I know I'm late to the party, but just finished watching the Women's Gymnastics champions finish it out.
Just unreal. Huge lead going into the beam, but gave it back completely (and then some) with the first three scores including two major balance checks. Michigan's last three beam performers had to outperform Oklahoma's top three floor performers to secure the win... and that's exactly what they did, getting two of the top three beam scores of the day (and three of the top 10).
Beam is the event that usually takes teams out of contention, as it did to #1 Florida today, and it's especially difficult to excel at when the pressure is ramped up. Michigan's last three gymnasts knew that they had to be near-flawless after stumbles by their teammates. That's exactly what they did. Natalie Wojcik's 9.875 is an unreal score in that circumstance (or any circumstance), and so is Sierra Brooks's 9.625. Then, Abby Heiskell finishes it off with the entire building focused on her, since everything else is done... stumble and it's over. No stumble, until after finishing when she finally allowed the pressure of the moment show. Clutch!
Wow! Really fun to watch. Glad I did.
Just unreal. Huge lead going into the beam, but gave it back completely (and then some) with the first three scores including two major balance checks. Michigan's last three beam performers had to outperform Oklahoma's top three floor performers to secure the win... and that's exactly what they did, getting two of the top three beam scores of the day (and three of the top 10).
Beam is the event that usually takes teams out of contention, as it did to #1 Florida today, and it's especially difficult to excel at when the pressure is ramped up. Michigan's last three gymnasts knew that they had to be near-flawless after stumbles by their teammates. That's exactly what they did. Natalie Wojcik's 9.875 is an unreal score in that circumstance (or any circumstance), and so is Sierra Brooks's 9.625. Then, Abby Heiskell finishes it off with the entire building focused on her, since everything else is done... stumble and it's over. No stumble, until after finishing when she finally allowed the pressure of the moment show. Clutch!
Wow! Really fun to watch. Glad I did.
