MCSMaria's Artistic Gymnastics Blog

It's a new season of NCAA gymnastics and that means, I'm back with my power rankings for the week. This is not RoadtoNationals.com rankings. These rankings are determining who holds the power in NCAA gymnastics this week... or not so much.Who is winning at life and who is breaking our hearts this week. Get the lowdown below the cut -

It's Election Day in the US. The citizens are waiting with great anticipation or anxiety of what the future of the country is going to be.  Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump.  Political polarization threatens to tear the nation apart at it's delicate seams. Well, the gymnasts of Team USA are not choosing either choice, nor are they going with a third party, like Jill Stein or Gary Johnson, no, they're nominating one of their own.  Sort of... In honor of election day, the athletes were interviewed to find out, who among them would be a good candidate for the President of the United States of America. Spoiler alert - it's Aly Raisman by a landslide. Watch the video from USA Gymnastics-

It's all over. Gymnastics at the Rio Olympic Games concluded on third and final day of event finals. The last of the medals was handed out today, the last routine was performed. The Olympics are over for another four years. The memory is still fresh, so let me recap the final day of artistic gymnastics at the Rio Olympic Games and we can relive all the gymnastics glory.

The all-around final is upon us. The field is set for the competition. Aly Raisman is returning to the all-around after missing out in Glasgow at the World Championships and placing fourth in London in 2012. Also returning is bronze medalist, Aliya Mustafina. Then there is Simone Biles, three time world champion. Can she become the first world champion to win an Olympic title since Lilia Podkepaeva in 1996. Follow along with all the action in Rio, just refresh the page every 10 minutes or so for updates!

Well, one night of trials is over and done with. There is still one more night of intense competition in this pressure cooker. I wish that metaphor were hyperbole, but alas, I kid you not. The pressure is on in San Jose. This is really it, you eff up too badly here, your dreams of Olympic glory end. So who is holding up under the intense scrutiny? Let's take a look and see.

Yesterday, Team USA announced the team competing at the Pacific Rim Championships this coming weekend. A miracle happened. #TeamBrenna is back. That's right, one Miss Brenna Dowell, Oklahoma Sooner, bars phenom is back. She was named to the team along with Worlds' teammates' Simone Biles, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman. Also named to the team: Ashton Locklear, 2014 Team World Champion and the most anticipated new senior of the year: Laurie Hernandez. Artwork via USA Gymnastics

The ladies of the US Worlds team have leaked some sneak peaks at the leotards they've gotten for the World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain. There are two leos that have made their way around the gymternet.

Simone Biles became the first woman since Kim Zmeskal to win three consecutive all-around national titles with a lead of nearly five points with a two night total of 124.100.

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.

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.

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

Aly Raisman competed in her first competition back since she won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics on floor exercise. Aly and team USA competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy and as usual, dominated.

At the conclusion of the final 2014 National Team camp, USA Gymnastics welcomed back Olympic Gold medalists Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas to the national team.

Two of the Fierce Five Members are returning to the USA Gymnastics scene. On Thursday, Fierce Five member and Olympic Floor Champion, Aly Raisman posted a text message exchange on her Twitter  account between her and fellow fierce five member and Olympic All-Around Champ, Gabby Douglas.

Today, at the NCAA National Championships two teams, Oklahoma and Florida came out triumphant. One team won for the first time and broke through the door of an exclusive club where many dreamed to go, but only few ventured.

For the first time in a few weeks, I had sometime to peruse Tumblr.  I came across this GIF of Aly Raisman and Viktoria Komova that filled my heart with glee and if the Grinch saw this , it would make his heart grow three times it's size. Aly is seen tapping Vika on the arm and Vika looks up and she is engulfed in a congratulatory embrace.

Aly Raisman recently sat down with Blythe at the Gymnastics Examiner to discuss her comeback and her whirlwind life since the Olympic Games. Since winning two golds and a bronze in London, Aly has been enjoying the perks that come with her newfound celebrity. She's taken a year off, done the Gymnastics Tour of Champions, done Dancing With the Stars and made multiple appearances at talk shows and events.

In Antwerp, Aly Raisman met up with Aliya Mustafina, Anna Rodionova and Tatiana Nabieva. Aly promised her fans she'd get a picture with Aliya.  What better time to get a picture while out on the town with the girls, when one is looking fabulous? Like any good girls night, picture taking must be involved. This provides the opportunity for the occasional photo-bomber. This particular photo bomber happened to be Aimee Boorman, also known as Simone Biles' coach.

Welcome to the 74th Annual Hunger Games, I mean, the 2012 London Olympics. This is awesome. It's the trailer for Hunger   Games , the movie based on Suzanne Collins' novel of the same title, with all gymnastics.

Aly Raisman is an Olympic Gold Medalist, a Dancing Star, World Champion and fashion designer.  Like many notable World and Olympic Champions, Aly has her own line of leotards through GK Elite. Today, yours truly was surfing Twitter while doing the laundry (ok, I'm procrastinating the laundry, whatever!). I came across this photo of Aliya Mustafina wearing what looks like an Aly Raisman original.