At College Gym News, we mostly cover college gymnastics, but we couldn’t help but get into the Olympics fun with some predictions! We had to join the action somehow with so many college-affiliated gymnasts competing in the Olympics. Below you’ll find our thoughts on the three podium finishers for each women’s artistic medal event with varying levels of accuracy. Agree or disagree with our picks? Let us know who you have winning gold, silver, and bronze! Which college-affiliated gymnasts do you think will bring home some hardware from Paris?
Initial Thoughts
Elizabeth: Look, I’m a college gymnastics gal. I follow elite, but I won’t admit to knowing all the dynamics, ins, and outs. So I’m predicting mostly on vibes. Sue me. At the end of the day, just give me an exciting competition and I’ll be happy.
Julianna: I’m the friend that just wants everybody to have a good time, and I really feel like that’s what these predictions are giving for me. I want all these athletes to do their best and bring home what they have worked so hard for! However, I wouldn’t be mad at an underdog upset or two.
Peri: I’ll be glued to my screen at ungodly hours to watch as much as I can. I love an underdog in the sport, and love even more that the spotlight is on so many underdog stories for the week long stretch of gymnastics. My favorite part of watching such large competitions is the immense depth each event has from its top 20 gymnasts, and seeing who can hit the best on qualification day – multiply that excitement by five if Canada makes either Team Final, since it’s been a good while.
Aaron: Yes, I will be waking up at 6 a.m. for every competition. I’m still traumatized from the injuries at U.S. Olympic Trials, but I’m excited for Team USA and the rest of the countries competing.
Daniel: The Olympics are my quadrennial Christmas. I’m ready to be running off of three hours of sleep, a venti espresso, and the hopes and dreams of Rebeca Andrade’s ACL. The headlines I’m most excited to see are the Andrade vs Biles race for vault gold, the Qiu vs Nemour race for bars gold, and to see the American men fight for a team bronze medal.
Jessica: Nothing makes me more excited than the Olympics. I already have all my alarms set to accommodate the time difference (and so I don’t miss anything). I’m excited to watch all of the college athletes shine on the world stage and cheer on Team USA. However, I must admit that the team final makes me antsy just thinking about it.
Naomi: I follow elite gymnastics, Olympic year or no, but an Olympic year is always so much more exciting! I’ll be glued to my screen and obsessing as long as the Olympics are going (and praying that everyone’s Achilles remain intact).
Alyssa: I live for the Olympics and will be watching everything. I might not be in person for this competition, but I did travel to Belgium for the last worlds as well as Minneapolis for the US Trials, so I would say I know a thing or two about the current landscape.
Dara: I wouldn’t call myself an expert on elite gymnastics, but I watch Worlds/Olympics every year and I’ve generally kept tabs on the qualification/team selection process. While the late-in-the-game injuries have been devastating, I’m excited for the athletes who made it and I cannot wait to watch as the events unfold this summer.
Team Final
Elizabeth: United States, France, Canada
Aaron: United States, China, Brazil
Julianna: United States, France, Brazil
Peri: United States, Brazil, China/France/Italy
Daniel: United States, Italy, China/Brazil/Great Britain
Jessica: United States, Brazil, Italy
Naomi: United States, Brazil, China/France/Italy
Alyssa: United States, Italy, China
Dara: United States, Brazil, China/Italy
All-Around
Elizabeth: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Aaron: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Sunisa Lee
Julianna Roland: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Sunisa Lee
Peri: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Sunisa Lee
Daniel: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Manila Esposito
Jessica: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Naomi: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Alyssa: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Kaylia Nemour
Dara: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Kaylia Nemour
Vault
Elizabeth: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jade Carey
Aaron: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jade Carey
Julianna: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Jade Carey
Peri: Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Jade Carey
Daniel: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Yeo Seojeong
Jessica: Rebecca Andrade, Simone Biles, Jade Carey
Naomi: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Jade Carey
Alyssa: Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Yeo Seojeong
Dara: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jade Carey
Bars
Elizabeth: Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiyuan, Sunisa Lee
Aaron: Kaylia Nemour, Sunisa Lee, Becky Downie
Julianna: Qiu Qiyuan, Kaylia Nemour, Sunisa Lee
Peri: Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiyuan, Alice D’Amato/Kate McDonald
Daniel: Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiyuan, Sunisa Lee/Zhang Yihan
Jessica: Kaylia Nemour, Sunisa Lee, Qiu Qiyuan
Naomi: Kaylia Nemour, Qiu Qiuian, Alice D’Amato
Alyssa: Qiu Qiyuan, Kaylia Nemour, Sunisa Lee
Dara: Qiu Qiyuan, Kaylia Nemour, Sunisa Lee
Beam
Elizabeth: Qiu Qiyuan, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee
Aaron: Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Qiu Qiyuan
Julianna: Simone Biles, Qiu Qiyuan, Sunisa Lee
Peri: Qiu Qiyuan, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee
Daniel: Zhou Yaqin, Simone Biles, Ou Yushan
Jessica: Sunisa Lee, Zhou Yaqin, Simone Biles
Naomi: Simone Biles, Qiu Qiyuan, Sunisa Lee
Alyssa: Sunisa Lee, Zhou Yaqin, Simone Biles
Dara: Zhou Yaqin, Sunisa Lee, Qiu Qiyuan
Floor
Elizabeth: Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Aaron: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jordan Chiles
Julianna: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Jade Carey
Peri: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Daniel: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jordan Chiles
Jessica: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Naomi: Simone Biles, Rebecca Andrade,Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos
Alyssa: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Jade Carey
Dara: Simone Biles, Mélanie De Jesus Dos Santos, Rebeca Andrade
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
