Douglas, a three-time Olympic champion, impressed Saturday with a strong double vault at the American Classic in Katy, Texas. Although the 28-year-old hasn't competed in nearly eight years, her difficulty scores on bars and beam would rival those of America's top athletes. However, she started her competition with a fall on her floor, and then she fell twice while struggling in her signature event, a routine on bars. Because of these mistakes, she finished 11th in a field without many of the country's top gymnasts and had a low overall score of 50.650 points.
Jade Carey, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the floor event, shot to victory in the individual all-around on Saturday with a score of 55.000. This score is on a par with other gymnasts on the Paris elite squad. Carey, who finished his NCAA season at Oregon State a little more than a week ago, has mastered each piece of equipment. She received a score more than two points higher than any other competition in 2023.
Each of Douglas's three falls led to a one-point deduction, and her mislandings on the floor and beam also negatively affected her score. If she executes all four of her apparatuses strongly, Douglas' overall performance could approach that of other top gymnasts, a positive sign for her as she seeks to make her third Olympic team.
Douglas became a star athlete when she won the individual all-around title at the 2012 London Olympics, and returned to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she helped the U.S. women's team win back-to-back team championships. She said Douglas hadn't competed since the 2016 Olympics, but her extended break has raised her expectations for this event. She was originally scheduled to compete in the Winter Cup in February, but she said the coronavirus forced her to withdraw, delaying her return.
The American Classic doesn't usually attract all of the top gymnasts in the country. The tournament was held at the national team's training camp facility, and the number of tickets sold was limited.
Tokyo's all-around individual champion Sunitha Lee performed on vault and beam. Her beam routine was excellent and even though she opted for a simple dismount, she received the highest score (14.300). Lee, 21, said she suffered from two kidney ailments last year, but her health has improved and she is back to training more consistently.
Jocelyn Roberson, 18, is returning to competition after injuring her ankle at last fall's world championships. She performed on the horizontal bars and beam, but finished outside the top 10 in both. Vault and floor are her best events, so progress on these instruments will be key to her Olympic hopes.
The elite season begins next month with the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Conn., on May 18th. That tournament, the U.S. Championships and the Olympic Trials will be a bigger test for Douglas, with all the star athletes scheduled to compete, including Simone Biles. compete.
Still, Saturday's scores provided a glimpse of how the gymnasts compare to other Olympic hopefuls. Carey appears to be on a positive path. She said Douglas' overall grades are well below those typically earned by top American athletes, but her complex routines and high difficulty scores mean she has room for improvement. There is.
Many of America's top gymnasts perform the double twist vault that Douglas performed at the American Classic. She earned her 14.000 points, trailing only Carey's score (14.200 points). But success on vault alone won't improve her Olympic chances, as many of Douglas' peers have similar abilities on vault.
Douglas completed the beam routine without falling, earning a score of 13.350 and tied for fifth place. However, she landed with her chest low as she dismounted, which cost her a significant point deduction. Douglas' difficulty scores on bars (5.9) and beam (5.8) would have been near the top of the field at last year's national championships, and her strong performance in those events will be key. But there are now only three tournaments left in which Douglas can claim to represent Paris.
