The FIG has released the nominative rosters every nation submitted for this month’s (!) world championships, so now it’s time for us to tear them to pieces. Not really. But also kind of.

Who’s on these nominative rosters? Who should be on the final team? Who actually is on the final team? What expectations should you have for those teams at worlds? I’ve got you covered.

For the nominative rosters, nations were able to submit six names (five team members and an alternate). In most cases, the person listed last on the nominative roster of six is the intended alternate, which I have noted in parentheses. But, these are only nominative rosters, so don’t freak. These things will change, and in some cases they really need to.

I have also included a peak scoring chart for each team using the same principles from the National Team Rankings (but occasionally reaching back further in time to get scores if necessary).

---

United States

Nominative: Simone Biles, Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker, Grace McCallum, Kara Eaker (Shilese Jones)

Having already dispensed with the Jade Carey drama, let’s move on to what the actual, real-life US team could and should look like in Doha.

The gymnast benefiting the most from Carey’s self-removal is Grace McCallum. Without Carey, the US is left looking for a team final-worthy vault and floor score to supplement the main three. McCallum’s 14.000 on floor from Pan Ams and her perfectly acceptable DTY seem to set her up as the likely choice to fill that role. It’s not a given—others can get bigger vault scores and what happens on floor at the selection camp will be vital, but for right now, McCallum seems like the front runner, as is reflected in the nominative roster.

Kara Eaker’s abilities on beam have also kept her in the forefront of the conversation—this McCallum-Eaker team is probably also what I would select based on what we’ve seen so far. The complication: Biles, McCusker, and Hurd are all quite good on beam, so bringing an extra beam score from Eaker may not be viewed as the most pressing addition to the team, especially because she’s much more likely to go lower-mid-14s than into the 15s the way she did at that one elite qualifier. Eaker needs to be more than a tenth or two ahead of Hurd’s beam score at the selection camp to keep this spot.

Meanwhile, a vault lineup of Hurd, McCallum, Biles would score well, but isn’t a fully OMGWHAAAA vaulting team the way we’ve come to expect from the US. That’s why we’ll still have to keep on eye on whether Jordan Chiles is busting out her Amanar consistently (or even if Shilese Jones’ DTY proves a multi-tenth improvement over the others, that could be significant). If Chiles has that Amanar, I’d take that over a beam routine.

There’s also the Ragan Smith wildcard. If she got foot-replacement surgery since nationals, she’s capable of changing presumed lineups on beam and floor, which could upset both the McCallum and Eaker spots. Still, exactly nothing can be assumed in that regard right now.

UNITED STATES – 176.917
Simone Biles	15.600	14.850	15.200	14.750
Morgan Hurd	14.650	14.700	14.100	13.850
Grace McCallum	14.667	14.533	14.300	14.000
Riley McCusker	14.350	15.000	14.550	13.600
Kara Eaker	13.700	13.550	15.100	13.767
176.917	44.917	44.550	44.850	42.600

---

China

Semi-official: Du Siyu, Zhang Jin, Chen Yile, Liu Jinru, Liu Tingting (Luo Huan)

If China intends to bring Du Siyu to worlds over Luo Huan (both appear on the nominative, but Luo is listed last), I would count that as a mild surprise because Du hasn’t really been in the main group lately. Both gymnasts are capable of gigantic scores on bars, of course, but Du’s new advantage may be her difficulty. She added a Downie to the beginning of her routine to bring her D up to 6.4 at Chinese Individuals, which now compares quite favorably to Luo’s 6.0 from Asian Games.

Luo, however, has still recorded better overall scores this year than Du because of execution. Luo’s other argument is beam, where she can score quite well even if it’s a little scary. We’ll see if that comes into the decision at all. If China feels really good about Chen Yile, Liu Tingting, and Zhang Jin on beam, the team may not need to bring someone else with a beam score.

So, too many bars workers. #ChinaProblems

The rest of the team seems locked and necessary. China has very limited options for floor and needs all three of Liu Jinru, Chen Yile, and Zhang Jin to compete there as well as on vault. Liu Tingting has been starring on bars and beam for great scores since coming back, and that makes for a clear four team members

Neither Liu Jinru nor Zhang Jin bring a TF bars score, which is why the fifth member the team must guarantee a huge bars score and (perhaps) provide backup options on other events. It’s a risky team because China cannot afford any kind of injury to one of its VT/FX workers, but there isn’t really a safer option for selection. With such limited floor routine numbers, they have to go for risky.

CHINA – 170.733
Chen Yile	13.800	14.400	15.000	13.400
Du Siyu	13.300	14.400	13.400	12.750
Zhang Jin	14.550	12.450	14.500	13.300
Liu Tingting	13.650	14.850	14.600	0.000
Liu Jinru	14.400	12.150	10.350	13.533
170.733	42.750	43.650	44.100	40.233

---

Russia

Nominative: Irina Alexeeva, Lilia Akhaimova, Angelina Melnikova, Angelina Simakova, Aliya Mustafina (Daria Spiridonova)

I mean, it’s Russia, so we barely ever know what’s going on, but this team seems likely. It’s basically the same squad that performed so successfully in the Euros team final, except with Mustafina in place of Perebinosova. Mustafina, of course, can deliver her big bars score and hopefully will have a beam routine that the team can use—as long as she has decided to deign to succumb to the concept of an acro series.

It tells you everything you need to know about Russian beam that even with Mustafina’s acro series travails, I still trust her more than any other Russian on beam. Mustafina is always an upgrade (for us as a public, if nothing else), so this team seems like a solid call to me. In general.

Russia will miss the bars score from, say, Ilyankova. Or, say, Komova. Irina Alexeeva is good on bars and will keep Russia among the best-scoring teams there, but it’s not the same. Also, Spiridonova is the alternate? Valentina things? I didn’t even know that was still an option. Spiridonova has not been among the top scorers this year and hasn’t hit 14 on bars since 2017.

Like the Euros team, this group is loading up on vault and floor with its best possible roster on those events, bringing a good bars lineup but not the very best the nation has to offer, and then…beam is beam.

This beam team is scary, but no beam team Russia could come up with would be any less scary. I don’t absolutely hate this team, is what I’m trying to tell you, even if I also maintain that Komova was unnecessarily shunned from a squad she could absolutely have helped on bars and beam.

