The U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team dominated the competition during the qualifying round on Sunday, with Americans finishing on top in all categories – team all-around, beam, vault and uneven bars. “They’re also the best all-arounders in the world”.
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It’s not just the US gymnasts providing motivation and story lines in Rio. The US led all countries with a total score of 185.238, nearly 10 points higher than the second-best team, China (175.279). That was shortly after the 1996 United States women’s team, the “Magnificent Seven”, who ranged in ages from 14 to 19, cleaned up at the Atlanta games. She had more than a point on the fourth-place finisher, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
China and Russian Federation both struggled at times on Sunday, beset by mistakes they can’t afford to make if they want to make the team finals anything more than a coronation.
Douglas’ impressive performance silenced critics who questioned her spot on the team after a lackluster Olympic trials, where she fell off the balance beam both nights and placed seventh in the all-around. And the team cheered Biles on from the sidelines, telling her to imagine she was back in the gym, and rising from their seats in excitement when she landed a routine they’ve watched her practice countless times.
With Biles in Rio, we are enthusiastically excited to have a hometown hero representing Team USA and her neighborhood of Spring. “She is a big talent, but she proved also at controlling herself and how she is able to perform under pressure”.
Biles’ achieved an all-around score of 62.336, more than three points higher than any non-US gymnast.
Eight sports will be awarding 14 gold medals Monday at the Rio Olympics in events ranging from artistic gymnastics to diving, fencing, judo, rugby sevens, shooting, swimming and weightlifting.
The Fierce Five might need to make room for a sixth member.
There is a rule in the Olympics that stipulates each country can only send two athletes through to the final round of a sport, even if all of its athletes receive the top scores. That means Douglas, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, has been left out for Thursday.
All five Americans on the US team-Biles, 19, Aly Raisman, 22, Gabby Douglas, 20, Laurie Hernandez, 16, and Madison Kocian, 19-qualified for individual event finals, which start later in the week, according to Team USA.
“We became aware of the situation last night and addressed it with Al quickly”.
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“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 said. “I’m still rejoicing. I’m pretty pleased with everything overall because there’s nothing to be ashamed about”.
