The year after the Olympics is often a rebuilding one, and many of the faces at this week's U.S. national championships in Anaheim, California, are brand new to senior competition. But despite the lack of experience, don't doubt the talent and depth of U.S. gymnastics, which has great expectations for the next Olympic cycle, including the return of a certain all-around star. "I heard Simone [Biles] is back in the gym working out to return not this year, but next," said new national team coordinator Valeri Liukin. "That would be great help."
In the meantime, below are six gymnasts that could win national titles this week -- and world championship titles before the end of the year.
Morgan Hurd, 16
Hurd had elbow surgery 2 1/2 months ago, and because of that, she sat out two events at the recent U.S. Classic, a qualifier to nationals. But she plans to compete in all four events this week with hopes for a top-3 finish. She throws high-level difficulty across the board, including a double-twisting double back mount on floor and a standing back full on beam. And her impeccable form on even the toughest skills makes her a top contender for the world team and for an all-around medal at the world championships in Montreal in October.
Ragan Smith, 17
An alternate on the 2016 Olympic team and a national team member since 2014, Smith won the all-around at the 2017 American Cup in March -- and is a favorite to win the all-around at nationals as well. She has recently upgraded her bar routine -- considered her weakest event previously -- and is one of the best beam workers in the world.
Ashton Locklear, 19
Another alternate on the 2016 Olympic team, Locklear is a specialist who competed on bars for the United States at the 2014 worlds and has twice been national champion on that event. "She is going to help a lot on bars and beam," Liukin says about Locklear. "Experience is very important."
Riley McCusker, 16
McCusker won the all-around at the 2017 City of Jesolo (Italy) Trophy in April, but has battled wrist and ankle injuries in the months since. "Our all-arounders are very strong, but they are coming out from injuries," Liukin says. "Our superstars raised the bar at the last Olympics and our girls try to match that. Sometimes it comes with a price. My goal number one is to make sure they are safe."
Don't miss McCusker's bar dismount -- a unique half-in, back-out from inverted giants that very few women have ever done.
Alyona Shchennikova, 16
The all-around champion at the U.S. Classic earlier this month, Shchennikova comes from a family of gymnasts. Her older sister, Polina, was an elite gymnast and now competes for the University of Michigan; her younger sister, Kristina, is in the U.S. Junior Olympic program; and her parents, Alex and Katia, were members of the Soviet national team and now coach Alyona. An excellent bar worker, Alyona placed second on that event at the U.S. Classic, and third the year before in the junior division.
Jade Carey, 17
A vault specialist, Carey was a level 10 in the Junior Olympic program and had committed to Oregon State when the national team staff began inviting her to the elite national team training camps because of her vaulting ability. She was the only gymnast to show two vaults at the U.S. Classic -- a requirement in world and Olympic vault finals -- and she is a favorite to win both the national title and world title on the event. "She can put up very high difficulty on the floor and on vault and is consistent on beam," Liukin says.