RUSSIA – 170.630
Irina Alexeeva	13.800	14.233	13.400	13.766
Angelina Melnikova	14.633	14.666	14.033	14.500
Aliya Mustafina	14.266	14.566	13.433	13.233
Angelina Simakova	14.833	14.000	13.366	13.933
Lilia Akahimova	14.500	12.866	12.100	13.900
170.630	43.966	43.465	40.866	42.333

---

France

Official: Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos, Marine Boyer, Louise Vanhille, Lorette Charpy, Juliette Bossu

France does not enjoy the same luxury of depth among its first-tier elite ranks that the other top countries do, which means that…the team is the team. There aren’t a lot of decisions to make, and when Coline Devillard went down with injury, the obvious choice to replace her was Louise Vanhille. Vanhille doesn’t have a clear event where she massively improves the TF score, but neither does anyone else, and Vanhille has useful backup 13.0s on multiple pieces.

The successful European Championship from the French created some buzz about a potential upset here to win a team medal. Without Devillard’s vaulting, that’s probably too much to ask against the big three, but do keep France in mind as a favorite to make the team final and a potential spoiler should things go just right.

FRANCE – 168.449
M De Jesus Dos Santos	14.666	14.500	13.600	14.200
Lorette Charpy	13.800	14.133	13.850	13.550
Marine Boyer	13.900	13.000	14.250	13.300
Juliette Bossu	0.000	14.600	0.000	0.000
Louise Vanhille	13.900	13.600	13.350	13.150
168.449	42.466	43.233	41.700	41.050

---

Brazil

Nominative: Lorrane Oliveira, Flavia Saraiva, Jade Barbosa, Rebeca Andrade, Thais Fidelis (Daniele Hypolito)

The main decision Brazil will have to make is whether to go with Lorrane Oliveira for her bars routine or Daniele Hypolito for her beam and floor.

Saraiva and Barbosa will contribute 3-4 events as needed to lead the team. Andrade is essential for vault and bars. Even Andrade’s comeback Yfull was a top-3 vault score for Brazil, and we know she’s capable of a lot more. Plus, she has the lone legitimate 13.9 on bars on the team. Fidelis is critical for floor, and you really want her on beam if the consistency is there. Overall, that’s an excellent group of four.

With those four, the question left to grapple with is—which routine are you most afraid of, Barbosa on beam, Fidelis on beam, or Saraiva on bars? If you’re afraid of bars (and I am), you want Oliveira as an option there, allowing Saraiva to take a break from her nemesis in TF. If you’re afraid of beam (and I am, but I’m afraid of everyone’s beam), you might want Hypolito as an option there. That’s the argument in Hypolito’s favor, but…does she actually bring anything that Saraiva, Barbosa, and Fidelis aren’t already covering?

Either way, this is a very good Brazilian team that I like to qualify to the team final.

BRAZIL – 168.049
Thais Fidelis	13.850	13.000	13.850	13.750
Flavia Saraiva	14.467	13.950	14.667	14.233
Rebeca Andrade	14.033	13.933	0.000	0.000
Jade Barbosa	14.333	13.850	13.600	13.333
Lorrane Oliveira	13.367	13.900	12.950	12.867
168.049	42.833	41.783	42.117	41.316

---

Japan

Semi-official: Nagi Kajita, Aiko Sugihara, Asuka Teramoto, Mai Murakami, Hitomi Hatakeda (Yuki Uchiyama)

Japan announced its worlds team 700 years early, as usual, but the withdrawal of Sae Miyakawa has disrupted things. Japan doesn’t have an obvious replacement for Miyakawa’s scores on vault and floor, and the next-best options for those events (Hatakeda on vault, Sugihara on floor) were already on the team anyway. It’s one of those situations where the team is mostly set with Murakami, Teramoto, Sugihara, and Hatakeda, and those four could very well cover everything in the team final.

For that fifth spot, it looks like the original alternate Nagi Kajita slots into the team and Yuki Uchiyama becomes the new alternate. The most likely event either would contribute is bars. Kajita has a Nabieva, and Uchiyama has gone 14 on bars this year but is inconsistent. So, we could see an additional bars routine from the fifth spot, but it’s not an obvious upgrade.

Where I’m really worried about the main four is beam, but I wouldn’t put Kagita or Uchiyama on beam in a team final over a Sugihara/Murakami/Teramoto lineup. Where is Natsumi Sasada when you need her? That’s my question.

JAPAN – 168.012
Asuka Teramoto	14.650	13.933	13.466	13.633
Mai Murakami	14.800	13.866	13.700	14.766
Hitomi Hatakeda	14.266	13.966	13.100	13.400
Aiko Sugihara	14.100	13.500	13.233	13.733
Nagi Kajita	14.100	13.566	12.900	13.266
168.012	43.716	41.765	40.399	42.132

I’ve spent much of the year discussing how this could be Japan’s time to supplant China and win a team medal. This could still happen—there’s so much good on this team—but the absence of Miyakawa’s vault takes the expectations for Japan’s scoring down a notch.

---

Canada

Official: Ellie Black, Brooklyn Moors, Shallon Olsen, Ana Padurariu, Laurie Denommée

So…we need to talk about this. The surprise on Canada’s worlds team is the inclusion of Laurie Denommée, who would have been considered a dark horse at best to make the team coming into 2018. The decision is most surprising to me because Denommée’s best event by far is floor, an apparatus on which this Canadian team should already feel more than comfortable because of Black, Moors, and Olsen. Floor isn’t really where Canada needs a boost.

But…what was a Canada to do? Presumed favorite for the team Isabela Onyshko has been struggling quite a bit lately and got outperformed on every event, even bars and beam, by Denommée at Szombathely a couple weeks ago. If you’re going by results, Denommée earned this spot and no one else did. Denommée is also healthy and brings possible routines on all four events. With the injuries and absences and “I’m not doing all the events yet” going around, that’s significant.

On the other hand…bars. Given this five, one of Olsen, Moors, or Denommée is going to have to provide a countable bars routine. Olsen is never called upon to do bars because it’s her weak event, Denommée has a sub-5 D score and has put up 9s and 10s at times this year, and while Moors has a ton of talent on bars, she always scores 11. I’m terrified about bars. I also think this team could have used another vault to go with Olsen and Black, but mostly bars.

The problem is that Onyshko could have been that third bars routine, but she hasn’t been hitting, and including both Onyshko and Padurariu on the same team would be risky for the leg events. Beyond Onyshko, there really isn’t another choice for bars, unless you suddenly want to bring Jessica Dowling to worlds, which I would totally support by the way.

I don’t see an obvious snub. Basically, this was the year of all years where Canada really, really needed Brittany Rogers to fill those vault and bars gaps. Because of course it was.

This is still a TF-capable squad, but things have to go right. The margin to eat a bars disaster is nonexistent.

