Worlds Watch: Gymnasts Bring Power & Performance On Floor
Worlds Watch: Gymnasts Bring Power & Performance On Floor
Debuting her triple double internationally, Simone Biles is set to defend her floor title at the 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
The 2019 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships are about to begin, and we're previewing the competition on each women's apparatus. Last, but most definitely not least, is floor, where Simone Biles is setting the bar even higher.
Simone Biles (USA)
Notable skills/passes:
- Triple double
- Biles to stag jump
- Double wolf turn
- Punch front full through to tucked full-in
- Double double
Notable recent results:
- 2019 U.S. Worlds Trials: 1st
- 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships: 1st
- 2019 GK U.S. Classic: 1st
- 2019 Stuttgart World Cup: 1st
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 U.S. Worlds Trials: 14.800
- 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships: 15.100
- 2019 GK U.S. Classic: 15.000
- 2019 Stuttgart World Cup: 14.900
Biles has been pretty untouchable on floor for a while now, but with the triple double, the gap between her and the rest of the field is only widening. It's always been known that her tumbling is powerful and sharp and she is able to land her passes well and with control, but her leaps should be noted as well. They are clean and precise, and the reigning world and Olympic champion looks ready to defend her title.
Ellie Black (CAN)
Notable skills/passes:
- Straddle jump 1/1
- Punch front full through to triple twist
- 2.5 through to double pike
- Front double twist
Notable recent results:
- 2019 Canadian Championships: 1st
- 2019 Tokyo World Cup: 3rd
- 2019 Elite Canada: 3rd
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 Pan American Games: 13.550 (qualifications)
- 2019 Canadian Championships: 14.150 (AA), 13.966 (qualifications)
- 2019 Elite Canada: 13.566 (EF)
The Canadian superstar has great power on floor that allows her to produce some big tumbling, like a triple twist in combination and a front double twist. She doesn't have a double double like many other top floor workers, but she's still able to be competitive with the difficulty she has. Her leaps could use a bit of work and are sometimes shy of 180 degrees, and she doesn't have the best twisting form, but she can compete a good routine overall.
Jade Carey (USA)
Notable skills/passes:
- Moors
- Double L turn
- Full-twisting double layout
- Double double
- Punch front tuck through to double tuck
Notable recent results:
- 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships: 2nd
- 2019 GK U.S. Classic: 2nd
- 2019 Doha World Cup: 1st
- 2019 Baku World Cup: 1st
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships: 14.100, 14.300
- 2019 GK U.S. Classic: 14.250
- 2019 Doha World Cup: 14.466 (EF), 14.00 (qualifications)
- 2019 Baku World Cup: 14.600 (EF)
Carey's known to be a power gymnast, and she's certainly proven herself to be one of the top tumblers in the sport of artistic gymnastics. One of the few gymnasts who's successfully competed the Moors, Carey has big tumbling and good difficulty. Although she doesn't have the same amplitude as Biles and her leaps could also use some work, if Carey simply hits her routine without any major error, making the floor final should be no problem.
Melanie de Jesus dos Santos (FRA)
Notable recent skills/passes:
- Full-twisting double layout
- Tucked full-in
- Double wolf turn
- Front layout through to double tuck
Notable recent results:
- 2019 French Championships: 1st
- 2019 European Championships: 1st
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 3rd
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 French Championships: 13.966 (EF), 13.850 (AA)
- 2019 European Championships: 13.833 (EF), 13.600 (AA)
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 13.700 (TF)
The reigning European floor champion doesn't have the biggest tumbling, but she still has some good difficulty in her routine with a full-twisting double layout and a tucked full-in. De Jesus dos Santos' tucked full-in in particular is nice and open, and she's able to land it very nicely and with good control. In addition, her performance quality on the event is good, helping her floor routine feel complete.
Angelina Melnikova (RUS)
Notable skills/passes:
- Double L turn to double turn
- Double layout
- Front tuck through to double twist
- Double wolf turn
- Double Y turn
- Double pike
Notable recent results:
- 2019 European Championships: 3rd
- 2019 Russian Championships: 1st
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 Russian Cup: 13.600
- 2019 European Championships: 13.466 (EF), 13.566 (AA), 13.533 (qualifications)
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 14.066 (TF)
- 2019 Russian Championships: 13.600 (EF)
Melnikova has risen to be one of Russia's top gymnasts in recent years and is the reigning European Championships bronze medalist on floor. She may not have a double double or a full-in, but her routine is competitive enough to contend at major competitions. Her double layout and double pike are good, and she has a few turns that help increase her difficulty, including a double wolf turn and a double Y turn.
Brooklyn Moors (CAN)
Notable skills/passes:
- Tucked double front 1/2 to stag jump
- Front double to punch front full
- Double attitude turn
- 2.5 to front tuck
Notable recent results:
- 2019 Pan American Games: 1st
- 2019 Canadian Championships: 2nd
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 Pan American Games: 13.900 (EF), 13.500 (qualifications)
- 2019 Canadian Championships: 13.966 (qualifications)
The reigning Pan American Games floor champion is powerful, but what makes her stand out on floor isn't power but performance. Her choreography and ease of movement combined with her expressions while performing truly put on a show that isn't seen in many routines. But her skills are rather unique as well, as she opens with a front double tuck 1/2 and does a double attitude turn.
Flavia Saraiva (BRA)
Notable skills/passes:
- Double layout
- Tucked full-in
- 1.5 to punch front full
- Double pike
Notable recent results:
- 2019 Pan American Games: 3rd
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 1st
Notable recent results:
- 2019 Pan American Games: 13.766
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 13.666 (TF), 13.650 (AA)
Saraiva may be small in stature, but she can produce some big tumbling. The Pan American Games bronze medalist has a nice double layout and a solid tucked full-in. In addition, her routine has good performance quality, and her twisting form is pretty good. It's not the most difficult routine, but Saraiva has a routine she's been pretty consistent with and can hit, which could be enough to get her into the floor final.
Eythora Thorsdottir (NED)
Notable skills/passes:
- Triple turn
- Triple twist to front tuck
- Double tuck
- Double L turn to double turn
- Double Y turn to illusion turn
- 2.5 to front pike
Notable recent results:
- 2019 European Championships: 2nd
- 2019 Austrian Team Open: 1st
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 European Championships: 13.666 (EF), 13.400 (AA), 13.300 (qualifications)
- 2019 DTB Team Challenge: 13.400 (TF)
Another gymnast whose performance quality on floor steals the show, Thorsdottir has a unique routine that takes advantage of her ability to turn. With five different turns and two turn combos, her turns are as much the star of her floor routine as the tumbling. In addition to some solid difficulty in tumbling, the Dutch gymnast is able to score quite well without very difficult passes.
Lieke Wevers (NED)
Notable skills/passes:
- Double L turn to double turn
- Double tuck
- 2.5 twist
- Triple turn to hop full
- Front layout full
Notable recent results:
- 2019 Heerenveen Friendly: 1st
- 2019 Dutch Championships: 1st
Notable recent scores:
- 2019 Heerenveen Friendly: 13.500
- 2019 Dutch Championships: 13.433 (EF)
Wevers has a similar floor style to her teammate, Thorsdottir, but has less difficulty in tumbling. Her passes are easier and simpler than Thorsdottir's, but what she does she does pretty well. Her turns are great, and she has nice leaps as well. Overall, Wevers has a beautiful routine that highlights her long lines and plays to her strengths, showing that floor doesn't have to be all about powerful tumbling.