An awe-inspiring performance even meant that Gabby Douglas, the defending Olympic all-around gymnastics champion, failed to qualify for the all-around final on a technicality.
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She rued not getting her Amanar vault back just a little. But the rule that’s been the greatest limiter of American success didn’t draw her ire.
Gabby Douglas is the reigning Olympic all-around champion, but she has struggled recently and at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
“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 incredible experience”, she said. It’s been an incredible experience so far. “You know what? I’m just going to go out here and not listen to any negative thing and really shine bright”. “It’s been an unbelievable ride”.
USA gymnasts, from left, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Lauren Hernandez and Simone Biles wait for the score during the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
The 2015 world championships bronze medallists Great Britain are likely to contend with Russian Federation and China for a podium place.
Three-time reigning world champion Simone Biles made her Olympic debut in flying fashion, going a flawless four-for-four and leading the individual competition by almost two points. And then she had to sit and wait to see what Raisman would do. After being examined by medics, the gymnast returned to compete on the vault.
Raisman narrowly edged out Douglas for that honor on Sunday. And since Simone Biles finished first – and only two athletes from each country are allowed in the finals – Douglas was automatically eliminated from the Finals.
Biles was equally impressed by rubbing shoulders with six-time men’s world all-around gymnastics champion and Olympic gold medallist Kohei Uchimura of Japan.
“I never really think about it because it’s something you can’t expect”.
In fact, every single member of the team earn a spot in an apparatus final, as Biles proudly noted in the mixed zone after the competition. The International Federation of Gymnastics instituted the rule after the Romanians initially swept the podium.
“It’s that global, involving everybody, leaving chance for everybody”, said Karoyli.
In a sport decided by tenths of points, the Americans are capable of winning by 10 points. The uneven bars is Raisman’s weakest event, but she put up a solid 14.766 to hold her lead over her 2012 Olympic teammate.
Brazilian Rebeca Andrade’s fourth-place finish in the individual all-around was the highest of any non-American.
The U.S. cruised past Russian Federation four years ago in London, and have become a juggernaut since, utterly dominating the leaderboard in Sunday’s prelims.
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“It’s tough, but you have to go into it knowing our team is incredible”, Gallardo said. Unlike the US men in yesterday’s session, none of the athletes sat out a rotation, even if they’re unlikely to actually perform on that event in competition.
