Reduction of women's gymnastics team to 4 in 2020 is

I think the rule limiting to two the number of team members

that can qualify for the all-around final is unfair. As was the case for the US this go around.

This should be coupled with an increase in individuals per

apparatus from a given country.

I can support 4 in theory because then it's not a battle of specialists (I disagree, but see the logic). But I think they could accommodate more specialists at the individual apparatus competitions.

I think two entrants is the Olympic standard for most events

There are exceptions (cycling is sort of a team event but sort of an individual one at times) but for most races and tournaments a country only ever sends their top 2 to chase medals so the podium isn't dominated by one country. I'm sure there are plenty of 3rd best Chinese ping pongers that wish this wasn't so.

Track and Field has 3 qualifiers per event *

If they meet the standards. Of course, our female ...

... gymnasts would meet any relevant standard.

I have no idea why this reduction will take place, and the

IOC (or gymnastics federation)should be about increasing the number of opportunities for athletes to experience the Olympic Games, not reducing them.

I think the IOC wants to keep the total number

of athletes where it is now.
As new sports are added, existing sports are eliminated or have reduced participants.

In that case...i wanna swim the doggie paddle *

You can. "Freestyle" means you can swim the distance...

... any way you want. Of course, you won't qualify using the dog paddle.

US almost has a team of 4 this year, as Kocian only...

... did the uneven bars in the team competition. While she crushed it, given the obscene winning margin for the team overall, am sure that had she been subbed out for in the that they'd still have won

Here's my problem with it

I think it's ridiculous to tell Douglas, Kocian, or Hernandez that they don't belong on this team.

Hernandez has the silver medal position after qualifying on the Balance Beam (she had the 4th best floor exercise but won't be allowed to even compete)
Kocian has the gold medal position after qualifying on the uneven bars
Douglas has the bronze medal position in the uneven bars and in the all-around where she will not be allowed to compete

But one of these 3 shouldn't be at the olympics at all? What a crock of shit. ALl 3 of them are probably going to take home individual medals

I read as 6 Olympians, but only 4 in team competition

I thought the article said a country could enter only four for the team event, and I believe all four would compete on each apparatus in the team competition. The country could also send two other gymnast to compete in the individual events.

It seems they are pushing their world cup competition agenda

vs team development and strategy. I agree that US would have won the team with 4 and might now be able to add another Gymnast for individuals. For example that 16 year old Ragan Smith at the trials seemed ver good on the beam and also as good as Kocian on the uneven bars, They were tough choices dropping down to 5 and all 3 alternates (which includes Smith and 2 other girls) are worthy. This would allow one more to compete instead of just traveling in case someone gets hurt.

Ok, I'm less upset

I'm sure Madison would say she'll cherish her team medal over anything she ever earns individually but at least she's still be an Olympian in the new system.

And only the top three scores count. *

When Martha Karolyi fully retires, I'd like a reporter to

buy her a few drinks and get her to tell us how she really feels. You can see she was trying to bite her tongue in those quotes.