As the 2023 world championships approach, gymnasts hoping to earn a spot on USA Gymnastics’ team have only one more chance to make an impression — this week in Katy, Texas. During the women’s World Selection Camp, the top six athletes will be named to a five-person world team and three non-traveling alternates for the September 30–October 6 competition in Antwerp, Belgium.
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is a lock to make the squad, but the rest of the top gymnasts are competing for the final two spots. Those include 2022 world team members Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, who both finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics this year in the all-around. Other contenders include the recent national vault champion Joscelyn Roberson and 2023 American all-around bronze medalist Shilese Jones.
A key part of the selection process is determining which gymnasts are best equipped to compete in all events at a high level and which are most likely to be effective team players in a multi-event competition. That’s why USAG has a new procedure for selecting its teams. It says its selection committee will be “using results from the 2019 American Classic, GK U.S. Classic, USA Championships, international competitions and the World Team Selection Camp; D and E scores earned at any official international assignment or national event; consistency; the composite strength of all World team members, with consideration given for potential team, all-around and individual event medals; world-class presentation; and readiness to compete.”
The committee should only consider nominees who are not already in its membership, as this helps ensure that each member is treated fairly and does not have a conflict of interest that prevents him or her from being considered for a prize. Moreover, it is important to avoid using lists of past prize winners for the same reason: this perpetuates demographics and topical research areas within groups that may not be representative of the entire membership of the IMFC.
During the selection process, committee members should not discuss their private evaluations and rankings with other members outside of the meeting. This prevents members from influencing each other and also reduces the chances of social loafing, when one member follows the voting patterns of others during discussions.
It is also recommended that each member have a designated alternate who can be called upon to stand in for him or her in the event of a conflict of interest. Ideally, the names of these alternates should be submitted for approval along with the committee members’ selections.
The Committee is comprised of 25 members, usually Ministers of Finance or Development, who are appointed by each of the countries, or groups of countries, represented on the Boards of Directors of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee has the mandate to advise the Boards of Directors on critical development issues. It operates by consensus, including on the selection of its chair. The Committee is advised by a Secretariat that is selected from among its members.