ST. LOUIS — The Olympic selection process is grueling enough for gymnasts — an exhausting five weeks with three competitions where they try to prove to national team coordinator Martha Karolyi that they’re at their peak now.
For Maggie Nichols and Madison Kocian, two gymnasts in contention to make the Rio Olympic team, the added challenge comes in a shortened season as they return from injuries.
Nichols makes her return at the U.S. championships here starting Friday after tearing her meniscus in April, while Kocian is competing for a second time after breaking her tibia in late February.