SAN JOSE – At this point, the situation is almost inescapable. With five spots on the U.S. gymnastics team for Rio available, the gymnasts can look around and know who has the best chances of making it.
That reality gets a bit harsher for Ashton Locklear and Madison Kocian, who are likely battling for one spot. Both are strongest on the uneven bars, where they have combined to win the past three U.S. titles on that event.
But with a team and Olympic competition format that favors all-arounders, both won’t be able to go. So that reality – a calculus national team coordinator Martha Karolyi has been doing in her head, as have her gymnasts – bore down on a tearful Locklear after the first night of U.S. Olympic Trials here Friday.
“I’m really confident in myself, and I’ve done so well the past competitions and I’ve won so many times,” Locklear said. “I feel like I’m building a good record for myself and I feel good.”
After the final night of competition at the SAP Center on Sunday, Karolyi and the selection committee will pick their team. Only the all-around champion – almost assuredly to be three-time world champion Simone Biles – is guaranteed a spot.
The other four are chosen, and three other gymnasts look primed to take their places. Aly Raisman, a three-time Olympic medalist in 2012, and first-year senior Laurie Hernandez have had strong competitions this month.
Raisman finished second and Hernandez third after the two-day U.S. championships in late June. On Friday, Hernandez was second and Raisman third.
Gabby Douglas, the reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist, has struggled in those two competitions – finishing fourth at nationals and seventh after one day of trials – but is still considered likely to make the team. While she’s strong all-around, Douglas would give the United States another top bars gymnasts.
That leaves one spot for Locklear and Kocian, who have been close with each other all season.
“I think it’s definitely in my mind, but I tried to let it escape and just focus on myself because that’s all you can control,” said Kocian. “You can’t control what anyone else does. I think for me, what I did tonight it definitely will help me for the selection process and I just need to do the same on Sunday.”
Locklear has edged out Kocian, who tied for gold at the world championships last year, on uneven bars at the Secret Classic and the U.S. championships last month. But the pair finished tied after night two of nationals, and they did the same again on Friday.
Both had beautiful, flowing routines that scored 15.750.
Gymnasts are scored based on difficulty and execution, with the skills in their routine combining for a start value. There, Kocian has an advantage of .200. With better execution, she has the potential for a higher score than Locklear.
“Based on (Friday’s) performance, in my eyes, she’s ahead of Ashton because she can contribute on other events, also,” Karolyi said. “Also, her execution on bars was very good and could be half a tenth to a tenth higher. I felt it was improved even from championships.”
It’s those other events that could be the difference.
Locklear has specialized on bars and balance beam since breaking her back in 2014. Kocian, meanwhile, would be able to contribute on beam and floor. Though she vaulted on Friday, she has kept that to a minimum after breaking her tibia in February.
Both were within .15 of each other’s scores on beam at U.S. championships, but Locklear fell during her routine on Friday.
“It’s frustrating coming in a competition like this and falling,” she said, “but I think Martha knows I can put out a good beam routine, and hopefully I can do that Sunday.”
Ultimately, the consideration could come down to history versus versatility. Locklear and Kocian have proved their worth on uneven bars, leaving only the question of who could best help the Americans on beam and other events in Rio.
“You will have to think about two things – one, that Madison possibly can give some other events,” said Karolyi. “Then also, she earned a gold medal last year at world championships. So they are two things going for her, but the decision is not taken. We have to finish the competition and we will see.”
