And another thing...

I really dislike the 2-per-country rule. It's like affirmative action for sports, and as far as I'm concerned, sports is about competition. May the best girl win!

Now, let's look at the '08 Olympics. In most events, it wasn't a big deal, but look at BB.

1. LI Shanshan CHINA 16.125 Q
2. LIUKIN Nastia USA 15.975 Q
3. JOHNSON Shawn USA 15.975 Q
4. SACRAMONE Alicia USA 15.950
5. FEI Cheng CHINA 15.875 Q
6. PAVLOVA Anna RUSSIA 15.825 Q
7. AFANASYEVA Ksenia RUSSIA 15.775 Q
8. SEMENOVA Ksenia RUSSIA 15.775
9. DENG Linlin CHINA 15.550
10. SLOAN Bridget USA 15.500
11. YANG Yilin CHINA 15.500
12. DRAGOI Gabriela ROMANIA 15.450 Q
13. TSURUMI Koko JAPAN 15.425 Q


In my opinion, should Gragoi and Tsurimi REALLY have qualified? WHY, when A-Sac qualified FOURTH?! I mean, for all we know, A-Sac could have redeemed herself. But more importantly, look at #8-11, all of whom qualified above Dragoi and Tsurimi. What on earth? You know, I know the point of the rule -- to prevent one country dominating. But so what? Let's assume it finished:

Johnson
Liukin
A-Sac

So what? If the Americans really were the best, then so be it. In the actual final, Cheng Fei (bronze) scored a 15.95, same as A-Sac. So, hypothetically, A-Sac might have been in contention for a medal.