CANADA – 167.332
Ellie Black	14.400	14.400	14.033	13.833
Shallon Olsen	14.800	12.700	12.333	13.800
Laurie Denommée	13.900	12.700	12.633	13.500
Brooklyn Moors	14.100	11.933	13.400	14.033
Ana Padurariu	0.000	13.966	13.867	0.000
167.332	43.300	41.066	41.300	41.666

---

Germany

Official: Kim Bui, Elisabeth Seitz, Leah Grießer, Sarah Voss, Sophie Scheder (Carina Kröll)

Paulina Schäfer has withdrawn from the worlds team because she’s currently not able to do her best events. As such, it makes more sense to bring Grießer, who can potentially deliver something close to a 13 on beam and floor.

With Grießer having to replace Schäfer, and with Seitz and Scheder also jusssstt coming back from injury, I have a ton of questions about whether this team will be able to perform at full strength at worlds. And just a ton of questions about beam. Euros is too fresh in the mind.

GERMANY – 165.049
Kim Bui	13.850	14.500	12.750	13.200
Sophie Scheder	13.450	14.500	12.350	12.566
Leah Grießer	12.966	13.350	13.150	13.300
Sarah Voss	14.433	12.750	13.800	12.600
Elisabeth Seitz	13.900	14.666	11.500	13.000
165.049	42.183	43.666	39.700	39.500

---

Great Britain

Official: Ellie Downie, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Kelly Simm, Alice Kinsella, Becky Downie

It wouldn’t be a British team if we weren’t left going, “But wha…I’m not…does…?” This year, most questions surround the status of Ellie Downie because we’ve seen her on only bars and beam so far in her return from injury.

If you look at the scores below, this team is absolutely stacked on bars—as we would expect—and is among the deeper beam squads GB has taken to a major event in a while. I’m not saying beam will be relaxing, but there are more than the usual 1.25 options.

Vault and floor, on the other hand, are worrying. With this group of five, Ellie will need to add back vault and floor for GB to have a great shot at making the team final because you don’t want Fenton having to count on vault and you want the boost of Ellie’s tumbling on floor. The status of those routines remains a mystery for now but will ultimately tell us a lot about whether this team makes sense or not.

Comeback status question marks are why I don’t really begrudge the inclusion of foundational all-around gymnast Kelly Simm  (over someone like Lucy Stanhope who can deliver a bigger number on vault but doesn’t have the other scores) because Simm covers the bases and can provide a usable score on any and all events at any moment, rather than someone who’s just covering a single event and would leave the team at sea if there’s an injury.

GREAT BRITAIN – 164.682
Becky Downie	0.000	14.600	12.500	0.000
Ellie Downie	0.000	14.000	13.300	0.000
Kelly Simm	14.100	14.066	13.050	12.933
Georgia-Mae Fenton	13.550	14.600	13.150	13.200
Alice Kinsella	14.333	13.400	13.700	13.150
164.682	41.983	43.266	40.150	39.283

---

Hungary

Nominative: Nora Feher, Zsofia Kovacs, Dorina Böczögo, Boglarka Devai, Noemi Makra (Dalia Al-Salty)

The important lesson we learned at Euros was not to count out Hungary, even when Zsofia Kovacs is injured. Well, now Zsofia Kovacs is healthy again, so expectations should be even higher. Challenging the likes of typical European powers like Germany might be a step too far (unless we have another Euros), but I easily expect this Hungarian squad to best 2015’s 18th-place finish, the strongest recent showing for the Hungarian women as a team.

Dalia Al-Salty has replaced Sara Peter as the alternate on the latest roster update, which pretty much answers any questions we might have had about where Peter was a higher-scoring choice for the team. Looks like she’s out.

HUNGARY – 163.250
Zsofia Kovacs	13.800	13.900	13.900	13.000
Noemi Makra	13.200	13.600	12.200	12.800
Dorina Böczögo	13.600	13.400	13.200	13.300
Boglarka Devai	14.800	10.300	11.700	11.500
Nora Feher	12.850	13.750	13.600	12.650
163.250	42.200	41.250	40.700	39.100

---

Australia

Nominative: Emily Whitehead, Rianna Mizzen, Georgia-Rose Brown, Alexandra Eade, Kiara Munteanu (Talia Folino)

The absence of Georgia Godwin hurts. She has clearly emerged as Australia’s strongest gymnast in the last year or so, and you worry about the team’s 3-routine competitiveness without her. Whitehead and Eade were the only ones who scored higher than 12.750 on floor on either day of Australian Classic, and Brown was the only one named in the nominative roster who scored higher than 12.675 on beam. There must be another competitive routine on those events if Australia is to get back to challenging the perennial TF favorites, of which it used to be one.

Kiara Munteanu’s was the surprise inclusion on the nominative roster to me. She finished 7th AA at Australian Classic and was stuck in the low 12s on bars, beam, and floor. Absent on this list in Emma Nedov, newly returned from injury, who could boost what looks like a stress-worthy beam lineup. It’s just a nominative list, so we may see some changes. Including Folino in the main five may be another option to boost vault, though she did not compete at Australian Classic.

AUSTRALIA – 162.883
Emily Whitehead	14.350	13.650	13.100	13.250
Georgia-Rose Brown	13.775	14.000	13.300	13.100
Alexandra Eade	13.775	0.000	12.400	13.333
Kiara Munteanu	13.625	13.100	12.025	13.200
Rianna Mizzen	13.950	14.300	12.675	12.775
166.500	42.075	41.900	39.075	39.783

---

Netherlands

Semi-official: Vera Van Pol, Naomi Visser, Tisha Volleman, Kirsten Polderman, Sanne Wevers (Sanna Veerman)

The Netherlands has some replacing to do because both Celine van Gerner and Eythora Thorsdottir will be unavailable for worlds. That’s why, despite the Netherlands’ strong bronze-medal team performance at Euros, I’m not quite sold on TF prospects in Doha. There are still strong routines on this team: Wevers will have beam medal hopes of course, and Volleman and Van Pol can lead the way to a solid overall score, but expectations will be muted because of NED’s having to use a few replacement routines with which we’re just not all that familiar.

Polderman and Veerman both appear on the nominative roster, and I would favor Veerman because scores-wise, she has shown the higher potential over the last couple years and has a very believable bars routine that earned her silver behind Van Gerner at Dutch nationals. At the same time, Visser is the one who competed at Euros on vault and is probably most likely to be called upon to replace the routines Van Gerner would have provided, rather than one of the new members.

NETHERLANDS – 162.715
Kirsten Polderman	13.233	10.767	12.067	11.033
Sanne Wevers	0.000	13.733	14.750	0.000
Tisha Volleman	14.266	12.800	13.100	13.267
Naomi Visser	13.766	14.000	12.600	12.800
Vera van Pol	14.067	13.400	12.666	12.900
162.715	42.099	41.133	40.516	38.967

It’s interesting that Elisabeth Geurts never seems to be considered for competitions outside the Netherlands, as I’d want her possible vault score in the 14s.

