Three-time world all-around champion Simone Biles kept up her sheer dominance on the sport of gymnastics, claiming an unprecedented fourth straight national title at the P&G Women's Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis. Biles scored a staggering 125.00 all-around to keep herself as a firm lock to make the Olympic team.
Biles claims historic fourth straight national title
After leading the jam-packed field after night one of competition at the P&G Women's Gymnastics Championships, Simone Biles kept up right where she left off, putting up some stellar routines to claim a fourth straight national title. Biles began on floor exercise, showing off her new Rio-themed routine, exciting the crowd to put up a fabulous 16.050. The incredible ten-time world gold medalist then went to vault, showing off a world-class amanar, scoring an out of this park 16.000 with only one-tenth of a point in deductions, an incredible feat in gymnastics.
The Houston resident and World Champions Centre trainee kept up the dominant gymnastics, scoring a slightly below par 14.750, a sign that the 19-year-old is human after all. Biles finished strongly though, receiving a 15.100 on balance beam to cap off an impressive night and seal an incredible fourth straight national title, becoming only the second ever gymnast to claim four straight national titles, joining 1972 Olympic all-around champion Joan Moore Gnat with a quadrennium of U.S. titles.
Aly Raisman improves to take second place finish
After taking home the title a few weeks ago at the Secret US Classic in Hartford and tying for second after night one here in St. Louis, it is London 2012 team and floor gold medalist Aly Raisman who will be taking home a second place finish at the national championships. Raisman began on her best event, the floor exercise, scoring an impressive 15.700 besting her score from night one by a tenth.
The captain of the London 2012 gold medal winning team then travelled to vault, posting a 15.500 before showing some increased reliability on uneven bars scoring a solid 14.150 on her weakest event. Raisman rounded out the night with a beautiful performance on the balance beam to score a 15.300 and finish with a 121.100 to stake a second place finish.
Laurie Hernandez makes claim for Olympic selection
In only her fourth ever competition as a senior elite gymnast, 15-year-old Laurie Hernandez showed why she deserves a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Hernandez showed how her all-around capabilities combined with her one-of-a-kind personality translate beautifully to gymnastics and why she would make the perfect compliment to the U.S. Olympic Team in Rio.
The 2016 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships team gold medalist and Jesolo Trophy beam gold medalist began on vault, scoring a solid 14.800 before showing her extreme potential on uneven bars. The 16-year-old New Jersey native scored a 15.150 on the uneven bars, before doing even better on the balance beam with a 15.300. The 2016 Jesolo all-around bronze medalist shined brightest on floor exercise, with her extremely unique personality coming through to score a 14.800 to clinch a career-best third place finish.
Douglas solids but finishes disappointing fourth
After fabulous performances earlier this year at the AT&T American Cup and the Jesolo Trophy, reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas seems to have stumbled a bit on her Road to Rio. While the two-time Olympic gold medalist only competed two events at the Secret US Classic in Hartford, Douglas seemed a bit off this weekend in St. Louis. The 20-year-old Virginia native but Ohio resident began on uneven bars, losing her balance on a handstand, causing her legs to separate to result in only a 14.500.
The three-time world medalist then went to balance beam scoring an impressive 15.050 to rebound nicely before a 14.450 on the floor exercise. Douglas finished her nights on vault, receiving a 14.900 to round out a solid but not incredible national championships for the reigning Olympic all-around champion.
Locklear and Kocian tie on uneven bars as competition heats up
With Team USA typically using an uneven bars specialist as their fifth gymnast, the race is on between two-time uneven bars national champion Ashton Locklear and current world uneven bars champion Madison Kocian. After the Secret US Classic in Hartford and night of competition here in St. Louis, it was Locklear who was out on top, but the two tied on night two with both putting up incredible routines to score an amazing 15.700. Overall, it is Locklear with the edge, with the combined scores from both nights giving her a second bars national title.
On balance beam where consistency is also valued for a bars specialist, Kocian came out ahead with a 14.250 compared to a one-tenth worse 14.150 from Locklear. As of now, it looks like a coin toss between the two but both will certainly hope to make their case two weeks from now at the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials in San Jose.
What's next on the Road to Rio?
The nation's best gymnasts will travel to San Jose for the final competition before the Olympic games in Rio. After two nights of competition at the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials, the all-around winner will be guaranteed a spot on the Olympic Team, with the four remaining spots being chosen and announced after night two of competition from the SAP Pavillion in San Jose.