2024 US Classics Results and Analysis

All-Around

Average Score : 51.52

Highest Score : 59.50 from Simone Biles

Lowest Score : 46.60

Score for Top 25%: >52.76

The all-around scores reveal Simone Biles as a clear outlier with a 59.50 compared to the rest of the pack (Diamond on far right of Figure 2 below). From this competition it seems she is back to the massive amounts of difficulty that she revealed during the last olympic cycle. Shilese Jones also looks olympic quality ready with her 57.65 All-Around score, but hasn't established herself as an outlier from the pack as Simone Biles. Jordan Chiles places third with a 55.45 but she will still need to seal her spot on the team since there are other gymnasts performing better on an event by event basis that may be more useful for the team. One of these gymnasts is Jade Carey, the 4th place gymnast, with a 54.40.

Event Scores

Vault

Average: 13.24

Highest: 15.6 from Simone Biles

Lowest: 11.6

Score for Top 25%: >13.7

The Vault scores above are calculated based on all gymnasts first vault. In order to medal at the olympics gymnasts need to perform two vaults each from a different family within the rules. Only 5 gymnasts performed two vaults at this competition: Jade Carey, Skye Blakely, Leanne Wong, Joscelyn Roberson, and Annalisa Milton placing within that order. However when looking at vault scores useful for a team event competition, Simone Biles and Shilese Jones outscored Jade Carey with a 15.60, 14.35, and 14.3 respectively. It is likely Simone will add back a second vault to put her in a position for a chance at a vault medal. When looking at a team these three look likely to be our 3-up-3-count athletes for a team finals competition. This also provides two US gymnasts capable of making a vault final at the 2024 Olympics.

Uneven Bars

Average: 12.69

Highest: 15.25 from Shilese Jones

Lowest: 9.45

Score for Top 25%: >13.55

For uneven bars Shilese Jones, Simone Biles, and Trinity Thomas tied with Jordan Chiles make up the top three with a 15.25, 14.55, and 14.30. Notably, Katelyn Jong broke 14 as well on bars with a 14.05 which isn't a name brought into the mix frequently when talking about an Olympic team, but she is definitely starting to say 'Hey! Notice me.' with a score like that. There are no high scoring outliers observed within the bars scores from US Classic so while Shilese Jones' Score is number 1 the pack isn't too far behind. There are a few low scoring outliers including 2008 Olympic All-Around Champion, Gabby Douglas, who unfortunately had multiple falls on her bar routine at US Classic and has since announced she will not be continuing her quest 2024 Olympics. After her bar routine she proceeded to scratch the rest of the competition. Very disappointing for fans as they would love to see any gymnastics she could do, but ultimately a decision she needed to make for herself whether mental or physical limitations.

Balance Beam

Average: 12.55

Highest: 14.6 from Sunisa Lee

Lowest: 10.05

Score for Top 25%: >13.25

Balance beam was an exciting event at this classics since we saw Konnor McClain make her comeback to elite gymnastics after attending and competing for LSU this past year. She scored a massive 14.20 for 3rd place without an elite caliber dismount. Unforunately this high was followed by an immediate low when Konnor McClain suffered an Achilles injury on floor and scratched the rest of the competition leaving beam the only event the fans witnessed before her journey to the Olympics yet again comes to an end due to the injury sustained. Winning beam was former 2021 Olympic All-Around Champion, Sunisa Lee, with a 14.60. She debuted a harder dismount, a gainer tucked with 1.5 twists at this competition, but she is still capable of even more difficulty. Second place was Simone Biles with only 1/2 a tenth lower score than Suni with a 14.55. The routine was a little shaky for Simone, but successfully remained on the beam and got through it. Shilese Jones also broke above 14 with a 14.05 to come up in 4th place.

Floor Exercise

Average: 12.89

Highest: 14.8 from Simone Biles

Lowest: 11.3

Score for Top 25%: >13.25

Simone Biles is yet again a clear outlier from every one else on floor with a massive 14.80 after re-debuting the infamous triple twisting double back. After Simone Biles the next highest score is almost 1 point lower at 14.00 for both Shilese Jones and Kaliya Lincoln tied for second. They are followed closely by Tiana Sumanasekera at 4th with a 13.90 and Jade Carey at 5th with a 13.80. Kaliya definitely has a superb floor set with sky high tumbling, but I don't think she has quite made a case for an international birth at the Olympics, since her other events are placing around 12th on vault, 20th on bars, but you never know.