The U.S. team of Douglas, Raisman, Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney also beat Russian Federation in 2012 to win gold in London.
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As usual, Team USA was led Sunday by Biles, who is right on target to win five gold medals. From the second Laurie Hernandez drilled her opening vault to Simone Biles’ boundary-pushing floor exercise to end it, the USA put on an exhibition that showed how far the divide between themselves and everyone else has become.
And just like that, the young women in the glittery red-and-blue leotards national team coordinator Martha Karolyi has molded into a global force relaxed. Russia, Britain, Brazil, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands also qualified for Tuesday’s medal round.
Three-time world champion Simone Biles led the way.
Perhaps the craziest thing about Simone Biles is that she happened on gymnastics accidentally.
Here’s how it all started: Just after she finished her race, US swimmer Lilly King wagged her finger at Russia’s Yulia Efimova (who had been suspended for 16 months for doping, and was controversially allowed to compete in the Games), which as The New York Times reported, was to remind everyone who was No. 1. She finished third in the all-around qualifier behind Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, but as you can tell by now that two gymnasts per country per final rule steady screws over the women of team USA.
Who do you think will win the gold medal, HollywoodLifers? Even beyond her unparalleled skills, Biles has a true passion for her sport and it shines through whenever she competes, as she always appears to be really enjoying herself. Douglas wrapped Raisman up in a hug after her balance-beam routine, though she edged out Douglas in qualifying for the individual all-around finals. That means Douglas, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, has been left out for Thursday. “I really take my hat off to her, because she’s got these unbelievable moves and she still sticks it together and does a good performance“.
“I would have loved to go out there and defend my title, but right now I’m just rejoicing and so far this has just been an wonderful experience”, she told the AP. (No team event was held in 2013).
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For Gabby Douglas, today’s team finals are almost the end of the road. The combination of Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles and Aly Reisman scored 45.999 in the event. Biles gave the United States an incredible 10-point advantage over second-place China in qualification on Sunday, prior the team’s final on Tuesday. And the five will have to deliver again.
