SAN JOSE – At this point, the situation is almost inescapable. With five spots on the U.S. gymnastics team for Rio available, the gymnasts can look around and know who has the best chances of making it.
That reality gets a bit harsher for Ashton Locklear and Madison Kocian, who are likely battling for one spot. Both are strongest on the uneven bars, where they have combined to win the past three U.S. titles on that event.
But with a team and Olympic competition format that favors all-arounders, both won’t be able to go. So that reality – a calculus national team coordinator Martha Karolyi has been doing in her head, as have her gymnasts – bore down on a tearful Locklear after the first night of U.