The entire team will include Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Madison Kocian.
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Aly Raisman, 22, will return to the Olympics for a second time, after earning three medals in 2012 (she was Team USA’s most decorated gymnast).
On Sunday night, Aly Raisman beckoned on her fellow Olympians who had recently earned their spot on U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team to join in with her on a quick team cheer just as the blue, white and red confetti fell inside the SAP Center. At her young age, Biles has already been crowned world champion of the all-around competition for three years in the row and she’s also the first female gymnast ever to win 10 gold medals at the World Gymnastics Championships. At qualifications, she finished second to Biles in the all-around and won balance beam.
We all know Douglas as the victor of the all-around title at the 2012 London Olympics. Although she was a member of Team USA at the last two World Gymnastics Championships and the reigning world champion on the uneven bars, Kocian’s place on the team was far from secure.
“I’m so proud”, Skinner told 12 News, just minutes after being named a replacement athlete.
Kocian is on this team for one primary reason – uneven bars. That’s more than any USA athlete in history. The Americans will need better from her in Rio, and she knows that. Even with a few small hiccups during Trials, Biles ran away with the top spot in the competition. Unsurprisingly, she won the event at the trials.
Combine that with the recent decline of China (since its 2008 Olympic team title), Russian Federation (since its 2010 World team title) and Romania (not even sending a full team to Rio). Despite a couple uncharacteristic mistakes on balance beam each day, she scored 123.250 to win by 2.1 points.
“If we put Gabby in regimented training with daily planning and daily assignments and training plans, she’ll see improvement just like we did a year ago”, Karolyi said. “I cried right after the meet and then when my name was announced”, Raisman said.
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“There is no doubt in my mind this team will come home from Rio with the Gold!” A nation can qualify a maximum of two gymnasts into individual Olympic finals. But Locklear doesn’t do floor exercise or vault, leaving holes elsewhere in the lineup. “To have her just lead this team, we’ve been there, and for us to be back on this road together is just awesome and kind of different because we were on the same team and now we’re on the same team again”. Hernandez was the surprise standout of the trials, with a memorably energetic floor routine and consistent routines on the three other events over the two-day competition, making it clear she’s ready for a shot at the Olympics. Karolyi and the selection committee opted for Douglas because of safety net she provides as an all-arounder, whereas Locklear offered higher scoring potential but no room for error as she only competes on bars and beam.
