If Samantha Peszek can’t compete any events in the Women’s Team Final, here’s my pick for the US Team on each event, in order.
- Vault: Sloan, Sacramone, Johnson (in order of highest scoring potential)
- Bars: Sloan, Memmel, Liukin (again, in order of highest scoring potential)
- Beam: Johnson, Liukin, Sacramone (Johnson and Liukin have proven their stability and consistency time and time again on Beam. By putting Sacramone up last, it should take a bit of pressure off of her and boost her scoring potential.)
- Floor: Sacramone, Johnson, Liukin (Liukin is normally the lowest score out of these three athletes - putting her up last, like Sacramone on Beam, would maximize her scoring potential).
If Sam Peszek is back in the mix by Wednesday morning, I would change the vault lineup with Peszek filling in for Bridget Sloan. I would leave the Floor lineup as is because when they both hit, Liukin tends to score a tad higher than Peszek.
What do you think? Who would you put in the lineup if you were head coach Liang Chow?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I think that’s a smart lineup, but not sure I would go with Sloan over Johnson on bars. While I think she has a better routine overall, I don’t think the judges are likely to give her the scores that she deserves. I would enjoy seeing this be a total team effort though. Given Sam’s ankle injury, I would go with…
Vault: Sloan, Sacramone, Johnson
Bars: Memmel, Johnson, Liukin
Beam: Sacramone, Liukin, Johnson
Floor: Liukin, Johnson, Sacramone.
I think going first will be good for Chellsie’s nerves on bars after her fall in prelims. This way she’s not waiting for someone else’s scores. She can do warm ups, and stay focused, and swing cleanly. Alicia successfuly started on beam in world championships 2006 & 2007. Let’s keep it going in 2008. I also like the idea of Alicia being the anchor on floor. I think that’s the kind of challenge she needs to excel.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
What if Sam is ok to compete? How would that change your lineup?
I wish someone would tell us the real story between what her and Chellsie’s injuries are! And if they are bad, why not bring in an alternate, esp for vault!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
of course i feel sorry for Sam, because she earned a spot on the team and really does deserve a full olympic experience, but i feel even more sorry for the alternates (ivana hong, jana bieger, and corrie lothrop)! because Sam’s injury was right before the competition, it was too late to call for an alternate, even for finals (24 hours in advance is required). to be an alternate and see that not one but two of the people that beat you outcan no longer fully participate must have been incredibly difficult, especially for hog and bieger b/c they were probably the closest two to making the team. at least they get a medal, though.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
@ry are you talking about hong/bieger or sam and chellsie? bc alternates rarely get medals, and aren’t considered olympians by the IOC
May 12th, 2012 at 2:54 am
sam han quoc…
[...]perfect 10 » If Sam Peszek is out…[...]…