Biles is favored to take home the gold in every event, as well as the team competition.
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Russian Federation lead by Seda Tutkhalian and Mustafina are also battling for a podium finish along with world bronze medallists Britain.
Biles, 19, the three-time world champion, is poised to become one of the brightest stars of the Rio Games.
Even if Douglas is content with not making the all-around competition, her teammates wish things were different.
Of course, the Olympics always presents us with these sorts of narratives-we got a taste of it, when Jordyn Wieber lost her spot in the individual finals to Raisman.
Though Simone remains in contact with Shanon Biles, she is quick to correct anyone that calls Shanon her mother. While it’s predicted that the US team will reign supreme in Rio this year, China garnered a (relatively distant) second place before the final day of competition.
Now, after reading journalist Dvora Meyers’ meticulous and surprising book, “The End of the flawless 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics’ Top Score – from Nadia to Now”, it’s obvious how it happened.
Days before this final, the Americans dominated qualifying, and they didn’t let up today, leaving the other teams – Russia, China, Japan, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and host Brazil – fighting for silver and bronze.
“It wasn’t 100% perfection, but we showed our gymnastics is on the highest level”, said Martha Karolyi, the national team coordinator.
Again, they led every event, scoring 184.897 to win by more than eight points.
Here, a USA sweep of the golds is not far-fetched.
Raisman will join her in the floor final, Laurie Hernandez in the balance beam final and Douglas and Madison Kocian will compete together in the uneven bars final.
When it comes to American gymnastics legends, Biles is swiftly moving up the list. Selected to strengthen America’s competitiveness on the uneven bars, the lithe teenager delivered a nimble, fairylike routine before floating away into the background, where she’ll flicker as a soft benevolent hologram until the next bars-related physical challenge. At this rate, Simone is on track to becoming the first female gymnast to ever win five gold medals in one Olympics. She toyed with her competitors on Sunday as she finished first in three of the four events: floor exercise, vault and balance beam.
Though Douglas had a great competition, she simply didn’t have enough difficulty in her routines to keep up with Raisman, who had been beating her throughout 2016.
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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 incredible experience”, she told the AP. She was edged by less than a half a point. Don’t call them the Dream Team, on second thought. However, Gabby Douglas will not be defending her Olympic all-around individual title despite her third place finish.
