February 2016 National Team Camp Underway

February 2016 US National Team Camp is underway. This camp will serve multiple purposes as we journey down the Road to Rio. For Maggie Nichols and Gabrielle Douglas, it will be their final verification prior to the American Cup. For Mykayla Skinner, this will be her final verification prior to the Glasgow World Cup. Nia Dennis, originally scheduled to attend the Stuttgart World Cup, will not attend due to an Achilles tear. No athlete has been listed as a replacement at this time although in an official press release, USA Gymnastics mentions that the March 12-15 will serve as a Stuttgart qualification along with Jesolo Trophy selection.

The Olympic year proves to be an exciting one with more US gymnasts being sent to international competition than in the past. Some of the Rio ineligible juniors will attend the International Gymnix competition in Montreal. At the moment, Jordan Chiles, Deanne Soze, Maile O'Keefe, and Gabby Perea are scheduled to compete.

Notably missing from camp are Jazmyn Foberg, Rachel Gowey, and Bailie Key. All 3 athletes could definitely earn a spot on the Jesolo team and Key or Foberg would make excellent choices for the Stuttgart World Cup so we will wait and see if they are back for the March camp. There's no word at the moment as to whether the athletes are missing due to injury, illness, family emergency or other issues. Kyla Ross, who recently announced her retirement, is also not present at the end of the lineup.

There is no word at this time on whether we'll have videos from this camp. In the past, we've had videos from the January camp but with the Summer Olympics coming close, it's unclear if Team USA wants to keep some upgrades to mystery or if the production of these videos will be through different outlets, like the recent Today Show interview or with NBC's Olympic media.

Often after camp, athletes are added to the national team, lineups for meets are changed, athletes may withdraw or new athletes may be added. Hoping the athletes have a great verification!


Below are the athletes in height order.
Amelia Hundley, Cincinnati
Maggie Nichols, Twin City Twisters
Ashton Locklear, Everest Gymnastics
Madison Desch, GAGE
Aly Raisman, Brestyan's
Gabrielle Douglas, Buckeye
Brenna Dowell, GAGE
Hannah Joyner, World Champion Centre, 2001
Madison Kocian, WOGA
Trinity Thomas, Prestige, 2001
Alyssa Baumann, WOGA
MyKayla Skinner, Desert Lights
Gabby Perea, Legacy Elite, 2002
Emily Gaskins, Palm Beach Gymnastics
Christina Desiderio, Parkettes
Maile O'Keefe, Salcianu's, 2002
Emily Schild, Everest Gymnastics
Lauren Hernandez, MG Elite
Norah Flatley, Chow's Gymnastics
Deanne Soza, Arete, 2001
Jordan Chiles, Naydenov, 2001
Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Brandy Johnson's
Simone Biles, World Champion Centre
Elena Arenas, Georgia Elite, 2001
Emma Malabuyo, Texas Dreams, 2002
Ragan Smith, Texas Dreams