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Monday, July 2, 2012

A Night of Gymnastics

I couldn't NOT blog about what I watched last night as the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team was chosen.
It was a beautiful moment.
To see these girls who've literally trained their entire lives for this one day - be chosen to represent their country in their sport.

Now, let me just take a moment to say how devastated and disappointed I was to hear the news of Shawn Johnson's retirement a while back. While I completely understand and support her decision not to continue due to her knee injury, I absolutely adore her. Plus, she's my doppelgänger. It will be tough not to see her out there in London.

Gymnastics is one of those sports where retiring at age 20 is not uncommon. Even Nastia Liukin [age 22 and the all-around gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Games] and Alicia Sacramone [age 24] did not make the 2012 Olympic Team. It was pretty emotional watching Nastia finish her last exercise followed by a standing ovation from the arena. She is loved.

And then there were the moments leading up to the announcement of the 2012 Team. I can only imagine what was going through the minds of those girls.

As Steve Penny, USA Gymnastics President walked out to announce the names, the crowd sure went wild. As soon as the names were announced, the cameras shot back to the line-up of girls making their way out into the arena. Wearing their beautiful red, white, and blue warm-ups, they covered their mouths in awe as tears filled their eyes.


You better believe tears filled my eyes as well. As a competitive dancer growing up, gymnastics has always held a special place in my heart as a similar sport and this event in the Olympics will always be my favorite. That one moment, hearing their names called as part of the 2012 Olympic Team, is the moment they all have worked day and night for.





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I was so moved while watching that moment live.
There is just something about those live, real, life-changing moments. That's what life is about. Going after your dreams and watching them come true.

To Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Kyla Ross... Congratulations! I can't wait to cheer you on in just a few short weeks! GO TEAM USA!

Did you watch the Gymnastics Trials last night?

21 comments:

the girl in the red shoes said...

I watched it too! Such an awesome night!

CALLIE said...

I CANNOT wait for the actual Olympics to start... the gymnastics is my absolute/all time favorite!!!! Such an exciting time.

Unknown said...

Love Love the Olympics! ....Gymnastics is one of my favorites!

http://3oh1gracest.blogspot.com/

Ashley said...

I love watching gymnastics during the Olympics! I'm so amazed by those women... and men! Such an exciting time for them all last night. :)

KRISTIN said...

I was a teary-eyed mess last night! I love our team and really hope they can do well (I think they can!!!) Cannot wait to watch them compete...AND, did you notice our men's team was pretty attractive? Normally men gymnasts are a little goofy lookin' but these boys are CUTE!

Allison said...

Love the Olympics and I am so sad I missed this part!!

Tiffany said...

It really made me tear up to to see those girls dreams coming true!

Lauren {at} Life.Love.Lauren said...

Ya! Congrats to them all. I really did want Alicia to make it, but the other girls are great too. Olympics here we come!!

Hilary said...

We watched it as well! I was in shock when Nastia took that face plant - cannot believe she got back up and kept on going! Props to her.

Emily said...

Love love love gymnastics, just did a flash back post on it. SO excited for the 2012 Team. Poor Nastia her career was over after day one. Gymnastics really is a one time olympic type sport.

Unknown said...

I watched all weekend- those girls know more about dedication than any other kids their age will never know. I have to admit I was upset when Nastia didn't do well on Friday and then when she ate mat last night I felt so bad for her but after her beam routine and her standing ovation I bawled like a baby!

But what about Gabby Douglas?!? That girl is going for GOLD!

Anonymous said...

I did not watch it last night, but just reading through your post made me get the goosebumps!! Good post about the USA gymnastics team!

Britt said...

I watched it too and also cried. Such an emotional moment for these girls. Can't wait to cheer them on in less than a month! Team USA!!!

tara said...

i caught up on it online this morning and definitely caught myself with tears in my eyes!

~Katie said...

I didn't get to watch last night, and am so mad I missed it! I've been obsessed with watching gymnastics during the Olympics ever since the 1996 Olympics. Love it!

Kristin said...

I taped it, cant wait to watch!

Unknown said...

I watched the gymnastics trials as well and was deeply moved by the final selection. They are such a dedicated and excited group of girls and I'm excited to watch them perform in London. I'm actually excited for all of the events :). Can't wait!

Clara Turbay said...

to be proud1

Tiffany said...

I sure did watch it! The whole night of trials was great---track,swimming, gymnastics. I was in sports heaven! The swimming is my favorite, but I really enjoyed the gymnastics too. I loved Gabby Douglas and my heart broke for Nastia Liukin. But she sure handled the situation beautifully. Can't wait for London!

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

Kristen said...

i love the olympics! i can never get past how freaking fit the gymnasts are, i'm just amazed at all of their strength and skills. the only thing i hate about gymnastics is why the girls don't wear their hair cuter. they always have it in a half-pony with a thousand pins all over. why don't they do some cute braids or a sock bun? i don't get it.

Jessie Jones said...

I did not get to watch the trials, but the stories I have heard are amazing. I've grown up around the sport, but mostly in the collegiate arena, so the olympics are always special to follow! Love your blog - I'm a new follower - and you DO look just like shawn! Have a great week!