Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and the us women’s gymnastics team did what everyone expected Tuesday, winning the gold medal in team competition. Since taking over for her husband, Bela, at the turn of the century, the US had turned into a gymnastics juggernaut both on the individual and team level that has left the rest of the world unable to maintain a competitive level. The women proved they really are unbeatable with a stunning eight-point win ahead of the second-place Russian team.
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The brilliance of the US team – which consisted of Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman – was on full display from the very first rotation Tuesday. Biles’s final score was an eye-popping 62.366, almost two points ahead of Raisman.
For the Russians and Chinese, it was ultimately a battle for the silver medal as the US outshone the rest of the teams from the beginning. He was not wrong. Her father, Ron, advised her last night to “Be Simone”–a riff on the Biles family mantra to be yourself no matter what happens.
Raisman corrected the error she had on her side aerial in the qualifying meet to come away with a 15.000. “I walked up there and said, ‘Let’s do this, let’s go.’ I wanted to make this flawless”. “I don’t think we could have been any more ready”. With her, they’re unstoppable.
Dozens of American flags unfurled inside the arena and a standing O as Simone Biles finishes.
“It doesn’t feel real”, said Raisman, who was winning a second consecutive team gold alongside Douglas.
Great performances have come to be expected from the USA women’s team.
CONGRATS to @USAgym’s @Simone_Biles @Aly_Raisman @gabrielledoug @lzhernandez02 & @MadisonKocian! Only three scores counted in each rotation.
The Americans moved onto the uneven bars where Gabby Douglas and Madison Kocian each got their moment to shine.
They did it back to back! Raisman is the reigning Olympic champion on floor while Biles is the reigning world champion, and they showed why.
Eighteen-year-old Fragapane believes, though, that Britain are on the up. Amazing. Winning a gold medal by that much?
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“In London, it appeared people who consumed the Olympics and were streaming it actually watched more television”, he says.
