Although only a year after the 2012 Olympic Trials in San Jose, the women's senior elite competition playing field proves full of changes. Out of the fifteen athletes who competed in last year's Olympic selection process, only seven are slated to compete at the U.S. Classic so far. Before introducing the new crop of talented young gymnasts eagerly training for the elite competition season, let's take a look back at those competitors who graced the San Jose Arena July 1st, what they accomplished, how their lives changed since the selection process, and whether they plan on storming the elite track again seeking out international competition once more.


Kennedy Baker at 2012 Secret Classic. Photo by Scott & Emer Hults Photography.

Kennedy Baker of Texas Dreams was a first year senior at the 2012 Olympic Trials, and walked away from the competition with an impressive 8th place finish in the all around competition. Baker continued her training after Trials and now looks forward to competing in the 2013 U.S. Classic. She has also verbally committed to the University of Florida for the 2014-2015 season. 



Rebecca Bross at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Six-time World Medalist Rebecca Bross of WOGA suffered a turbulent Olympic Trials. Bross entered the competition as a bars and beam event specialist, but falls on both both events placed her out of contention for the 2012 team. Since Trials, Bross has stepped away from elite gymnastics instead trying her hand at coaching. Currently, Bross coaches Level 4s at WOGA. She is not training stating, "I am taking some time off right now and trying to decide what I want to do." See Bross's full interview here.



Gabby Douglas in 2010. Photo by RWSPhotography.

For Gabby Douglas, the San Jose Trials served as a springboard foreshadowing Olympic success in London. Douglas's win in the all around at Trials automatically qualified her to the U.S. Olympic team where she went on to take home the all around crown becoming the fourth American woman to do so, and the first African American to claim the title. Douglas left London with the team gold medal as well. Since Trials, Douglas spins in a whirlwind of press appearances from McDonald's endorsements to appearing on the Oprah show. Amidst her new celeb appeal, Douglas is reportedly back in the gym as of May 2013. She plans on being competition ready for the '14 elite competition season.



Brenna Dowell at 2010 Visa Championships Jr. Prelims. Photo by RWSPhotography

Brenna Dowell of GAGE found herself ninth all around at last year's Olympic Trials. Dowell never stopped her training, just recently making an appearance at the June National Team Training Camp where she unveiled her new Amanar. Dowell qualified to the U.S. Classic and fingers crossed her upgraded vault makes its competition debut at the event. 



Sarah Finnegan at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Sarah Finnegan also of GAGE surprised many at Trials with her sixth place all around finish. Finnegan's stellar lines, big start value on beam, and finesse on bars--USA's weakest event--earned her a spot as alternate to the London team. An elbow injury after London kept Finnegan from international competition, but she continues her training in Kansas City.



Anna Li at 2011 World Championships. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

UCLA alumna Anna Li represented Legacy Elite at the 2012 Olympic Trials as a bars and beam specialist. Li hit an incredibly difficult bars set, featuring a Rybalko making Li the first woman to perform this skill. She ended up placed third on the event and was named as an alternate to the London team. After the Olympics, Li participated in the Kellogg's Tour of Champions, but after the tour hung up her grips in preference for a coaching badge at least for the time being. Earlier this year, Li took a group of TOPs qualifiers to the Karolyi camp. In her exclusive interview with Gymnastike in February, Li revealed she is studying for the Brevet Judging Exam while seeking out stunting or commercial opportunities.



Nastia Liukin at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Perhaps the most anticipated participant of the 2012 Olympic Trials, 2008 All Around Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin competed bars and beam in San Jose. However, difficult performances on the uneven bars took Liukin out of consideration for the 2012 Olympic Team and signaled her retirment from competition. Since that time, Liukin entered NYU as a freshman. Liukin maintains her public presence with a multitude of press events including her endorsement with Subway and doing gymnastics commentary for NBC broadcasts.



