The World Selection Committee determines who will represent their countries at the Olympics. They are responsible for evaluating each athlete’s performance in other competitions, as well as their age and their history of winning medals at world championships.
The committee consists of five members who must be experts in their sport and be able to handle the responsibility of selecting a team. Most countries nominate experts from within their country. These members are often former Olympians, members of their national governing body or leaders in their respective field.
One of the first things that a World Selection Committee member will do is evaluate a potential member’s history of winning medals at world championships. This is important because it allows them to make a decision that will help the athlete improve their chances of making the Olympic team.
If a team member has not competed in a world championships during their age category, they will be removed from the World Team Rankings and are unlikely to be selected for the Olympic team. The World Selection Committee also looks at an athlete’s performance in other competitions, including regional and national championships.
In Sri Lanka, for example, the government appoints the national selectors to the nation’s sports ministry, and even the teams they choose must be approved by the minister before they can be ratified. After the committee is appointed, it is responsible for determining which athletes are chosen to represent the country at the Olympics.
Ideally, all World Selection Committee members have years of experience in their sport and have a strong understanding of the requirements of that sport. They must be able to handle the task of making decisions for the team and be willing to work with the coaching staff and the athletes to ensure that they achieve their goals.
For example, in gymnastics, the senior women’s team will consist of three members with a strong international pedigree and two who have risen to the top of the game in recent years. Jade Carey and Simone Biles have a proven track record of success on the apparatus, while Shilese Jones has been consistently competitive since the age of 12.
They have a strong international background as well. They will be joined by Leanne Wong, a Tokyo Olympic alternate who placed fourth on beam at last October’s world championships.
She also tied for fifth on floor exercise at nationals and is an excellent all-arounder.
Another woman with a stronger international pedigree is Katelyn Jong, a 16-year-old who placed fifth on the beam at her first senior U.S. Championships and is also a strong competitor on the uneven bars.
In fact, she’s tied for the best all-around score at nationals with Jones, so she could be in the mix for the fifth spot on the team if she wins the selection camp and the all-around on Saturday night.
There are other talented young gymnasts vying for the final five spots on the team, but there are no guarantees that any of them will be named. They will have to compete at the World Team Selection Camp on October 10-12 in Sarasota, Florida. The selection camp will be live-streamed on USA Gymnastics’ subscription service, and a committee will make the final decision.