The Gymnastics Mini Me's

As we patiently wait for the 2013 gymnastics season to roll around, we can't help but think about who's going to be the next big thing. Due to the fact that I spend a good chunk of my day on the internet, I've come to realize that a lot of the upcoming junior/senior athletes, remind me of a past Olympian. So I've compiled a list of 9 up and coming stars who I think have the potential to make it big someday.

Polina Shchennikova is the new Nastia Liukin

Perhaps the most obvious of the group, 14 year old Polina Shchennikova bears striking similarities to 2008 Olympic AA champion Nastia Liukin. With her long lean lines, stunning flexiblity, and a mother-father duo as her coach, Polina is poised to make her mark on the national scene. Like Liukin, Polina was born in Moscow Russia, to Soviet gymnasts Katia and Alex Shchennikova. She also has a sister Alyona who is on the National TOPS team. Polina trains at Tigar Gymnastics in Colorado and one of her goals is to compete internationally. It's no surprise that Polina lists Nastia Liukin as her role model! In an interview with the Couch Gymnast, Polina said "I really love her performance from the Olympics. Everything she does is so beautiful and gorgeous.  She’s very flexible and so am I.  It makes me think I could definitely be like her!" Did we mention her favorite event is the uneven bars??

Watch Polina and Nastia on bars! 

Bailie Key is the new Yao Jinnan

She just might be the next darling of the sport, 13 year old Bailie Key shares many of the same qualities as 2012 Olympian Yao Jinnan. These 2 pint size athletes share that adorable smile and clean-powerful style of gymnasts, which is something that we rarely see in gymnasts today. Both girls have beautiful floor tumbling, as well as cutesy choreography that sends gymnastics fans in a tizzy! Bailie trains at Texas Dreams Gymnastics in Coppell, Texas and says her biggest goal is to make the 2016 Olympic Team.

Watch Bailie and Yao on floor! 

Nia Dennis is the new Gabby Douglas 

 Reppin' a similar style to 2012 Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas, 12 year old Nia Dennis shows the shades of the future "Flying Squirrel" . Nia soars on her best event, the uneven bars and even has an amanar vault in the works. Nia says her goals are to "make it to Visa Championships, then to the National Team, then the Olympics, and then go to college!". She currently trains at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville, Ohio.

Watch Nia and Gabby on bars! 

Norah Flatley is the new Shawn Johnson

Level 10 standout Norah Flatley has been on the gymnastics radar for quite some time now, as she is expected to test for elite early next year! Norah is another one of Chow's star pupils, who excels on the balance beam like 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Shawn Johnson. Like Shawn, Norah is tiny and powerful with very clean lines. Not to mention she is as cute as a button! I'm looking forward to seeing what Norah can bring to the elite scene!

Watch Norah and Shawn on beam! 

Madison Kocian is the new Rebecca Bross

Ever since Madison Kocian stepped onto the elite scene in 2009, I couldn't get over how similar her gymnastics is to her teammate Rebecca Bross. Madison and Rebecca have VERY similar routines on every single event, and they even had similar floor choreography at one point. Just like Bross, Madison does a great job of hitting every handstand on bars and sticking every dismount. She also has had a string of unfortunate injury's throughout the end of her junior career (like Bross in 2008) and will hopefully be ready to return to the gymnastics scene this year as a senior! Madison currently trains at WOGA in Plano, Texas and she has also verbally committed to UCLA!

Watch Madison  and Rebecca on bars!

Nica Hults is the new Kyla Ross

Another one of the talented "Dream Team" members (Texas Dreams Gymnastics), 13 year old Veronica Hults is slowly but surely starting to climb the ranks of elite gymnastics. Nica shares a style very similar to 2012 Olympic Champion Kyla Ross, both girls have elegant lines, sturdy balance beam work, and a quite demeanor that fans can't help but love! Did I mention that both girls were born in Honolulu, Hawaii? Nica says her biggest goal is to "Take gymnastics as far as I can, hopefully that means making it to the Olympics"

Watch Nica and Kyla on beam!

 Lexie Priessman is the new Jordyn Wieber

15 year old Lexie Priessman is ready to make a splash on the international scene as a  first year senior gymnast. Lexie throw's many of the big skills that Wieber performs, such as a double double on floor, standing full on beam (she's upgrading this year to a back handspring back handspring laid out full to a back handspring!) and a rock solid amanar on vault. Lexie won the junior divison of the 2012 VISA Championships, just as Wieber did back in 2008. It looks to me, like Lexie is following in the footsteps of Wieber's success!

Watch Lexie and Jordyn on floor!

Madison Desch is the new Rebecca Tunney

Both Madison and Rebecca open up on floor with a huge whip to double arabian that typically does a great job of getting the crowd pumped up! Like Rebecca, Madison is slowly making her name be known with a 2nd place finish at the 2012 VISA Championships and a remarkable floor set that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats! Rebecca was one of those athletes that people doubted would make the Olympic team due to a shaky performance at the 2012 American Cup. But just a few months later, Rebecca was at the Olympics representing GB as one of the top all arounders! I think the talent of both Madison and Rebecca gets overshadowed and considering how young they both are, they still have plenty of time to peak!

Watch Madison and Rebecca on Floor!

Maggie Nichols is the new Chellsie Memmel

The first time I watched Maggie compete, I couldn't stop thinking about how much she reminded me of 2008 Olympian Chellsie Memmel. She looks like a younger version of Memmel (maybe 2003-2005?) and her beam work is similar to Chellsie. Maggie doesn't quite have the same amount of difficulty as Memmel, but she is only a junior so I think that can come with time!

Watch Maggie and Chellsie on beam!

Written by: Brittany