But because each team can have only two gymnasts in the all-around, Douglas won’t be in the final to defend her title.
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Come Tuesday night, the USA women will win their second consecutive Olympic title.
There will be three Dutch gymnasts competing in finals, on top of the team competition.
Biles will be joined by Raisman in the floor final with Laurie Hernandez in the balance beam final.
The three alternates on the team, MyKayla Skinner, Ragan Smith and Ashton Locklear, have their own patriotic leotards.
Four years ago, Biles was watching another African-American gymnast, Douglas, win all-around gold at the London Olympics. “I wish that they would change it but I don’t think that they ever will”, Raisman said. But if the Fierce Five was arguably the most dominant team under the open-ended system – they beat Russian Federation by a little more than five points – this team is better. The former will challenge on the balance beam final with Biles, the latter on the uneven bars with Douglas.
The US women’s gymnastics team stole the show in the qualifying heat at the Rio Olympics on Sunday.
“I was like, ‘I’m not going to celebrate or take anything for granted until (Karolyi) comes in here and announces it, ‘” Biles said.
“I’m not disappointed at all”, she told the Associated Press on Sunday.
She has already grabbed a piece of history by becoming the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics and Dipa Karmakar will aim to touch greater heights when she competes at the Rio Games, here on Sunday. Theoretically, that shouldn’t be an issue. The U.S.is the favorite to win team gold. Biles was so far ahead going into the final event, the beam, she could have fallen, stopped to smoke a cigarette, yell at the judges and then do a crossword puzzle, and she would have won easily.
“My expectations are higher for you than anyone else’s”, she said.
“I never really think about it because it’s something you can’t expect”. And I do believe in myself.
Gabby Douglas is the reigning Olympic all-around champion, but she has struggled recently and at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Comaneci did it in 1980 after winning gold in 1976.
The collective strength of China means that since 1994, Chinese men have won 10 of 12 world championship team titles and three of the five Olympic golds on offer.
“Just being named to the team, I’m just so honored and really grateful”, Douglas said.
Mikulak tried to get a photo with the national team coordinator of the women’s team, the legendary coach Martha Karolyi.
“We try not to (go on social media) unless we’re posting a picture, but it’s definitely a way to get our mind off gymnastics, but other than that we’re just chilling in the room and having fun together”. Aly Raisman is 22 and her teammates call her “grandma”. She’s also the captain. Raisman was second on the floor exercise.
“We thank everyone for all the support”, Raisman said. “We’re very excited and hope to make everyone back home very proud”.
As for the rest of the newcomers, Hernandez is the youngest at 16. Mustafina finished narrowly in second with a 15.833. Wevers will also compete in beam finals, where she finished fourth in qualifying. “I was like, ‘Whoa!'”
On bars. On uneven bars.
Biles, 19, hails from Spring, Tex., and could conceivably win five gold medals.
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Japan is coming off the 2015 World Championship after placing second in the 2014 competition. The Rio Olympics is now airing on NBC.
