MCSMaria's Artistic Gymnastics Blog

The inevitable has happened. Two time world all-around champion, Simone Biles has forfeited her NCAA eligibility and has gone professional. Simone herself broke the news on her Twitter account earlier today.

Last night at the Secret Classic, US gymnast , team world champion and vault  bronze medalist MyKayla Skinner debuted a new floor routine with an interesting an music choice.

The US Secret Classic concluded last night. There was returning favorites and new challengers and old familiar faces who rose to the occasion. It's a year out from the Olympics, and really, this is the time where it counts. Team USA is deeper, which makes the field more competitive. The USA could have several Olympic teams. This meet is the start of the "season" for Team USA. From here, the girls will compete at the P&G Championships in Indianapolis in a couple of weeks, from there, a selection committee will chose from a pool of girls at the Worlds selection camp, which they will be invited to depending on their finish at Championships. Here are some highlights from the meet.

Starting at rotation 2. - joined the party a little late . So far. Laurie Hernandez is in first with a 15 even on bars. maillie O'Keefe- beam- flip flop flip flop layout two feet switch to switch half. Long pause before series of aerial cartwheel to LOSo- falls off the beam. Sw. Ring.  2 bhs to double tuck dismount  Abigail Walker UB- TX Dreams- full in dismount steps back. Alyssa Al Shari FX - 2 and a half twist front walk over  Syndey Scharpf- bars - little pinks low jump jaeger tkatchev to pak  stalder shoot to high bar.  Jordan Chiles on bars - she's ok. After the scary vault. Tkatchev not pak Ray toe on 1/1 to giengr full out dismount. Gabby Perea - beam switch half wobble switch ring- balance check  2 and a half dismount Grace Quinn- endos oh HB. Looks unsure. Fell on her jaeger.  Stream keeps jumping in between routines which drives me nuts.  Cue the jeapordy theme song for Poor Colbi Flory by the bars.  colbi - Jaeger bail toe on 1/2 ...

Saturday will be the premier of the USA gymnastics will kick off championship season season starting with the Secret Classic,  final qualifier to the P&G Championships, for the women. It's the year before the Olympics, so it's very likely we will see contenders for the Olympic team performing at the meet. There are a plethora of newbies as well as some returning heavy hitters, all of whom have the ultimate goal, to be named to the world championships team for the USA.

US junior national team member Emily Gaskins has gone from being coached by one legendary coach to another.  Full Twist broke the news that Emily is now being coached by none other than Steve Nunno, who coached Olympic Gold medalist and two time world all-around champion, Shannon Miller. Emily was previously being coached by famed coach Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy (CGA) Mary Lee coached Shannon's teammates, Jaycee Phelps and Amanda Borden. 

The Chinese are known for their talent on bars and beam. 

After enduring a grueling training camp in the middle of a hot Texas summer, USA Gymnastics has named the athletes headed to Toronto to compete in the Pan American Games. Image per USA Gymnastics

Aly Raisman is following in the footsteps of fellow team USA gymnasts and is baring it all for ESPN Magazine's Body Issue.