---

Belgium

Official: Senna Deriks, Nina Derwael, Axelle Klinckaert, Maellyse Brassart, Rune Hermans (Julie Meyers)

Belgium’s team is Belgium’s team. If everyone is healthy and Hermans is back, this is the clear five. Occasionally, it’s the only five.

Belgium did exceptionally well at Euros to qualify third, ahead of both Great Britain and the Netherlands, even without Hermans. Ideally, Hermans adds multiple tenths to the team’s scoring potential on most events, particularly with what can be a high 13 on bars and another 13 on floor to help out Klinckaert. So if she’s back to competing, expectations for Belgium’s performance should be even higher at worlds than they were at Euros.

Thing still have to go just right, like Brassart getting a 13 on beam again, and other nations not running up the totals on vault to make Belgium’s fulls non-competitive, but this Belgian team is good and should have high expectations.

BELGIUM – 161.665
Axelle Klinckaert	13.850	13.300	12.333	13.400
Nina Derwael	13.650	15.350	13.600	12.866
Maellyse Brassart	13.700	13.000	13.066	12.633
Rune Hermans	0.000	13.450	12.800	0.000
Senna Deriks	13.350	13.050	11.350	11.900
161.665	41.200	42.100	39.466	38.899

---

Mexico

Official: Frida Esparza, Alexa Moreno, Nicolle Castro, Victoria Mata, Paulina Campos

I would recommend tempering expectations for Mexico because some of the scores noted below don’t look super worlds-realistic to me, but this is a surging Mexican side, probably the deepest group they’ve had post-Elsa Garcia. It’s a team that can expect to make the top 24 and advance to next year—even without a star like Ahtziri Sandoval.

MEXICO – 161.400
Paulina Campos	13.650	13.300	12.400	12.700
Victoria Mata	13.450	11.733	11.300	12.750
Alexa Moreno	14.467	12.867	12.900	13.200
Frida Esparza	13.933	13.900	13.567	13.333
Nicolle Castro	13.450	14.000	11.450	11.850
161.400	42.050	41.200	38.867	39.283

Italy

Nominative: Lara Mori, Martina Rizzelli, Sara Ricciardi, Caterina Cereghetti, Irene Lanza (Elisa Meneghini)

If you’re worried about Italy right now, correct.

Pretty much all of the best senior options are out with injury, the latest being Francesca Linari—who originally appeared on the nominative roster. There just aren’t many healthy, internationally competitive gymnasts to choose from right now despite Italy’s relatively hearty depth. Without Maggio, Basile, Carofiglio, Grisetti, and Busato, it’s tough to come up with a team.

The presence of Lara Mori is restorative. She could make the floor final again this year if things go well, but based on recent performances, expectations will be fairly low for this Italian team as a whole. I’d say finishing in the top 12 would count as a very solid result, and team final expectations probably have to wait until the glory of the 2019ers.

On the latest update to the nominative roster, Irene Lanza has replaced the injured Linari, with Meneghini still listed last in the alternate-ish position. We’ll see. Lanza hasn’t been close to teams for Italy in the past, but she has thrown up some useful bars numbers in Serie A, and those scores would currently be countable on every piece in the chart below. I’d still think you prefer Meneghini for floor, but only if she’s hitting floor.

(Scores from 2017 have been added for Rizzelli to provide a complete picture)

ITALY – 161.100
Sara Ricciardi	14.150	13.100	13.000	13.150
Caterina Cereghetti	13.600	13.100	12.500	12.500
Irene Lanza	13.950	13.600	12.800	12.700
Martina Rizzelli	13.600	13.500	0.000	0.000
Lara Mori	13.600	13.250	13.800	13.600
161.100	41.700	40.350	39.600	39.450

---

North Korea

Nominative: Jon Jang Mi, Kim Su Jong, Pyon Rye Yong, Ri Su Ryon, Kim Won Yong

As became apparent at the Asian Games, this North Korean team is quite good and is about one routine per event away from being truly exceptional.

The North Koreans probably don’t have the depth to make a huge push in the team standings this year, but qualifying in the top-24 and advancing to 2019 really should happen if they perform near the level of their Asian Games showing. Kim Su Jong is on track for NK’s best AA showing in more than a decade and certainly has the chops to make the final.

NORTH KOREA – 161.041
Pyon Rye Yong	14.300	0.000	12.750	12.450
Kim Su Jong	14.300	13.500	13.400	13.025
Ri Su Ryon	0.000	0.000	11.333	12.766
Jong Jang Mi	13.300	14.200	12.450	11.850
Kim Won Yong	13.500	13.100	13.750	12.400
161.041	42.100	40.800	39.900	38.241

---

Romania

Nominative: Carmen Ghiciuc, Laura Iacob, Nica Ivanus, Denisa Golgota, Maria Holbura

Being without Ocolisan for worlds stunts Romania’s scoring potential on vault quite a bit, but either way, we have to settle into the new normal for Romania, where the conversation is not about making the team final but about making the top 24 and qualifying to 2019. That’s the goal for this event. Getting Golgota into an event final would be bonus.

While things are certainly rough for Romania these days, advancing to 2019 is a more-than-manageable prospect and should happen. This team is certainly talented enough for that, but it can’t be taken for granted. A repeat of those 10s on bars from Euros would put the Romanians in a very precarious position without the depth of DTYs to save the overall score as they’ve had in the past.

ROMANIA – 158.499
Denisa Golgota	14.600	12.600	13.250	13.600
Carmen Ghiciuc	13.450	12.600	13.350	12.800
Laura Iacob	13.666	12.450	13.050	12.300
Maria Holbura	13.000	12.150	12.950	12.733
Nica Ivanus	13.633	10.500	12.800	12.900
158.499	41.899	37.650	39.650	39.300

---

Czech Republic

Nominative: Aneta Holasova, Lucie Jirikova, Dominika Ponilizova, Kristyna Brabcova, Eliska Firtova (Sabina Halova)

The Czech Republic is a borderline case to make the top 24 at worlds this year, but it could happen. It’s very reasonable to see CZE finishing in the lower 20s. That will be the goal for a team that’s much deeper and stronger than it has been in past years but doesn’t have individual threats.

The only possible change from the Euros team looks to be the inclusion of Firtova instead of Halova, but since Halova didn’t end up competing at Euros, it’s not much of a change. Mostly, the Czech Republic has a big four right now, and they’ll do the work.

