2016 Pacific Rim Championships

Ragan Smith To Replace Maggie Nichols At Pacific Rim Championships

Ragan Smith To Replace Maggie Nichols At Pacific Rim Championships

Ragan Smith has been added to the U.S. Pacific Rim Championships roster to replace Maggie Nichols​, who has withdrawn due to a knee injury. The competition

Apr 5, 2016 by Becca Reed
Ragan Smith To Replace Maggie Nichols At Pacific Rim Championships
Ragan Smith has been added to the U.S. Pacific Rim Championships roster to replace Maggie Nichols​, who has withdrawn due to a knee injury. The competition takes place this Friday through Sunday at the XFINITY Arena in Everett, Washington. According to a press release from USA Gymnastics, Nichols injured one of her knees after the final team selection, and Smith was the next-highest-ranked athlete.

A first-year senior, Smith made a splash at the Jesolo Trophy where she scored a 59.05 to place second in the all-around to Gabby Douglas. Smith also placed second on beam and second on floor in event finals. Watch Smith's routines from Jesolo here.

The U.S. Pac Rims team is now Simone Biles, Brenna Dowell, Laurie Hernandez, Ashton Locklear, Aly Raisman, and Smith.


Nichols Tweeted the following just a couple hours before the replacement was announced:


Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, one of Smith's coaches, Tweeted words of support to Nichols and one of her coaches, Sarah Jantzi.


Press release below via USAG:

Ragan Smith of Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, has been added to the U.S. Women’s Team that will compete at the 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, presented by Hershey’s, April 8-10, at the XFINITY Arena at Everett (Wash). Smith, who replaces Maggie Nichols of Little Canada, Minn./Twin City Twisters, due to a slight knee injury suffered after the final team selection, was the next highest ranked athlete.

Smith joins Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre; Brenna Dowell of Odessa, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Laurie Hernandez of Old Bridge, N.J./MG Elite; Ashton Locklear of Hamlet, N.C./Everest Gymnastics; and Aly Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics

Smith, a first-year senior level gymnast, took second in the all-around at the recent Jesolo Trophy, as well as helped the USA to the team gold.

The three-day Pacific Rim Championships is expected to feature more than 200 gymnasts from 18 Pac Rim countries, competing in men’s and women’s gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics. The countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, and the United States.

The three-day Pacific Rim Championships is expected to feature more than 200 gymnasts from 18 Pac Rim countries, competing in men’s and women’s gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics. The countries are Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, and the United States.


Related:
Ragan Smith's videos from the 2016 Jesolo Trophy
Beyond the Routine featuring Ragan Smith and Texas Dreams