I don't think it was a choke job. This will get me in trouble with those who are women's gymnastics fans like l am, but l think it was a result of a big coaching mistake by coach Kindler.
Two months ago l wondered on here about the strategy of have four girls doing all around the whole season. In the past, when we got to Nationals, we were peaking. This year, we were just worn down enough that the combination of pressure, the elevated platform and the long season of our best doing every event every week, some weekends twice, was just too much.
This year, when everyone else was peaking, we were just hanging on. I believe Maggie Nichols was OUr best gymnast ever. But even she had regular season weeks when she took a rotation off. Maybe more than one.
There was some evidence that something like this might happen. We maintained this incredible scoring run, while having a fall. But we always got to drop it. But by the post season, it was too late for anyone to take a rest. A lot of commentators talk about the grind. This year we had our best team ever, but peaked a month ago.
K.J. is the best coach in America, by more than a little. But l believe this season she had a high level miscalculation.