CZECH REPUBLIC – 158.400
Dominika Ponizilova	14.050	12.650	13.150	12.200
Eliska Firtova	12.650	12.250	12.400	11.750
Kristyna Brabcova	13.100	0.000	13.100	12.950
Lucie Jirikova	13.500	12.500	12.600	12.800
Aneta Holasova	13.950	12.750	13.850	13.150
158.400	41.500	37.900	40.100	38.900

---

Spain

Nominative: Ana Perez, Cintia Rodriguez, Helena Bonilla, Laura Bechdeju, Paula Raya (Andrea Carmona)

For its worlds team, Spain appears to be mostly repeating the squad that successfully reached the team final at Euros, but reserving the possibility of using Laura Bechdeju on floor instead of Andrea Carmona. Beyond Perez and Rodriguez, Spain doesn’t have a raft of options for its third-best floor routine, essentially the lone missing piece on the team, so it’s basically just whoever is looking more mid-12 at the moment.

As for these scoring numbers, to me they understate Spain’s potential right now. Spain shouldn’t be in any danger of missing out on the top 24. I’d expect it to be a pretty comfortable road.

SPAIN – 158.166
Ana Perez	13.700	13.567	13.300	13.050
Paula Raya	13.266	13.000	11.550	12.000
Laura Bechdeju	0.000	0.000	0.000	12.000
Helena Bonilla	13.933	13.100	13.050	12.267
Cintia Rodriguez	13.133	12.900	13.033	12.900
158.166	40.899	39.667	39.383	38.217

---

Ukraine
Nominative: Diana Varinska, Angelina Radivilova, Valeria Osipova, Yana Fedorova, Alona Titarenko (Kateryna Shumeiko)

You’ll notice that many of these teams have a clear four gymnasts, and then the fifth athlete mostly seems like a bonus. That’s an advertisement for the four-member Olympic team format that I don’t appreciate in the slightest.

Ukraine is led by Varinska, will get useful routines from Osipova, Radivilova, and Fedorova, and then will decide if it needs to use Titarenko at all. She did not end up competing routines at Euros in that 5th-place finish that stoked a lot of optimism about Ukraine’s chances to make the top 24 here. Ukraine is definitely in my 24, and Varinska is a borderline but believable contender for an event final.

Other countries certainly have their ridiculous domestic scores, but Ukraine’s are so over the top that I feel like I need to make two charts, one with all scores and one that eliminates those insane scores.

UKRAINE – 166.433
Diana Varinska	13.933	14.650	14.750	14.033
Angelina Radivilova	13.600	12.150	14.467	14.400
Yana Fedorova	13.450	12.725	13.575	13.000
Valeria Osipova	14.025	11.950	13.667	13.650
Alona Titarenko	13.525	12.533	13.567	12.400
166.433	41.558	39.908	42.884	42.083

The one without domestic scores underrates Ukraine relative to other teams (whose domestic scores are still included), but it’s a closer approximation of what can happen at worlds.

UKRAINE – 158.000
Diana Varinska	13.933	14.650	13.700	13.367
Angelina Radivilova	13.600	12.150	12.600	12.500
Yana Fedorova	13.450	12.600	0.000	0.000
Valeria Osipova	14.000	11.950	12.500	12.400
Alona Titarenko	0.000	0.000	11.900	11.250
158.000	41.533	39.400	38.800	38.267

---

South Korea

Nominative: Kim Jury, Yun Narae, Ham Miju, Yeo Seojeong, Lee Eun Ju (Yang Semi)

South Korea’s secret weapon this year is Yeo Seojeong and her vaults. Making the vault final and contending for a medal is a realistic prospect for Yeo and will be one of two significant goals for the South Korean team this year, along with advancing to 2019 worlds as a squad.

Advacing as a team is doable for the South Koreans, another team that these scores might underestimate because they’re not poisoned by ridiculous domestic numbers. Right now, I have KOR in my 24, but it’s close.

SOUTH KOREA – 157.400
Ham Miju	13.700	0.000	0.000	12.500
Kim Jury	13.450	13.550	12.200	12.600
Lee Eunju	0.000	13.250	12.150	0.000
Yeo Seojeong	14.600	12.950	13.400	12.900
Yun Narae	13.600	12.550	12.100	11.850
157.400	41.900	39.750	37.750	38.000

---

Argentina

Nominative: Martina Dominici, Agustina Pisos, Ayelen Tarabini, Mayra Vacquie, Camila Klesa

Argentina is on an upswing this quadrennium thanks to the emergence of Martina Dominici, whose competitive scores on all four events make Argentina a much more threatening team prospect. Argentina’s hopes of making the top 24 will rest on her and veteran Tarabini showing up with high 12s. If they’re on, I like Argentina for the top 24, which would be a major improvement over recent quads, when Argentina wasn’t typically fielding a team that came close to qualification, or fielding a whole team at all.

ARGENTINA – 157.133
Ayelen Tarabini	13.633	12.800	13.067	12.467
Augustina Pisos	13.267	13.100	11.967	12.733
Camila Klesa	0.000	11.500	0.000	11.867
Martina Dominici	14.033	13.300	12.733	13.100
Mayra Vaquie	13.500	12.567	12.667	12.433
157.133	41.166	39.200	38.467	38.300

---

Switzerland

Official: Caterlina Barloggio, Ilaria Käslin, Leonie Meier, Stefanie Siegenthaler, Anina Wildi

No two ways about it, Switzerland will have a tough job this year at worlds without Giulia Steingruber. I’m a little worried. The sans-Steingruber team did OK at Euros, and a repeat of that performance would be enough to get by in Doha, but this team is depleted enough that it cannot cruise through and expect to make the top 24. It will take a good day and not counting any major mistakes.

An interesting factor will be the return of Barloggio. We haven’t seen her in 1000 years, but she recorded counting scores on UB/BB in Switzerland’s 16th-place finish at 2015 worlds and a counting UB score in Switzerland’s 19th-place finish in 2014. Those 16th and 19th finishes were both teams that included Steingruber, which is partially why I’m entertaining concerns about Switzerland being top 24 this year without her.

(Scores from 2017 have been added for Barloggio to provide a complete picture)

SWITZERLAND – 156.900
Ilaria Käslin	13.800	13.250	13.400	12.850
Caterina Barloggio	12.150	12.800	12.150	12.050
Stefanie Siegenthaler	13.450	13.300	12.650	11.900
Anina Wildi	13.750	12.500	11.750	12.300
Leonie Meier	13.800	12.633	12.400	12.600
156.900	41.350	39.350	38.450	37.750

---

Egypt

Nominative: Nancy Taman, Farah Salem, Farah Hussein, Mandy Mohamed

Egypt will be encouraged by its prospects heading into worlds this year, both because the new generation led by Farah Hussein has been recording very competitive scores at world cup events over the last year or so, and because of the continental participation rule. That rule ensures that a team from Africa will qualify to 2019 worlds (which could mean 25 teams advance instead of 24, if no African nations make the top 24).

