The reigning Olympic all-around champion had hoped to submit an original element on the uneven bars to the sport’s rule book at the event
Tokyo 2020 Olympic all-around gold medallist Suni Lee is not among the U.S. gymnasts headed to next month’s Baku World Cup (7-10 March), USA Gymnastics announced Tuesday (27 February).
Instead, it will be Reese Esponda and Katelyn Jong competing in Azerbaijan.
Lee told Olympics.com earlier in February that she hoped to earn a spot at the competition at last Saturday’s (24 February) Winter Cup competition in Louisville, Texas, so she could submit an original element on the uneven bars to the sport’s Code of Points.
“I’m just excited because I think it’ll be pretty cool having the skill being named,” said Lee in an exclusive interview ahead of the competition.
Coach Jess Graba added, “The whole reason we’re doing Winter Cup is so that we can go to Baku and get the skill named because Suni really wants to get that out of the way. Get it out of the way, so it’s not a question mark going into the spring.”
That quest will have to wait.
Lee, 20, looked spectacular during official training in Louisville, but faltered in the competition, falling twice off the uneven bars including once attempting her new element – the full-twisting, laidout Jaeger release move – and once on the balance beam.
“I wish I could redeem myself so bad, so bad!” Lee told reporters after competition. “Literally, I hit it every single time [in practice], so I’m just so frustrated. But it’s okay.”
Winter Cup was the selection event for the Baku World Cup.
Lee’s next chance at getting the skill named in international competition would be April’s Pacific Rim Championships.
