Aly Raisman competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California.
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Biles lives in Spring, just north of Houston. Douglas won gold medals in the individual all-around and team competitions in the London Olympics, where she was dubbed “the flying squirrel”.
The P&G Championships standout then went to balance beam, where the confidence from her gold medal at the Jesolo Trophy helped lead her to an incredible 15.700 with a attractive routine throughout. She let out a tiny breath before her dismount on a spectacular routine that scored a 15.250 – much stronger than her 14.8 in Friday’s opening night of the Olympic Trials. Though hardly surprising after she won the US junior championship previous year, Hernandez’s past month of competition has been impressive as she has shown she belongs with the top gymnasts in the world. “She did a round-off back handspring her very first time in class, and she said, ‘My brother taught it to me in the backyard.’ So it didn’t take long before we pulled her to have her evaluated for team”. The three-time reigning world all-around champion will lead a powerhouse United States squad into Rio that includes Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, 16-year-old Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian. And first-year senior Laurie Hernandez is a star in the making, finishing second to Biles at Olympic trials. She won the world title on uneven bars in 2015, although it resulted in a tie of four participants getting the gold medal.
Minutes later, she got the news, but Raisman realizes there is work to do. Hernandez is the first Latina gymnast since 2004 to represent the U.S.in women’s gymnastics.
MyKayla Skinner, Regan Smith and Ashton Locklear are the alternates.
“We are very, very proud of her”, said parent Negest Kerekes.
When Sundays event had finally wrapped up, an orange foam massage roller tucked under her right arm, Raisman made her exit from the competition area with waves and then an ultra-quick smile before disappearing behind a curtain to wait for the decision.
Nadia Comaneci, Olga Korbut and Mary Lou Retton are the sport’s transcendent names and Biles could soon join them with an ambitious Rio Games plan that could see her challenge for five gold medals.
“I was, like, ‘What is with this kid?'” she said. She ranked seventh in the all-around at trials.
“Martha just believes in me and that really means a lot”, Douglas said.
Hernandez, who turned 16 last month, expressed just how emotional the night is for aspiring Olympians once they hear their names called. “It’s going to be really tough for anybody to contend”.
Hawkins, wearing her daughter’s diamond-studded Team USA necklace, added that Karolyi also knew the issues surrounding the coaching changes since a comeback 21/2 years ago.
They’ll head to Rio with even loftier expectations. “I think she pushes everyone to be the best and expect more of themselves”. “She has the technique, the difficulty level, the artistry she is able to put into routines in these days”, Miller told Reuters.
Biles is the favorite to win gold in five of the six Olympic events next month.
“Gabrielle trained with a male coach nearly her entire career”, she added.
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And now that the Rio team is set, Biles and her teammates can turn their attention to beating the rest of the world.
