Next stop: US Classic

With less than 70 days to go now until the games, there seems to be important gymnastics competitions every weekend.

Next weekend the first real step on qualification for the US gymnasts gets underway. World AA Champion Jordyn Wieber leads the field (although she may choose to sit out an event or two as she has nothing more to prove at this point and the Classic is just a warm-up for Nationals in her case.

Others however, will have more to prove. World Vault champion McKayla Maroney will want to remind everyone she is not just a 1 trick pony, with spots on the olympic team slim, being top of the world on one apparatus may not be enough!

American Cup unnoficial champion Gabrielle Douglas just needs to prove she can be consistent, she has the difficulty and artistry that Martha Karolyi will want to put her on the team (so long as Gabby doesn't do anything silly!)

2 time world AA medallist Rebecca Bross and 2011 world team members Alexandra Raisman and Sabrina Vega all know a strong all-around performance will do wonders for their chances of a not-yet-assured olympic berth.

2008 olympians Chellsie Memmel, Bridget Sloan and .....at last..... Nastia Liukin will be hoping to compete with the young guns. Liukin is reportedly just competing beam here, although she will need to unveil an impressive bar routine by Visa's to be in with a realistic shot. UCLA grad and 2011 worlds alternate Anna Li will also be hoping to show she is a contender for the 'bars specialist' spot.

And then into the mix are new challengers Kyla Ross & Sarah Finnegan, amongst others.

The two contenders who are not in the line-up for classic are Alicia Sacramone and Shawn Johnson.  There's been plenty of press about Shawn this week and while her fans love her courage and will to carry on competing for an olympic dream, it seems the dream may be fading at just the wrong time. I still hope against hope we might see her at nationals and trials.

It's tough to know that if they were citizens of any other country in the world, most, if not all of these gymnasts would be guaranteed an olympic spot, but in the incredible talent pool of team-USA, there will be plenty of disappointed gymnasts by the end of the Olympic Trials process.

And in case all that wasn't enough, there's also Canadian Nationals (all disciplines) and MAG Euro's to look forward to this week!