As the current best team in Africa, and one of only two African nations bringing an eligible team, Egypt is well positioned to qualify a team to Stuttgart even if it doesn’t place in the top 24 here.

EGYPT – 154.600
Farah Hussein	13.450	13.000	13.450	12.000
Farah Salem	12.800	12.650	12.950	12.150
Nancy Taman	14.550	11.950	11.350	12.250
Mandy Mohamed	13.300	10.800	11.700	12.700
154.600	41.300	37.600	38.600	37.100

---

Finland

Nominative: Sani Mäkelä, Siiri Saukkonen, Enni Kettunen, Maija Leinonen, Helmi Murto (Rosanna Ojala)

Veteran Rosanna Ojala also appears on the nominative roster, someone who could deliver a bars score that outpaces the current team, so she should be entertained as a possible member of the five. But is it worth giving up scores on the other events?

Finland is probably on the outside of the top 24, but it’s close enough to keep an eye on and close enough to go  for. This team did very well at Euros, and even if the top 24 doesn’t happen, the potential for the moral victory of finishing as the best Scandinavian side is very alive.

FINLAND – 153.199
Enni Kettunen	13.250	12.533	11.800	12.400
Maija Leinonen	0.000	12.533	12.850	0.000
Sani Makela	13.900	12.050	13.000	12.233
Viivi Nieminen	13.450	8.750	11.700	11.350
Helmi Murto	12.550	12.400	11.450	12.850
153.199	40.600	37.466	37.650	37.483

---

Turkey

Nominative: Goksu Uctas Sanli, Tutya Yilmaz, Demet Mutlu, Ilyada Sahin

Don’t forget about Turkey, another potential spoiler for the top 24 if the team manages a better performance than during Euros qualification. Turkey has some exceptional, if inconsistent, routines from Yilmaz and Uctas Sanli that can deliver the kind of scores that qualifying teams record, but depth is a question. Unlike Euros, I’d expect Turkey to use Sahin in Doha to put up a backup score, but there’s really very little safety net should one of the critical routines be a miss.

TURKEY – 153.000
Goksu Uctas Sanli	14.050	11.100	13.050	13.050
Demet Mutlu	13.600	12.550	11.900	12.600
Ilyada Sahin	12.600	11.450	11.100	11.050
Tutya Yilmaz	13.600	12.350	12.300	12.500
153.000	41.250	36.350	37.250	38.150

---

Colombia

Nominative: Dayana Ardila, Ginna Escobar, Angelica Mesa, Erla Vera Sanabria, Laura Pardo

In 2014, Colombia came so close to qualifying a team to the next year (25th place) and did so with many of the athletes expected to bring the scores on this year’s team, including Ginna Escobar and Dayana Ardila.

Those twowill contribute most of the counting routines again this year and might get very close again this year, especially because of vault and floor. It’s the tendency toward too many 11s on bars and beam that concerns me. In the latest update to the nominative roster, Laura Pardo replaced Melba Avendaño. Your ideal Colombian team has both of them, but if Pardo is available to compete, that’s an upgrade for Colombia.

COLOMBIA – 152.683
Laura Pardo	13.500	12.325	12.350	12.200
Dayana Ardila	13.950	11.700	12.400	12.900
Ginna Escobar	13.500	12.550	12.033	12.775
Angelica Mesa	0.000	10.100	11.667	12.200
Erla Vera Sanabria	13.400	11.333	12.533	12.033
152.683	40.950	36.575	37.283	37.875

Austria

Semi-official: Jasmin Mader, Bianca Frysak, Alissa Mörz, Elisa Hämmerle, Marlies Männersdorfer (Christina Meixner)

The big story for Austria is recent injuries to their two best gymnasts, Marlies Männersdorfer and Jasmin Mader. Männersdorfer got injured mid-Euros qualification, but is expected to be fine for worlds, while Mader had to pull out of a recent world cup event with a foot injury, also in the midst of competition.

Thankfully, both appear on Austria’s nominative roster, and you hope for Austria’s sake that they’re able to go because the scores would get really rough without them. Austria hasn’t yet confirmed who will be the alternate, but I’d take Mörz over Meixner because she’s more likely to provide a countable vault score and is an option for beam. But, both may be needed if Mader is unable to go.

AUSTRIA – 152.417
Jasmin Mader	13.550	13.100	11.900	12.500
Alissa Mörz	13.350	10.050	12.100	11.700
Marlies Männersdorfer	13.350	12.400	11.650	12.500
Bianca Frysak	12.700	12.550	12.100	11.767
Elisa Hämmerle	0.000	13.300	12.450	0.000
152.417	40.050	38.950	36.650	36.767

Norway

Nominative: Julie Søderstrøm, Julie Erichsen, Thea Nygaard, Sara Davidsen, Edel Fosse

Norway appears to be repeating the exact team that finished 21st at European Championships, electing not to go with Juliane Tøssebro who took silver on beam and gold on floor at the recent Norwegian Championships, but who finished 6th in the AA behind the selected group of five. Norway always gets pretty good beam scores at home but then shows up to worlds and the judges are like, “Mmmm…1.1” so I’m interested to see what happens this time.

NORWAY – 151.850
Julie Søderstrom	13.100	11.450	13.000	12.600
Julie Erichsen	12.850	12.000	12.150	11.950
Sara Davidsen	13.150	11.500	12.700	12.750
Edel Fosse	12.800	11.900	11.700	12.350
Thea Nygaard	12.900	12.600	12.050	13.000
151.850	39.150	36.500	37.850	38.350

Portugal

Nominative: Beatriz Dias, Filipa Martins, Mariana Pitrez, Mariana Marianito

Portugal surprised some of us with a 14th-place finish at Euros, ahead of the Czech Republic, Finland, and Turkey. It’s a performance that, if repeated, should put the Portuguese at least in the conversation for the top 24. Sending just four athletes, however, does mean there will be fewer options and less margin for error.

I also wonder if we’ll see Martins add back vault and floor. She has competed on only bars and beam lately, but she’s clearly POR’s best gymnast on all four pieces. They could really use those other scores, which could be decisive in the team quest for a borderline country like Portugal.

PORTUGAL – 151.850
Mariana Marianito	13.300	10.950	12.800	12.700
Mariana Pitrez	12.950	11.900	12.300	11.500
Beatriz Dias	13.400	11.300	12.350	12.400
Filipa Martins	13.150	13.600	12.700	12.250
151.850	39.850	36.800	37.850	37.350

Iceland

Official: Dominiqua Belanyi, Thelma Adalsteinsdottir, Sonja Olafsdottir, Agnes Suto-Tuuha, Margret Kristinsdottir

Iceland is still without Irina Sazonova, typically the nation’s best all-arounder, which reduces the team’s scoring potential quite a bit. Overall, expectations are muted for Iceland after a disappointing Euros that saw the team finish 22nd, but the return of Belanyi should boost the scoring potential on all four events. Suto-Tuuha was only able to do vault and bars at Euros as well, so if she’s on all four, Iceland should be far more 11y and far less 9.9y.

