Now that World Championships are over, Team USA is getting back into the swing of things with this month’s national team training camp, held at the ranch in Huntsville, Texas.

According to USA Gymnastics, the October camp’s goals include “improving physical abilities, new skill acquisition, [and] routine reconstruction for the 2015 season, all with an emphasis on dance training.”

The gold medal-winning World Championships team is excused from attending, having only recently returned from China. They should be expected to return in November.

The attendees for the October camp include:

• Frances Bidwill, Desert Devils
• Alissa Bonsall, Gymnastics Express Too
• Jordan Chiles, Naydenov
• Nia Dennis, Buckeye
• Christina Desiderio, Parkettes
• Gabby Douglas, Buckeye
• Bailey Ferrer, Orlando Metro
• Rachael Flam, Stars Gymnastics
• Norah Flatley, Chow’s Gymnastics
• Jazmyn Foberg, MG Elite
• Margzetta Frazier, Parkettes
• Felicia Hano, Gym-Max
• Amelia Hundley, Cincinnati Gymnastics
• Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Brandy Johnson’s
• McKenna Kelley, Stars Gymnastics
• Bailie Key, Texas Dreams
• Maggie Musselman, Hill’s Gymnastics
• Victoria Nguyen, Chow’s Gymnastics
• Marissa Oakley, Phenom
• Abby Paulson, Twin City Twisters
• Grace Quinn, Texas Dreams
• Aly Raisman, Brestyan’s
• Lexy Ramler, KidSport
• Emily Schild, Everest Gymnastics
• Polina Shchennikova, TIGAR
• Megan Skaggs, Gym Academy of Atlanta
• Ragan Smith, Texas Dreams
• Alexis Vasquez, Chow’s Gymnastics

Most notable is the return of 2012 Olympic champions Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman. Douglas began attending the camps again this past spring, though had her plans derailed when she changed gyms. Raisman, meanwhile, is returning to the ranch for the first time since before becoming the most decorated U.S. gymnast at the Olympic Games.

Also worth looking at is the return of injured gymnasts Polina Shchennikova and Bailie Key. Shchennikova missed her first senior year due to injury. As of this summer, she was dealing with a back injury so bad, she had to stop training completely and couldn’t even attempt a kip on bars due to the pain. Key was expected to compete at nationals this summer, but withdrew due to a nagging elbow injury in order to prevent further problems.

Seniors missing in action include Maggie Nichols (who dislocated her kneecap at the Pan American Championships in August), Lexie Priessman (who injured her leg at podium training during the Secret U.S. Classic in July), McKayla Maroney (who has been dealing with injuries over the past year since becoming the 2013 World vault champion), Rachel Gowey (who sustained an injury at podium training for nationals this August), Peyton Ernst (who had shoulder surgery this summer), and Brenna Dowell (who will begin attending the University of Oklahoma next semester).

The five day camp begins today and will conclude on October 27.

Article by Lauren Hopkins
Photo thanks to USA Gymnastics