The Lanscape Changes

We are less than a month from the Games (*heavy breathing*) and all 12 teams have been finalized. Various factors have favorably changed the landscape in our favor, so perhaps two team medals is not out of the question with the way things are unfolding. Great Britain decided to go big with d-scores and chose Ruby Harrold over Gabby Jupp as their fifth member, despite Jupp outscoring Ruby's higher start value on bars all season and being a better lead off option on beam. They have publicly announced that their goal is to win one medal in WAG. Half their men's team consists of who's peaking in front of the selection committee as opposed to who has a history of pulling it together right when it matters, so it will be interesting to see if any performances alter when they get to Rio. I will say I think Brinn Bevan looks really green at this level and his d-scores- and even his e-scores- don't stand out to me, but he was likely favored for his vault (although, isn't this where he's constantly getting injured?). Louis Smith was necessary to beef up the pommels rotation, which turns lukewarm when neither he or Whitlock are present, but what a waste of a fifth spot (not to mention his inconsistency). In some ways it's embarrassing; he retired because he was a one eventer on an up-and-coming team, only to make the team four years later despite the great AA and specialists depth surrounding him. Ultimately, neither of these GB teams are imperceptible to exploding and I think their selections have lessened the strain on Russia just a teeny tiny bit. We've also been given a last chance to fight for silver on the women's side, if the news out of China is credited. I still think China is the best bet for silver, but now they don't look so uncrackable. In fact, they barely look to be in a position to overtake USA anymore. On a divergent note, that nation's decision to choose Gabby Douglas- thus having 5 AAers who are all specialists- doesn't look so nonsensical when viewed in China's predicament. Basically, Liu Tinting, their penultimate UB/BB worker, suffered an arm fracture on bars and is being replaced by Tan Jiaxin...who also has a shoulder/arm injury and can no longer do her amanar (this might affect her UB as well, I imagine). The team appeared to have so much depth, earlier this year, but they're down to one alternate thanks to China sending home the rest of that depth after naming a team [and Liu Jinru also being injured]. Obviously- at least I hope it is obvious- this is not the way I wanted Russia's chances on the TF front to improve, but our team must still clench this last opportunity and take advantage of the changing landscape. Even as that landscape schemes to have their entire country dismissed from the Olympics. 

Mutko visited the girls to act as a reassuring presence in their final stage of preparation.
I hope Queen Tut wasn't the one girl who fell on beam at control training

UPDATE: Melka has a slight hamstring injury, an injury first suffered around March of last year. The pain she's feeling now might be from overexertion since they're training so hard to finalize routines. Afan is at a clinic in outer Moscow continuing her ankle rehabilitation. The coaches say she's capable of doing a floor routine but not in great form; I'm unsure how they'd be able to know this since Afan hasn't been in the gym since Euros? Perhaps they're guestimating where she is based on past experience with her recoveries. Aliya might have new back pain (?) or maybe Valentina meant that she's coping well with the pain she's always had.