ICELAND – 151.549
Dominiqua Belanyi	12.966	12.533	12.050	12.150
Agnes Suto-Tuuha	13.550	11.900	11.300	12.500
Margret Kristinsdottir	12.600	11.450	12.800	12.700
Sonja Olafsdottir	12.700	10.600	11.700	11.700
Thelma Adalsteinsdottir	12.350	12.300	13.300	12.250
151.549	39.216	36.733	38.150	37.450

---

Slovenia

Nominative: Teja Belak, Tjasa Kysselef, Adela Sajn, Lucija Hribar

Praise be! Lucija Hribar has been added back to Slovenia’s roster in the latest nominative update, which gives Slovenia a much better chance of recording an at-least-respectable team total.

SLOVENIA – 150.849
Tjasa Kysselef	13.850	10.300	12.500	12.750
Tela Belak	14.250	11.733	13.000	0.000
Adela Sajn	0.000	0.000	12.433	11.650
Lucija Hribar	13.600	12.750	12.350	12.033
150.849	41.700	34.783	37.933	36.433

---

Poland

Nominative: Marta Pihan-Kulesza, Gabriela Janik, Wiktoria Lopuszanska, Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska

Poland is planning to bring the same group of four that competed so well at Euros, beating Portugal and the Czech Republic and challenging Romania. Repeating that performance, Poland can absolutely be in contention for the top 24.

It will, however, take a fully hit day from a team that does not have countable backup options to lean on if someone misses. Deeper teams benefit from the 4-up, 3-count format in qualification because they might have a fourth-best score that can still count if something happens. Poland is not one of those teams. The three best scores must be the three scores.

POLAND – 159.732
Gabriela Janik	14.200	13.300	13.333	13.600
Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska	13.367	9.733	14.450	12.300
Marta Pihan-Kulesza	13.200	12.833	13.450	13.300
Wiktoria Lopuszanska	13.533	12.066	11.850	11.600
159.732	41.100	38.199	41.233	39.200

I did a little “removing the domestic scores” experiment for Poland as well, and the difference was significant enough that I’m including both of them here for reference. As with Ukraine, the comparative truth with respect to the other countries is probably somewhere in the middle.

POLAND – 150.764
Gabriela Janik	13.900	12.350	12.400	12.200
Katarzyna Jurkowska-Kowalska	13.100	0.000	13.550	11.733
Marta Pihan-Kulesza	0.000	11.166	12.433	12.700
Wiktoria Lopuszanska	13.166	12.066	0.000	0.000
150.764	40.166	35.582	38.383	36.633

---

South Africa

Nominative: Caitlin Rooskrantz, Angela Maguire, Naveen Daries

South Africa is bringing just the three athletes, which is enough to get a team score at worlds now since only the best three scores count in qualification. Because of that format change, we should see a few more countries trying for team scores than we did in the past.

But, it’s so tough to get a solid total with all scores having to count, one of the main reasons Egypt is heavily favored to take the African qualifying spot.

SOUTH AFRICA – 150.250
Caitlin Rooskrantz	12.850	13.350	12.750	11.650
Naveen Daries	13.350	11.700	12.850	12.250
Angela Maguire	13.050	11.500	12.550	12.400
150.250	39.250	36.550	38.150	36.300

---

Taiwan

Nominative: Fang Ko Ching, Chuang Hsiu Ju, Ting Hua Tien, Wu Sing Fen, Lai Pin Ju (Fu Chih Yi)

Taiwan is intending to bring a full team, which should provide a leg up over some of these other lower-ranked contenders that will be more reliant on hitting all of the routines. Taiwan can throw in a weird beam 7 and not have to count it.

TAIWAN – 150.200
Fang Ko Ching	13.950	12.150	12.150	12.700
Chuang Hsiu Ju	13.150	12.000	11.800	11.200
Lai Pin Ju	13.000	11.450	13.000	12.400
Ting Hua Tien	12.300	12.050	10.250	11.550
Wu Wing Fen	13.300	8.450	10.700	11.050
150.200	40.400	36.200	36.950	36.650

---

Slovakia

Nominative: Chiara Bunce, Viktoria Vydurekova, Veronika Vlastiakova, Ema Kuklovska, Karolina Takacova

The injury to star Barbora Mokosova has made life very tough for Slovakia. The team is still diligently plugging away to try to show a full squad of five at worlds even without her, but I don’t see much chance of Slovakia scoring with the nations challenging the top 24 absent her scores.

SLOVAKIA – 148.516
Veronika Valastiakova	12.500	10.100	8.900	10.900
Karolina Takacova	12.500	12.650	12.800	11.300
Chiara Bunce	13.166	11.650	12.300	12.300
Ema Kuklovska	13.000	9.650	12.200	12.050
Viktoria Vydurekova	13.000	11.950	10.300	11.450
148.516	39.166	36.250	37.300	35.800

---

Malaysia

Nominative: Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Yueh Tan Ing, Ang Tracie

Malaysia should be one of the better countries that’s bringing only three because these are three strong athletes capable of multiple 12s. It’s also worth hanging onto the small shred of hope that Hadi could make the AA final. If she repeats what she did at Asian Games, it’s a possibility.

MALAYSIA – 147.800
Farah Ann Abdul Hadi	13.550	13.200	12.300	12.800
Tan Ing Yueh	13.300	12.400	12.200	12.600
Ang Tracie	12.950	9.900	11.350	11.250
147.800	39.800	35.500	35.850	36.650

---

Greece

Official: Argyro Afrati, Ioanna Xoulogi, Evangelina Monokrousou, Vasiliki Millousi, Evangelina Plyta

I’m a bit disappointed to see new senior Evelina Magia relegated to alternate status here because she showed some really solid scores earlier in the year, definitely top-3 numbers in the nation on beam and floor.

Lately, Greece has struggled to get out of this lower tier of teams because, while there are very strong gymnasts here, most of them are one- and two-eventers, gymnasts who can maybe throw up something on a couple other events but don’t really have enough pieces to get Greece a competitive team score. I fear we’re in for another year of that.

