Nastia is expected to be on the Worlds team for Stuttgart. She's at 80% according to her coach/dad now, but there's only like 2 weeks from the Nationals to the Worlds, so it will be easier for Martha to pick the team for Worlds based on the performances at Nationals, especially as the girls are getting over inuries and showing what they can do. Top 2 get guaranteed to be on the USA Worlds team, the rest of the team get picked after the women's finals on Saturday.
[quote]"I feel like a lot of people have started to count me out because I've been out for a full year," Liukin said. "I just want to prove to everyone, even if I don't win, I'm still in the running. And with time, I can get stronger."
Liukin said she's not too concerned with defending her national title.
"My main goal is just to get back out there and do all four events again," Liukin said, "and kind of show everyone I'm still an all-arounder, not just a bars and beam gymnast."
Nastia's father/coach Valeri, who trains her at Plano's World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, said she is at about 80 percent strength.
Liukin eased back into competition at the Pan American Games in July in Brazil, competing only in the uneven bars and beam and winning silver in both.
"It felt so great to get back out there," said Liukin, who won world titles in the uneven bars and beam in 2005. "I can't say that enough." [/quote]
[quote]"If I don't win