If any conclusions could be drawn from Saturday’s AT&T American Cup as we start the run up to Rio, it’s this: We’re in for a lot more hot pink leotards. And a lot more WOGA champions.
In her much anticipated senior debut, Katelyn Ohashi did as expected: She won. Ohashi now joins Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, and Rebecca Bross as the latest WOGA gymnasts to claim the American Cup Title. Patterson and Liukin went on the become Olympic all-around champions, so no pressure or anything, Katelyn. Her American teammate Simone Biles, also in her first senior competition, finished in second.
“It was amazing just to be here,” Ohashi said after a strong performance on the beam helped her to victory. “It was my first senior event, so that’s a big confidence-builder for me.”
Victoria Moors proved herself as one of Canada’s best gymnasts in decades by placing third behind the Americans after capping her day with a phenomenal performance on the floor. It might be too early to paint her as a favorite in that discipline when worlds comes around, but just barely.
On the men’s side, 2012 Olympian Jake Dalton put together one of the most consistent performances of his career to win in a deep field, while defending American Cup champ Danell Leyva struggled with consistency to finish in 6th. Leyva, who was also reportedly suffering from flu like symptoms, opted to continue in the competition after completely balking a tumbling pass on floor - an utterly bizarre error for senior competition. He picked up momentum going in to the final rotation, but fell off the high bar.
Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev - a favorite among gymnastics enthusiasts - finished second, and should be a name to watch in the coming three years leading to Rio. Marcel Nguyen of Germany, the fan favorite and reigning Olympic all-around silver medalist, finished third.
The American Cup marks the opening of the gymnastics season for many competitors, and errors can be common place for the athletes as they try out new routines and more difficult skills to adapt to the newly revised code of points. Saturday proved that many of the gymnasts are still working out the kinks in preparation for October’s 2013 world championships in Belgium.