GREECE – 146.281
Vasiliki Millousi	0.000	12.100	13.066	0.000
Evangelina Plyta	0.000	12.133	0.000	0.000
Evangelina Monokrousou	13.100	0.000	10.666	11.850
Ioanna Xoulogi	12.500	11.200	12.600	11.950
Argyro Afrati	13.466	10.266	0.000	11.650
146.281	39.066	35.433	36.332	35.450

---

Denmark

Nominative: Mette Hulgaard, Emilie Winther, Sofia Bjørnholdt, Victoria Kajø

The absence of Linnea Wang is troubling since she was the only one who went into the 11s on bars and 12s on floor on Denmark’s team at Euros. Denmark doesn’t have many other elites whom we’ve seen appear at competitions, so it’s going to be a team of four this year. Standard-bearer Mette Hulgaard will likely be called upon to get most of the scores once again and needs to be the best on each piece.

DENMARK – 144.881
Mette Hulgaard	12.900	13.133	11.600	12.450
Sofia Bjørnholdt	12.600	8.700	10.950	11.966
Emilie Winther	13.400	10.733	11.066	11.700
Victoria Kajø	12.633	10.400	12.100	12.500
144.881	38.933	34.266	34.766	36.916

---

Costa Rica

Nominative: Luciana Alvarado, Heika Del Sol Salas, Mariangeles Murillo, Arianna Castaneda

I’m pleased to see Costa Rica sending a group that can get a full score, even with an athlere to spare, the only Central American country to do so.

COSTA RICA – 143.050
Heika Salas	12.700	11.500	10.750	11.900
Luciana Alvarado	13.233	12.367	11.750	12.300
Arianna Castaneda	12.600	9.400	9.650	12.250
Mariangeles Murillo	12.467	8.933	12.300	11.600
143.050	38.533	33.267	34.800	36.450

---

Latvia

Nominative: Alina Vihrova, Anastasija Dubova, Alina Circene

It was Tugarinova and Ribalcenko that competed with Dubova at Euros, but they’ll be replaced by Vihrova and Circene at worlds. Theoretically, this is an upgrade. New senior Vihrova is Latvia’s best gymnast, but she hasn’t done the all-around in 2018, so it remains to be seen if Latvia will go for a team score or not.

LATVIA – 141.882
Anastasija Dubova	12.100	11.300	12.566	11.950
Elina Vihrova	12.850	12.700	12.300	12.900
Alina Circene	11,566	9.250	10.500	11.900
141.882	36.515	33.250	35.366	36.750

---

New Zealand

Nominative: Isabella Brett, Maia Fishwick, Charlotte Ryan, Caitlin Todd

No Courtney McGregor this year on New Zealand’s team, so it therefore doesn’t count. With four athletes, I do expect New Zealand to be able to put up enough routines to get a team score and successfully audition for the NCAA futures we need them to have.

NEW ZEALAND – 138.358
Isabella Brett	12.750	9.200	11.900	11.350
Caitlin Todd	13.033	0.000	0.000	0.000
Maia Fishwick	12.500	11.925	11.250	9.600
Charlotte Ryan	13.725	10.350	11.050	12.225
138.358	39.508	31.475	34.200	33.175

---

Jamaica

Nominative: Danusia Francis, Mackenzie Robinson, Kiara Richmon, Toni-Ann Williams

Pleasssssssse actually send this team. Please. Please.

I don’t have any scores to use for Williams because she hasn’t competed elite in the 2017-20 code, but Danusia and Toni-Ann are both capable of making the all-around final if things go just exactly right. If they both actually compete (along with one other person), don’t sleep on Jamaica’s team score. It could be better than many other countries that typically attend these events.

JAMAICA – 135.833
Danusia Francis	12.933	12.833	12.900	12.433
Mackenzie Robinson	11.833	10.067	11.300	11.267
Kiara Richmon	11.667	9.400	9.167	10.033
Toni-Ann Williams	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
135.833	36.433	32.300	33.367	33.733

---

Belarus
Nominative: Mariya Lastouskaya, Hanna Traukova, Aliaksandra Natsiazhenka

On the latest update of the nominative roster, Netsiazhenka has replaced Harodnaya. I have no results for Netsiazhenka, so I can’t put together a scoring chart, but it is encouraging progress to see a team of three seniors sent to worlds.

---

Serbia
Nominative: Aleksandra Rajcic, Jelena Stemenkovic, Andela Durdevic

I have occasional scores on a couple of events for these three athletes, but we’ll have to wait and see if they go for the all-around. Unfortunate is the absence of Serbia’s best gymnast, Tamara Mrdenovic, who often goes to world cups and whom we know has four event scores.

---

Sweden
Nominative: Marcela Torres, Jessica Castles, Jonna Adlerteg

The final team sending at least three athletes is Sweden, though it doesn’t look like they’re going for a team total because that would require Adlerteg doing all four events. It’s frustrating because Adlerteg has a huge bars score, Castles made the floor final at Euros and is very competitive on several events, and Torres always has a competitive AA score and 12s across the pieces.

If they were to bring one more all-arounder like Agnes Akerman or Alva Eriksson to deliver some high 11s or low 12s on VT/BB/FX to fill out the scores, I would entertain Sweden as a serious contender for the top 24. Alas…

---

The remaining nations are not going for team scores, but we do of course have Chusovitina as an event final and medal hope on vault. Theoretically, Dipa Karmakar is supposed to be at worlds, but the requisite Indian selection drama means we’re not really sure if she’ll end up going.

Mostly, these are nations with one special athlete who is being sent to be special (Rifda!), or where we’re just thrilled that they’re sending a representative at all (Cayman Islands! Syria!)

Uzbekistan
Nominative: Sabina Turobova, Oksana Chusovitina

India
Nominative: Aruna Budda Reddy, Dipa Karmakar

Kazakhstan
Nominative: Aida Bauyrzhanova, Yekaterina Chiukina

Azerbaijan
Nominative: Marina Nekrasova

Vietnam
Nominative: Tran Doan Quynh Nam, Tienna Nguyen

Peru
Nominative: Ana Karina Mendez

Israel
Nominative: Ofir Netzer, Meitar Lavy

Hong Kong
Nominative: Chan Tsz Sum Elizabeth, Ng Yan Yin

Chile
Nominative: Simona Castro

Ireland
Nominative: Meaghan Smith

Indonesia
Nominative: Rifda Irfanaluthfi

Cyprus
Nominative: Anastasia Theocharous

Bolivia
Nominative: Diana Vasquez

Algeria
Nominative: Jana Mouffok

Bulgaria
Nominative: Laney Madsen

Cayman Islands
Nominative: Reagan Rutty

Croatia
Nominative: Ana Derek

Georgia
Nominative: Anna Subbotina

Guatemala
Nominative: Ana Palacios

Jordan
Nominative: Ruba Aldaoud

Lithuania
Nominative: Agata Vostruchovaite

Philippines
Nominative: Corinne Bunagan

Qatar
Nominative: Jana El-Keky

Singapore
Nominative: Nadine Joy Nathan

Syria
Nominative: Areej Alkhayat