With the NCAA season now at an end, and with J.O. Nationals taking place in the next few weeks, it will soon be time to turn our attention to the elite world of gymnastics. Elite gymnasts will be spending the next few months working hard in the gym and amping up their skills to prepare for some major competitions coming up, starting in July with the Pan Am Games. Following the Games will be the Secret U.S. Classic later that month and the P&G Championships in August. All of these meets will be crucial for the gymnasts to prove themselves capable of contributing to the 2015 World Championship team. The World Championships will take place in late October in Glasgow, Scotland.

USA’s senior national team is so strong this year that the road to making the Worlds team will be a competitive one. The gymnasts will be ramping up to show some of their best performances in the last big international meet before the Olympics in Rio. In 2011, four out of the five future Fierce Five members were also on the Worlds team.

But what exactly does it take to get to Worlds, from a technical sense? Below, we explain the process behind the selection procedure as stated by USA Gymnastics, step by step. Only 6 senior elite athletes will be chosen for the team, with one traveling alternate who is usually determined just before the event commences.

Qualify for Nationals

One of the two “tryouts” for the Worlds is the 2015 P&G Championships, taking place August 13-15 in Indianapolis. A gymnast can qualify to P&Gs through a variety of means.

1. Historical performance

Any of the six gymnasts who competed on the 2014 Worlds team, in addition to any traveling alternates, are automatically qualified to compete at the 2015 P&Gs. Those gymnasts would be Simone Biles, Kyla Ross, MyKayla Skinner, Alyssa Baumann, Madison Kocian, Ashton Locklear, and Madison Desch.

In addition, any of the five gymnasts who will compete at the 2015 Pan American Games, in addition to any traveling alternates, are also automatically qualified to compete at the 2015 P&Gs. The Pan American Games will take place July 11-15 in Toronto.

2. Performances at the 2015 American Classic, 2015 US Classic; or performance at a National Team Training Camp or international competition for those on the current National Team

Gymnasts competing at a 2015 Classic meet need to secure a 54.00 if they are competing all-around, 41.25 if they are competing three events, or 28.00 if they are competing two events. National Team members can also secure these numbers at a National Team Training Camp or international competition.

3. Individual petitions

It may be possible for certain gymnasts to petition in order to gain a spot at the 2015 P&G Championships, providing there is good reason for them not being able to compete in any of the qualifying competitions. Most often, petitioning gymnasts do so because of injury which is expected to heal in time for P&Gs.

Qualify to the World Team Selection Camp

The second “tryout” used for Worlds selection is the World Team Selection Camp, which will take place in October just prior to departure for Glasgow. The top two all-around athletes from the 2015 P&G Championships (using the combined score over the two days of competition) will secure spots at the camp. Beyond those two, only 8 additional athletes will be chosen to attend the camp. Almost all of the 8 chosen will have competed at P&Gs as well, apart from any petitioned athletes.

Following the World Team Selection Camp, the Selection Committee, made up of Martha Karolyi, Steve Rybacki, and Terin Humphrey, will make the final decision on the 7 team members who will travel to Glasgow.


Related:
2015 City of Jesolo coverage