team is scheduled to be announced tonight. Gymnastics fans are awaiting the names of the six-gymnast team. Up to three alternates will be named, meaning that there could be 9 gymnasts traveling to China. It appears that Martha Karolyi and USA Gymnastics have the final say on who will go to Beijing.

Changes for 2012
If the decision making process is difficult now, just wait until 2012, when the FIG will allow only five, instead of six gymnasts to compete at the Olympics. Let the fun begin!