How exactly do the Athletes qualify to be on the USA national team?

Question

I was watching gymnastics yesterday and I was reading the athletes bio's and they seem like normal kids who live all over the country. Now what is it that they have to do to qualify to be on the Olympic team?

I'm sure there are thousands of gymnasts in America but how do they get the best to be on the team? What is the process?

Answer 1

In order to become a member of the US Olympic Gymnastics Team. You must either qualify to be invited to the US Olympic Trials (through the Visa Championship this year) or be invited to try out of the team. Once at the Olympic Trials there are six positions to fill. The top two finishers in the all-around automatically receive positions on the U.S. Olympic Team. Then the top 12 individuals are invited to the Olympic Training Camp. From this camp the other 4 members (plus alternates) of the U.S. Olympic Team are chosen.

Sometimes individuals are chosen because they are a good all-around gymnast. Sometimes because they excel in one event or even because they are a pressure player.  

Answer 2

I believe that out of the thousands of gymnasiums in the country, the kids who do best in states, and in nationals can go to a Olympic trial where the judges give them points for routines (floor, beam, parallel bars, uneven-bars) and the kids with the best score at the end of the day advance to another round of trials and eventually after many rounds, the best go to the olympics.

Answer 3

It depends on the sport.  Some sports hold trials where one day worth of a good performance can get you in.  Others collect points throughout the year to determine who's on the team.  And others have committees that put it to a vote.

As for gymnastics, I believe they hold a national trial.  But I'm not certain about that.