Eyes of Texas staring at the gymnasts

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NEW WAVERLY, Texas -- The final pool of 12 girls from which the Olympic women’s gymnastics team will be selected has been here at the Karolyi ranch since Wednesday doing routines over and over in front of coaches, the selection committee, family and friends of Bela Karolyi and about 12 media members.

Saturday night, about 5:15 Pacific time, team coordinator Martha Karolyi will announce the team. We know Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin have already earned their places. Nobody else has.

We haven’t seen these women since the Olympic trials. Every movement matters here, every stretch, every pointed toe.

When Mattie Larson fell off the balance beam twice during her warmups, she frowned and buried her head in her hands.

When Ivana Hong, who is definitely fighting for the final spot, hopped, skipped, jumped, tumbled and landed every pass across that same beam with a glowering thud, Martha Karolyi said, ‘Very nice, Ivana.’ Hong smiled.

These workouts will last for about four hours. Scores may be given but what’s important are the landings, the ability to hit every tumbling pass, the ability to ignore the FOB’s in the gym -- Friends of Bela. There’s an assortment of perfectly coiffed and made up women and men who smell of money who have been invited to see this intense practice.

Former Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton is scheduled to arrive tomorrow to offer moral support for the girls who miss the team and a reminder to the others of what is possible next month -- a gold medal, a Wheaties box, a life as an inspirational speaker.

-- Diane Pucin