@%$^@!

Hi. How’s it going? Pretty sucky on my end so I thought I would blog to calm my nerves and stop me from doing something stupid like throwing my computer at the television (Joe Buck will do that to you) so I thought I would start a discussion on the subject of reputation in gymnastics.

Back in the 80’s and 90’s if you were a new gymnast first on the scene as a senior there is no way you would go to Worlds and win the AA. It just never happened. You had to have a reputation. You had to have won something as a gymnast to win any kind of AA medal but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.

Look at Simone Biles. First year senior. She competed at the American Cup. A few meets outside of the US that Marta could control, she  won Nationals then went to World and became World AA champion.  Sure she deserved it but if this was 1983 or 1993 it never would have happened. It might not have been fair but I understood it in a way. Earning your way in this world happens in all aspects of life. You don’t get to go into a law firm as a first year attorney and become Law partner over night. You have to prove yourself.

Back in 1991 Kim Zmeszal, Svetlana Boginskaya and Christina Bontas were 1st, 2nd and 3rd at Worlds but followed closely in 4th, 5th and sixth were Tataiana Gutsu, Shannon Miller and Lavinia Milosovici. Those 3 would end up being the medalists at the Olympics the very next year ahead of the 3 winners from 1991. They weren’t quite as good as the 91 medalists until 92 but even if they were they still would have remained in 4th, 5th and 6th. It was something we as gym fans all understood even if we didn’t agree with it.

Just something to think about and keep my mind off…………………………..   other things:)