The City of Jesolo Trophy will be the first international elite meet of the season for the USA this year. The Americans have been incredibly successful at this meet since its debut in 2008 - they have won the team gold medal every single year, with the exception of 2009, when the U.S. did not participate.

Jesolo has proved to be an important competition for USA Gymnastics. They typically send some of their top gymnasts in both the junior and senior ranks, and the meet really showcases where these athletes have progressed at the beginning of the season. The competition is especially important in an Olympic year.

The USA participated in Jesolo in both 2008 and 2012, and in both years, three gymnasts who made the Jesolo team also made the Olympic team. Another 1-2 who competed on the Jesolo team were made alternates for the Olympic team.



The 2012 Jesolo team included Kyla Ross, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Elizabeth Price and Sarah Finnegan. The 2008 Jesolo team included Shawn Johnson, Samantha Peszek, Bridget Sloan and Jana Bieger. Sloan unfortunately sustained an injury during warmups and was unable to compete.

Although we still have several months to go before we get to Olympic Trials, the team chosen for Jesolo - and those who win medals at the competition - could provide a good indication of what’s to come for Rio.

Below, we take a look at what happened in 2008 and 2012, event by event, to give you an idea of the implications of this year’s results. Note that 2008 did not have event finals, so we’ve looked at the high scores for the team on each event.

Vault

2012 Medal Winners:
Gold - McKayla Maroney (16.000)
Silver - Elizabeth Price (15.700)
Bronze - Kyla Ross (15.550)

2008 Team High Scores:
1. Shawn Johnson (15.200)
2. Olivia Courtney (15.000)
3. Samantha Peszek (14.850)

In 2012, two out of the three medal winners, Maroney and Ross, both later made the Olympic team, while silver medalist Price was made an alternate. All three had exceptionally high scores on vault at Jesolo from performing the Amanar. Maroney would later have a historic vault in the Olympic team final, scoring a huge 16.233, and also won the silver medal in the vault event finals.

In 2008, two of the highest scoring gymnasts on vault - Johnson and Peszek - both later made the Olympic team. Peszek was unfortunately injured and unable to compete for the team at the Olympics, but Johnson competed her Amanar vault and scored the team’s highest score - a 16.000.

Uneven Bars

2012 Medal Winners:
Gold - Kyla Ross (15.050)
Silver - Brenna Dowell (14.600)
Bronze - Aly Raisman (14.450)

2008 Team High Scores:
Shawn Johnson (15.300)
Samantha Peszek (15.050)
Jana Bieger (15.050)

Once again, two out of the three gymnasts who won medals on bars for the USA in 2012 later made the Olympic team. Ross, who won the gold medal in Jesolo, was likely put on the Olympic team in large part for her ability to score well on bars for the team. She competed this event in the team final and scored a 14.933, the second highest score for the team.

Similarly, two of the three highest scoring gymnasts for the team in 2008 in Jesolo later made the Olympic team - Johnson and Peszek. Bieger, who tied with Peszek in Jesolo with a 15.050, was made an alternate. Johnson competed bars for the team during team finals at the Olympics, scoring a 15.35.

Balance Beam

2012 Medal Winners:
Gold - Kyla Ross (15.500)

2008 Team High Scores:
1.Shawn Johnson (16.200)
2. Samantha Peszek (14.750)
3. Jana Bieger (14.700)

In 2012, only Ross was able to claim a medal out of the US team (Carlotta Ferlito got the silver medal and Anastasia Grishina got the bronze), but it was a gold one. Ross would later go on to compete beam in the team final at the Olympics that year and scored the second highest score on the team - a 15.133.

In 2008, again both Johnson and Peszek achieved high scores in Jesolo and later made the Olympic team, while Bieger scored third highest in Jesolo and was made alternate. Johnson kept her streak of high scores on beam going at the Olympics and not only competed for the team (scoring the highest at 16.175), but also won the gold medal in event finals, scoring an even higher 16.225.

Floor Exercise

2012 Medal Winners:
Silver - Aly Raisman (14.650)
Bronze - Sarah Finnegan (14.600)

2008 Team High Scores:
1. Shawn Johnson - 15.000
2. Samantha Peszek - 14.400
3. Olivia Courtney - 14.250

Aly Raisman finished behind gold medalist Grishina in Jesolo in 2012, capturing the silver medal. Teammate Sarah Finnegan got the bronze, and she would later become an alternate for the Olympic team. Raisman, as we know, was the star on floor for the USA at the Olympics. She scored the highest score for the team in team finals with a 15.300, and she then won the gold medal in event finals with a huge 15.600.

In 2008, it was again Johnson and Peszek at the top for the team in Jesolo. Johnson competed floor for the team and scored the second highest with a 15.100. She also captured the floor silver medal in event finals, scoring a 15.500.


Related:
USA to Send Stacked Team to 2016 Jesolo Trophy