Mckayla Maroney at 2011 World Championships. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

For Mckayla Maroney, the 2012 Olympic Trials were a dream come true. Phenomenal performances on the vault caught the National Committee's eye and landed her a position on the 2012 team. Maroney proved her worth in London with her jaw-dropping (literally) 16.233 stuck Anamar in the team final. Maroney's performance was clutch in securing gold for the USA team final. After the Olympics, Maroney continued her public fame with her "Not Impressed" photo becoming the most popular meme of 2012 as well as guest roles on the CW's Hart of Dixie. But as for gym, don't count Maroney out yet. Mckayla continues her training at All Olympia and came to the June National Team Training Camp in Texas where she revealed a new double layout on floor. Maroney states she will return to elite competition in 2013.



Elizabeth Price at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Elizabeth Price of Parkette's had the break-out performance of the Trials when she placed fourth in the all around. Price was named an alternate to the London team. In December 2012, Price dominated competition at the Stuttgart World Cup and Glasgow World Cup, winning all around gold in both events. At the moment, Price is training for the U.S. Classic in July and hopes to make the 2013 World Championships team.



Aly Raisman at 2012 Visa Championships. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

After securing her spot at part of the Fierce Five at Trials, Aly Raisman became Team USA's most decorated gymnast from the London Games winning team gold, floor gold, and beam bronze. Upon her return to the US, Raisman entered as a contestant on ABC's Dancing with the Stars where she finished fourth, just shy of grabbing the cherished mirror-ball trophy. With the conclusion of the show, Raisman kicked off her dancing heels and marched back into the familiar territory of Brestyan's gym as she begins training again for elite competition. Raisman has said all along and without hesitation that she definitely intends to return to gymnastics competition in the future and plans to be in the mix for the 2016 Olympic Games. Raisman has stated that she is trageting next summer for her return to the competition floor.



Kyla Ross at 2013 American Cup. Photo by Marissa Pereson.

Kyla Ross's high-flying performance on the bars at Trials secured her position on the 2012 Olympic Team. In London, solid beam and bar performances established Ross as a consistent performer and key to obtaining gold in the team final. Amazingly, amongst press obligations, Ross stated she has not taken more than two weeks off from training since the games. She already reentered the competition realm with her beam exhibition at the 2013 AT&T American Cup as well as gold winning bar performance at the 2013 Jesolo Trophy Meet in Italy. Ross is listed as a competitor at the U.S. Classic in July.




Alicia Sacramone at 2012 Visa Championships. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Seasoned veteran Alicia Sacramone gave powerful performances on the vault and beam at 2012 Trials. While not selected for the 2012 Olympic team, Sacramone's performances bordered inspirational coming after a rattling '08 Olympic experience and on the heels of a torn achilles tendon at the 2011 World Championships. After participating in the Kellogg's Tour of Champions, Sacramone officially retired from the sport. She now does commentary for the Pac 12 as well as working on getting involved with the elite development camps. Click here to watch Sacramone in Flashback Friday.




Bridget Sloan of Florida Gymnastics 2013. Photo by Erin Long.

During the first night of competition, Bridget Sloan injured her elbow causing her to pull out of the competition and end her Olympic bid. Sloan now competes for the University of Florida where she recently earned the 2013 NCAA All Around and Beam event titles in addition to helping the Florida Gators become NCAA Champions for the first time in history.



Sabrina Vega at 2010 National Jr. Finals. Photo by RWS-photography.

Sabrina Vega bolstered strong performances at the San Jose Trials where she landed 10th in the all around competition. After her Olympic run, Vega switched gyms from Dynamic to GAGE. Although training at GAGE, Vega has not returned to international competition as she is rehabbing from a shoulder surgery that occurred earlier this year.



Jodyn Wieber at 2011 World Championships. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

After placing second at the 2012 Olympic Trials, Jordyn Wieber was selected for the Olympic Team. A strong competitor in the all around competition, Wieber and the world were taken aback when she was surpassed by teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman for the All Around Final. The speed bump did not slow her down, though. Wieber helped the Fierce Five claim team gold as well as qualifying to the floor final. Wieber returned to training at Geddert's Twistars USA in January and has regained all of her skills. Click here to watch Wieber train in "Beyond the Routine."


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