Simone Biles. Sam Mikulak. Competition for a worlds national team. 

What else could you want?

With 48 women's gymnasts and 78 men's gymnasts competing from August 16-19, the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships brings a ridiculous amount of quality gymnastics to Boston, including world and Olympic champions. Though these championships serve as an important part of the 2018 World Championships team selection process, there are other stories to follow during the meet.

FloGymnastics will be live and on-site at the Championships, so be sure to follow along for all the scoops.

1. The Battle To The Senior Women's All-Around Podium

Simone Biles is back in competition, and she's expected to maintain her dominance and finish atop the all-around podium. But the senior women's field is deep, and quite a few gymnasts can contend for podium finishes in the all-around, such as reigning world champion Morgan Hurd, reigning U.S. champion Ragan Smith, as well as Riley McCusker and Emma Malabuyo. 

At last month's GK Classic, Biles did have a mistake on bars that opened a bit of a doorway in the all-around competition, and if that were to happen again, Hurd, Smith, or McCusker could take advantage of it. However, Biles' difficulty scores are tough to beat. Smith and McCusker don't have much competitive experience this year as both are returning from injuries within the past year. Malabuyo has yet to compete in the all-around domestically but has been a top all-around gymnast in the past few years as a junior. All five gymnasts have yet to compete with each other in the all-around as seniors, so it will make for an interesting senior women's competition.

2. Sam Mikulak's Return To The All-Around

At last year's championships, Sam Mikulak did not compete on all six events, making way for a new U.S. men's senior champion for the first time since 2013. 

Mikulak has returned to competing all-around this year, winning the all-around title at this year's Winter Cup. Will Mikulak be able to top reigning U.S. and American Cup champion Yul Moldauer to win his fifth U.S. national all-around title?

3. A New Junior Women's All-Around Podium

The top three all-around gymnasts at last year's championships are now seniors, so the entire all-around podium is up for grabs this year. Leanne Wong finished fifth at the 2017 championships and just won the GK Classic last month, so she is a strong contender to medal this year but has new competition in reigning American Classic champion Kayla DiCello and breakout star Jordan Bowers, who is the 2018 junior Pan American and Pacific Rim all-around champion. 

4. The Youth Olympic Games Spot

The process of getting an international assignment is typically more complicated than competing in a single meet. However, for the eligible junior men competing at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, they'll know which of them earned the opportunity to represent the U.S. at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in October. 

According to the FIG, male gymnasts competing at the 2018 YOG in Buenos Aires must be 16-17 years old (born in 2001or 2002). Per USA Gymnastics, the following gymnasts are eligible for the YOG assignment:

• Justin Ah Chow of Miami /Universal Gymnastics
• Lazarus Barnhill of Houston/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
• Garrett Braunton of Olympia, Washington/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
• Brandon Briones of Gilbert, Arizona/Aspire Kids Sports Center 
• John Chou of Cypress, Texas/Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
• Vitaliy Guimaraes of Arvada, Colorado/University of Oklahoma
• Bennet Huang of Palo Alto, California/University of Iowa
• Paul Juda of Deerfield, Illinois/Buffalo Grove Gymnastics
• Riley Loos of El Dorado Hills, California/Technique Gymnastics
• Kevin Penev of Penfield, New York/University of Michigan
• Colt Walker of Cedar Park, Texas/AcroTex Gymnastics
• Dylan Young of Burbank, California/Wallers GymJam Academy

5. The GAGE Girls

Several gyms are sending multiple gymnasts to the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, but only a few are sending four or more gymnasts. GAGE is the only gym sending five gymnasts:

• Kara Eaker, Grain Valley, Missouri/GAGE, senior
• Aleah Finnegan, Lee's Summit, Missouri/GAGE, junior
• Alexis Jeffrey, Warrensburg, Missouri/GAGE, junior
• JaFree Scott, Independence, Missouri/GAGE, junior   
• Leanne Wong, Overland Park, Kansas/GAGE, junior  

Eaker is making her senior debut and is known for her beautiful beam work. She made the junior national team last year but has since moved up to the senior ranks and has yet to receive an international assignment. Her strength is definitely beam, but she is a talented all-around gymnast capable of putting up solid scores on all four events.

Finnegan and Jeffrey are both new elites this year and are former J.O. national champions. Finnegan is known as the sister of 2012 Olympic alternate Sarah Finnegan and is following in her older sister's footsteps. Aleah is capable of rather difficult gymnastics, like a double arabian on floor, but she has easier, cleaner routines for her first year as an elite. Aleah has competed in only two meets as an elite so far but has shown much potential. 

Jeffrey qualified to championships at the GK U.S. Classic where she hit four-for-four after a mistake on bars prevented her from earning her qualifying score at the American Classic. She excels on uneven bars, where she combines difficult combos with clean execution.

Scott and Wong were both new junior elites last year and have competed internationally since making the national team. Scott competed only uneven bars at last month's Classic but will look to improve upon her performances from last year's championships to make the national team again. Wong is likely to medal in the all-around and maintain her spot on the national team. 

With both experienced and new gymnasts to the championships, will all five GAGE gymnasts make an impact at this year's championships and make the national team?

Related:

World, Olympic Medalists Highlight U.S. Championships Field