The women’s gymnastics team final later on Tuesday (9 August) looks like turning into a procession for an utterly dominant United States of America team, a team whose diversity and charisma have captured the imagination of the world at Rio 2016.
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The United States scored 184.897, with Russian Federation scoring 176.688 with China, 176.003, returning to the podium after failing to medal in London.
United States’ Gabrielle Douglas, facing camera, hugs teammate Simone Biles after her performance on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women’s team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, .
A US fan holds a cut-out of United States’ Simone Biles during the artistic gymnastics women’s team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016.
The self-administered moniker is a nod to 2012’s “Fierce Five”, which included Raisman and Douglas, and to 2020’s team, which will be only four athletes due to a rules change.
2016 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California. This was Michael Phelps lapping the field in the relay.
“It didn’t feel like the Olympics”.
This year, Douglas, Biles, and 16-year-old Olympic Games first-timer Laurie Hernandez comprise the most diverse gymnastics team in U.S. history. While each have their strengths, the truth is the USA has few weaknesses. When Hernandez was introduced to the crowd, Raisman nudged her and told her to wave, which the 16-year-old did with a toothy smile. They missed the medal stand in 2012 as well, and they haven’t won gold since Ronald Reagan was president.
They did it for themselves and they did it for their country.
Virginia Thrasher of the USA competes in the women’s 10-meter air rifle competition on August 6 at the Olympic Shooting Centre in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is the hardest sport in the world and we make it so easy. That helped us”, said the Texan. The rival swimmer had also been trash-talking Phelps during the US championships past year.
Not only does Biles bring her lighthearted, bubbly personality to the floor, she even invented her own move. Russia’s Aliya Mustafina has dealt with more injuries than any gymnast should ever come back from.
The race never got closer than that the rest of the way. “Going out there and competing with these fantastic girls and standing on that podium, it feels the same”.
The result was history for the Americans, who claimed their third team medal. With routines like Simone Biles’ near-perfect vault, the other teams in Tuesday’s team all-around final will have their work cut out for them. They want every girl on the team to dominate in each category.
Their official name was selected as such since the Rio Olympics will be the final year that teams will have five members.
One down, four to go for Biles. The 19-year-old, who could leave Rio with five of the six gold medals awarded in women’s gymnastics, earned top scores in three out of the four Olympic events.
“It’s not really a bummer”, Douglas said.
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It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for! Not that anyone expected to catch them.
