The US Men secured a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics by placing fifth in the qualifying round at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships. The squad was led by Olympian Danell Leyva, who qualified 4th to the AA and made finals on PB and HB, where he leads the qualifiers.
Former OU star Chris Brooks, an alternate who was added when Sam Mikulak dropped out with an Achilles injury, also made the HB final. Former OU star Alex Naddour qualified to the PH final, while Ohio State alum Brandon Wynn qualified to the Ring final. The USA's Donnell Whittenburg made the Ring final and the Vault final. Former Illini Paul Ruggeri is the first alternate on vault.
The Men's Team Preliiminaries are underway at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. Japan leads the way, with China in 2nd. Great Britain is 3rd, just ahead of Russia.
Link: Results
Darian Burns, L10 at Atlanta Gymnastics Center, has committed to Seattle Pacific. She finished 2nd AA at her 2015 state meet and qualified to regionals.
Brianna Price, L10 at First in Flight Gymnastics, has committed to Eastern Michigan. She placed 3rd AA at her 2015 state meet and she qualified through regionals to JOs.
Despite several mistakes, the US women won the preliminary rounds of the World Championships. They'll want to eliminate these falls in the next round, as the finals are 3 up and 3 count. Simone Biles leads the AA, with Gabrielle Douglas in 3rd. Biles qualified to the VT, BB, and FX finals, while Douglas made the finals on UB, along with UCLA commit Madison Kocian. OU commit Maggie Nichols made the floor final.
UGA's Brittany Rogers is the 2nd reserve to the final on VT while LSU commit Ruby Harrold (UK) made the UB and AA finals.
Russia took the lead after Day 1 of the Women's Qualifying at the World Championships. Great Britain was 2nd and Italy was 3rd. The US and China compete tomorrow. The top eight teams qualify to the Olympics automatically, putting extra pressure on this event. Teams that finish 9 to 16 must compete for a spot at the Olympics during a test event next spring in Rio. In a surprise, one of those teams not qualifying automatically is likely to be former super power Romania. They currently stand in 8th, with the US and China expected to surpass them. Japan is 4th, Canada 5th, and Oympic host Brazil in 6th. The teams in particular will be watching the likes of Australia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and others attempt to surpass them.
Mikaela Meyer, L10 at Frederick Gymnastics in Md. , has committed to Utah State. Last season she placed 5th AA at her state meet and qualified through regionals to the NIT where she finished 11th AA.
Carleigh Stillwagon, L10 at Head Over Heels, has committed to Western Michigan. She 7th AA at her 2015 state meet and 27th AA at regionals.
Caitlin Smith, an elite from Paramount Elite Gymnastics, has committed to LSU. In 2015 she competed to a 1st place finish at the WOGA Classic and placed 1st on beam. She placed 34th AA at the Secret Classic.
Allyson Rudd, L10 from Black Hills Gymnastics, has committed to Brown. She placed 7th AA at both her state and regionals meets in 2015.
Kaylee Cole, L10 at Texas Dreams, has committed to Stanford. She placed 1st AA and 1st on bars at her 2015 state meet and 8th AA at regionals.
Leah Smith, L10 at Gymstrada, has committed to George Washington. She placed 5th AA at her 2015 state meet and 12th AA at regionals. She qualified to the NIT and placed 14thAA.
Claudia Goyco, L10 at Gymnastix in Georgia, has committed to Ball State. Last season she placed 3rd AA at her state meet and qualified to regionals.
Natalia Nottingham has committed to Cornell. Natalia is a Level 10 who competes for Spirit Gymnastics in Pa. She competed three events at her state meet last season. In 2013 she qualified to regionals.
Elizabeth Culton, L10 from Bull City Gymnastics, has committed to UNC. Last season she finished 8th AA at her state meet and 20th AA at regionals.
Jamie Panchak, L10 at Airborne in California, has comitted to UC Davis. She last competed in the 2014 season, finishing 15th AA at the NorCal meet and 13th AA at regionals.