The U.S. women’s team for the World Gymnastics Championships won’t be announced until Wednesday, but the International Gymnastics Federation released “nominative lists” of gymnasts for every nation.
These lists mean nothing for the U.S., but it’s interesting to note which names were submitted. Here they are:
Simone Biles — 2013 World all-around champion
Kyla Ross — 2013 World all-around silver medalist
Alyssa Bauman
Madison Desch
Madison Kocian
Ashton Locklear
Mykayla Skinner
Full women’s nominative list | Men’s nominative list
The World Championships in Nanning, China, start Oct. 3.
Last year, the four U.S. women on the nominative list ended up being the four U.S. women who flew to Antwerp, Belgium, for the event. The 2013 World Championships only included individual competition. This year, the team event returns, so nations can send seven gymnasts.
Biles and Ross are considered shoo-ins for the team. Ross is the only member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team who could make it with none of the other Fierce Five members active this year.
Brenna Dowell made the 2013 World Championships team with Biles, Ross and McKayla Maroney, but she did not compete in Antwerp in favor of the other three competing in all four events in qualifying.
Dowell did not make this year’s nominative list, but she is among 12 women attending next week’s U.S. National Team camp in Texas from which the World Championships team will be chosen. Here are the 12:
Simone Biles — on nominative list
Kyla Ross — on nominative list
Alyssa Bauman — on nominative list
Madison Desch — on nominative list
Madison Kocian — on nominative list
Ashton Locklear — on nominative list
Mykayla Skinner — on nominative list
Brenna Dowell
Felicia Hano
Veronica Hults
Amelia Hundley
Macy Toronjo
The U.S. women will be looking to win a second straight World Championships team gold, but the pool of gymnasts to choose from is shallower than hoped. The following gymnasts will not be competing in Nanning:
Maroney underwent surgery earlier this year.
Maggie Nichols, who finished third in the all-around behind Biles and Ross at the P&G Championships last month, dislocated a kneecap at the Pan American Championships.
Rachel Gowey, who is from the same gym that produced Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas, broke an ankle in training at the P&G Championships. Gowey was fourth at the Secret U.S. Classic behind Biles, Ross and Nichols.
Peyton Ernst, who replaced Biles at the Pacific Rim Championships in April, had shoulder surgery and missed the P&G Championships.
Lexie Priessman, the 2012 P&G junior all-around champion, withdrew from the Secret U.S. Classic after suffering an ankle injury, had surgery and did not compete at the P&G Championships.
Katelyn Ohashi, the 2011 P&G junior all-around champion, hasn’t competed in more than one year.
Elizabeth Price, the 2012 Olympic alternate and American Cup winner in March, retired from elite gymnastics.
The U.S.’ biggest competition should come from Olympic silver medalist Russia, expected to be led by veteran Aliya Mustafina.
The entire U.S. men’s team announced Aug. 24 is on the nominative list, along with Japan’s reigning all-around gold and silver medalists, Kohei Uchimura and Ryohei Kato.
