Quick Quotes Take 1: Secret U.S. Classic

By Evan Heiter

The road the London makes a pitstop in Chicago, Ill. for the 2012 Secret U.S. Classic! Check out our first series of quick notes from this morning's training session! More to come, Insiders!! 

Anna Li of Legacy Elite on the biggest advantage to training with a younger group of girls:

“It’s actually kind of fun because I feel like I’m being held more accountable as far as being a leader even more so than in college. I enjoy being there to support the younger ones and it’s also fun when the younger ones come and support me, too.”

Li had a consistent day of training in the morning session. Highlights included: hop 1.5, immediate straddled Jaeger on uneven bars and a monstrous double layout on floor exercise. A new floor routine matched that dramatic flair her set showed in her Senior season at UCLA. 

Gabrielle Douglas of Chows on how she likes to prepare for a competiton:

“I love to just relax and visualize and go through my routines…arm movements, arm sets. I love to just listen to music and I listen to what they say and I’m like, 'Yeah I can do this, yeah! Get in my zone!'” 

Douglas had an up and down first session of practice in Chicago, faltering on all of her Amanar attempts on vault (five). She mentioned that since a vault gone awry at Pacific Rim, she hasn't fully regained her confidence on the event. However, she displayed solid standing tucked fulls on balance beam, as well as improved control on her 1.5 through to triple full on floor exercise. 

McKayla Maroney of All Olympia Gymnastics Center on is she's chucked more than a Yurchenko 2.5:

“I’ve done triple onto a mat in the pit. This year I want to focus on the vault that I wont a gold medal with. But sometime in the future I would love to do a [Yurchenko] triple full! That would be awesome.”

Maroney only showed timers on vault today at practice. However, she displayed a crisp Weiler-half on uneven bars and extremely secure tucked and piked front saltos on balance beam. The 3.5 twist we caught from her was unsuccessful for today. 

Nastia Liukin of World Olympic Gymnastics Academy on whether or not her mind approaches gymnastics differently since taking a break from competition: 

“I feel like you definitely notice and realize more. You know what to expect and you know what’s to come…and that can either be a good thing or a bad thing.”

Liukin started off her day a bit tentatively on balance beam. Her switch-half gave her trouble, preventing the (probable) planned combination of switch-half, Onodi, sheep jump. However, as more turns were taken, Liukin seemed to settle into her old self. On bars, she displayed some basic sets, followed by a combination of Ono, Lin, Ono-half that she's previously competed. Otherwise, much of her full routines remains a mystery for this meet. 

It's important to note that there is an additional training session this afternoon. The media is not allowed in that session, so many gymnasts coming back or planning to debut new skills might save those sequences for this private session. Inside Gymnastics will be on the scene tomorrow bringing you the action from both the Junior and Senior meets! Make sure you follow us on Twitter @insidegym and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/insidegymnastics. Remember that 2012 marks Inside Gymnastics' 10th Anniversary, as well! Join us in the celebration and subscribe today: www.subscribeig.com 

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