…on Inside Gymnastics Magazine’s website now. The second and juicier installment contains Martha-isms on Chellsie Memmel, Darling Hill and, a bit surprisingly, Chelsea Davis, a protege of Karolyi’s one-time protege Kim Zmeskal.
Q: There are a lot of established stars vying for Olympic berths. Are there any up-and-comers who could make this team?
A: Well, some younger girls certainly are doing very, very nice effort[s].
One of the young ones who was probably nowhere last year is Chelsea Davis, Kim Zmeksal’s gymnast. She [is] just turning 16 this year. Just the same age as Shawn, but last year [Chelsea] wasn’t at this level. … She would be one who is the youngest and is just breaking in.
Then a few girls have some good events. Like Darling Hill has a very nice floor routine or (Randy) Stageberg has also a very good floor routine and a good vault.
So when the last trial comes and the last decision has to be made for the team, some people could play some role, depending what may be the team’s needs.
It will not necessarily be a straight rank order. Because, first of all, you take your strongest girls and you plug those in. And they’re locked in, because it is absolutely necessary for the team results, and then you will have to fill up some spots. And if some girl is good on two events and exactly on those two events you need, you would use [that girl]. But if the team is already strong on those two events it is too bad for them, because they will not be needed, even though they have a harder exercise.
… That’s how it works. It’s pretty complicated from the outside, but when it comes down the stretch it simplifies. It is so interesting on a line-up meeting, which we are doing all together with the coaches, I’m coming up with a plan and I say, ‘This is how I see, and how I feel and this is what we should do,’ and, pretty much, [the other coaches] feel the same. Because things clear up, very much, at the end.
Posted a trifle belatedly.
Extra: Martha Karolyi’s fake MySpace. Bela has one too, but Martha’s is better. This never gets old.
Tags: Chellsie Memmel, Chelsea Davis, Darling Hill, Martha Karolyi, Randy Stageberg
May 22, 2008 at 7:59 am |
I think Martha is full of crap about Chelsea, Darling, and Randy. I bet she’s just playing head games. If those girls are in the mix the team is in big trouble.