Here's a downer: In Israel, qualifying for the Olympics via the Test Event does not guarantee that a gymnast will actually go to the Games.
The Israeli Olympic Committee requires that gymnasts -- even if they qualify for the Olympics based on the International Gymnastics Federation's standards -- finish top 12 in the all-around or top six on any event at the European Championships before it will clear them to compete.
That means Valeriia Maksyuta and Felix Aronovich, both of whom qualified for London through the Test Event, will have to prove themselves yet again later this spring.
The requirement probably won't stop Maksyuta, who is currently in the best shape of her career and won medals on vault and beam at the Test Event. Even if she's on the bubble for being top 12 all-around at Euros -- she finished 22nd in 2011 -- Maksyuta's start values on vault (5.8 and 5.9, respectively) are likely to earn her at least sixth place in event finals provided she stands them up. Failing that, Maksyuta also has a good shot at sixth or higher on beam.
Aronovich is a different story. Though an NCAA star on pommel horse, the Penn State junior has not yet begun to make a name for himself on the World Cup circuit and seems unlikely to meet his country's standards.
If you think that seems dumb, Aronovich and Penn State coach Randy Jepson think so too:
"It's kind of stupid," Aronovich said before Wednesday's practice in the White Building, according to a Penn State press release. "In any other country, the guys who qualify individually, they're all going, that’s it. For some reason, the stupid country wants me to make another qualifier. It's kind of stupid because if I don’t do good and I don’t pass their bar, the Israeli committee bar, then they wouldn’t send me."
"He made the Olympic standard, which is the biggest hoop," Jepson said. "Israel is probably the only country in the world that has something else like this. It's crazy."
If gymnasts do not meet this domestic qualification requirement, they can petition the Israeli Olympic Committee. But history is not on their side -- per a commenter, in 2008 Vered Finkel did not participate in the Games even though she qualified based on the FIG system.
The rule does not apply to Israel's Alexander Shatilov, who qualified to the Olympics based on his bronze medal on floor at the 2011 Worlds.
Should Israel decide not send Aronovich, I believe the country would forfeit its berth, which might then go to the first alternate at the London Test Event: Sasha Palgen of Luxembourg.
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