The team win was met with raucous cheers from the dozens of aspiring Olympians, their coaches, and other spectators who gathered for a watch party yesterday afternoon at Raisman’s old gym, Exxcel Gymnastics in Newton. The “Final Five” team is leaving their legacy as best team in the history of the sport. Biles and Raisman, the world’s top two gymnasts, finished atop the standings in the individual qualifying, as expected. Each of them has a significant hold over a niche apparatus, in addition to being the overall best in the craft.
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Loud chants of “U.S.A” could be heard in Rio Olympic Arena as the gymnasts completed their final rotation, securing the gold. Everyone was talking about the five athletes and their historic win.
Russian Federation finished second, while China took the bronze medal.
Such is the immeasurable threat of the Final Five that, according to the Reuters report, the Russian and Chinese gymnasts were resigned to aiming for the silver and bronzes.
Since USA Gymnastics began utilizing the Karolyi system of identifying and developing gymnasts, the American women have won 89 world and Olympic medals. “So we understand – they won”, Mustafina said. We were like, let’s call ourselves the Fab Five, but then some baseball team had it or something, so that was out.
“We were trying for silver”.
Asked about Biles in particular, Shang could only marvel: “I think she’s unbelievable, and she’s like a legend”. [Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images] The highlight of the Final Five’s performance on Day Four was the floor exercise.
Laurie Hernandez started her charming routine with a wink and a smile, bringing a rare combination of artistic swiftness and choreography into her routine.
The defending all-around Olympian gold medalist and the 2015 world uneven bars champion executed some of the most hard twists and tumbles to give the USA its first lead in the final exercies. Simone Biles has the potential to do just that in Rio.
Hernandez revealed why the group had opted for the nickname “Final Five” as opposed to the “Fierce Five” of four years ago.
The Americans are so good that 2012 Olympic all-around champion Douglas, who doesn’t get a chance to defend her title Thursday, performed only the uneven bars Tuesday.
Alexandra Raisman competes on the balance beam.
When Biles was finished and the question of the gold was completely settled – actually it was settled hours earlier – the five young women came together and yelled, “We are the Final Five”.
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When Raisman was losing her confidence after a subpar performance at the 2015 World Championships, Karolyi’s encouragement helped her recover it.
