MINNEAPOLIS — All the years of training, sacrifice and preparation come down to this weekend.
There are five spots up for grabs on both the U.S. men’s and women’s gymnastics teams at the Olympic trials, which begin Thursday. There are two days of competition for both the men and the women, the men competing on Thursday and Saturday and the women on Friday and Sunday.
There are different selection procedures for each of the teams — the jigsaw puzzle is a little more complicated for the men because they have six events and the women have four — but consistency and the ability to post high scores will be key for both.
Here’s a look at what it will take to make each team.
Who will make U.S. women’s gymnastics team for 2024 Olympics?
Scores from the two days of competition will be combined, and the winner gets a spot on the team for the Paris Olympics. Let’s just go ahead and call that right now for Simone Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medalist who hasn’t lost an all-around competition in 11 years.
With a team finals scoring format that requires countries to compete three gymnasts on each event and count each score, Biles is the ultimate security blanket. The U.S. will put her up on all four events and know she’ll not only hit, but she’ll also deliver a big score.
Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports’ WhatsApp Channel
That leaves three other spots. The selection committee could go in rank order or, depending on who the gymnasts are who finish 2-4, they could look further down in the standings for someone who can shore up a weak event. If, for example, the top four are all really, really solid on uneven bars and balance beam but are just OK on floor or vault, the committee might look for someone who can put up a big number on those events.
The top contenders are: Shilese Jones, an all-around medalist at the last two world championships; reigning Olympic champion Suni Lee; Tokyo floor exercise gold medalist Jade Carey; Tokyo Olympian Jordan Chiles; and Skye Blakely, a member of the last two world teams who debuted a monster vault at the national championships last month. Blakely suffered an injury during training Wednesday, but USA Gymnastics did not provide an update on her status.
Also keep an eye on Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong, two of the Tokyo alternates, and Josc Roberson, a member of last year’s worlds team. And if you’re looking for dark horses, Hezly Rivera and Tiana Sumanasekera could make things interesting.
The full team will be announced Sunday night.
Who will make U.S. men’s gymnastics team for 2024 Olympics?
Like the women, the men’s scores from the two days of competition at trials will be combined. But unlike the women, the winner is guaranteed a spot on the Paris team only if he also finishes within the top three on three events.
Remember what I said about jigsaw puzzles? The U.S. men have a real shot at their first Olympic team medal since 2008, and the selection committee will be trying to find the right combination that can produce the highest score in team finals. Having an all-arounder who is spectacular on at least three events goes a long way toward that.
Brody Malone, who won his third national title earlier this month, was close, winning the title on high bar and finishing second on rings, fourth on pommel horse and fifth on parallel bars. If he has a similar showing at trials, he’s on his way to Paris.
Ditto for Fred Richard and Khoi Young, who were second and third at nationals and top five in two other events. Richard was first on floor exercise and second on high bar while Young was second on parallel bars and fourth on high bar. Young also had the second-highest score of the meet the second night on pommel horse, where he’s the reigning world silver medalist.
After that, it’s about finding guys who can add big scores, or at least be consistently decent, on the events where the Americans have holes to fill.
The contenders are Tokyo Olympians Yul Moldauer and Shane Wiskus; Paul Juda, a member of last year’s world team; and Donnell Whittenburg, a two-time medalist at the world championships and 2016 alternate. Also keep your eye on Cameron Bock, Colt Walker and Asher Hong.
The question is whether the selection committee decides it is solid enough elsewhere but needs a big score on pommel horse, traditionally the U.S. men’s weakest event. If so, they could go with Stephen Nedoroscik, the 2021 world champion on the event; or Patrick Hoopes.
The men’s team will be named Saturday night.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Simone Biles leads US gymnastics Olympic trials. Who else to watch?
