Warm up for Pan Ams - Part 4 - Individuals

There are the teams, but apart from countries hoping to challenge for team medals at Pan Americans, there are those teams that will be counting to make a splash in the individual level. And some of them are quite great.

Jessica Gil from Colombia had a scary accident in 2009 Worlds but despite this freakish mishap she is an entertaining floor worker. She shows great personality and has some good tumbling. I am hoping for a smooth, and clean, showing by this great Colombian gymnast. She might attempt two vaults and try a place in the vault final. If she can go really clean, she will have a chance. Good luck to her.

Nathalia Sanchez is also from Colombia, she is a good, solid veteran gymnast that is hoping to have a good run at Pan Ams. She does not have great difficulty, but with hit routines she can do well for herself here. Bars is her best event.

Team Colombia will be hoping for a solid showing as a team, but it will be difficult for them to challenge for the medals if the teams in front of them don't make some substantial mistkes.

Makarena Pinto from Chile is a good all around gymnast, she does not have high difficulty, but particularly on vault she can make a final if she delivers good consistent elements.

If she hits clean landings a floor final might also be within reach to this Chilean, I like her attitude in this event, it has a NCAA feel to it, and she looks like she is having tons of fun.

Yamilet Pena Abreu - This little powerhouse from the Dominican Republic made an impact in the World Championships in Tokyo. She came in with a very big vault, the most difficult being performed under this code by a woman. Originally unveiled by Elena Produnova from Russia, this vault is massive. We always see the men doing this vault, or adding a half twist -- the Dragulescu vault -- however we forget that their vault table is positioned higher so their body starts higher and that already helps, besides the men are usually more powerful in the upper body. This vault is just sooo powerful I have difficulty imagining it. She made it in the Podium training and Qualifications in Tokyo, but missed it completely in the finals. However, I have to give it to her, the girl has serious gut to go for it. The pressure of the final, and the possibility of a spot at the London Olympics might have been too much for this rookie, but here in Guadalajara she has the opportunity of going for another final on her favorite apparatus. I believe she does not need to go for the big vault to qualify. She has a nice 1.5 Yurchenko and with a good second vault she can qualify and maybe go for her big vault in the final. All the best of luck to her!

I believe, like at worlds, the vault final will be the most democratic apparatus with representatives from several countries. There are going to be a lot of challengers for a place in that final and gymnasts need to be clean to guarantee their spot. The bars final on the other hand is not going to be that competitive, giving good bar workers like Sloan and Lopez an advantage. Beam and floor are going to be very even and who hits and STICK THOSE LANDINGS are going to grace the floor on the EF.

The Pan American Games artistic gymnastic competition starts tomorrow with the qualifying/team competition. It is a 6-5-4 format, however since this is also qual. all gymnasts can perform. This is the break down:

Subdivision 1:

Brazil
Cuba
Canada
Mixed group 1 - Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala
Mixed group 3 - Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Costa Rica

Subdivision 2:

USA
Colombia
Mexico
Venezuela
Mixed group 2 - Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Chile


Good luck to everyone!