The Americans scored 185.238 to take a 9.979-lead over China with one qualifying round to go later Sunday.
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“I just wanted to go out there and believe in my abilities and use the talent that I was given”, she said.
Russia, Great Britain and Brazil rounded out the top five.
While her resume certainly impressive, there’s one thing missing from it: an Olympic gold medal.
Biles was also the top qualifier to three event finals, as many predicted: balance beam, vault and floor.
Simone Biles qualified to the all-around gymnastics competition Sunday in the top spot, as expected.
Douglas and Raisman, victor of the floor gold in London, are the only two USA gymnasts from the 2012 Games, with Douglas in Rio despite struggling in the Olympic trials. It’s not a question of if but rather by how much.
“The team medal is in our hands, it really depends on the number of mistakes we make”.
So it was up the all-around race to provide the drama: three of the US women were eligible, but only two would be allowed to advance due to the two-per-country rule.
But because each team can have only two gymnasts in the all-around, Douglas won’t be in the final to defend her title.
But Douglas’ pain and frustration is Raisman’s joy.
Not that Douglas was moping. The maneuver is a tumbling pass on the floor that she put her own little spin on.
“I was like, ‘You guys, you have to calm down, (do) you know what it’s like to be in that position?’ But it was very cool”, continued Biles, who is competing in her first Olympics.
“But I’m not disappointed because there’s nothing to be ashamed about”. “I just feel like I’m going to get stepped on or something”.
Biles, 19, was too young in 2012 to compete in the London Games, where Douglas won the all-round gold at the age of 16. Three gymnasts (of the five total-Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian) can be used in any combination on each apparatus. Raisman was second on the floor exercise. Biles stuck her two vaults with just a tiny hop, averaging a 16.050 score.
The all-around competition can be watched live via stream (NBCOlympics.com from 3-5:15 p.m.) or on tape-delay (8 p.m., NBC).
“Our team is really strong, and I think we’re going to go out there and dominate”, Hernandez said. Doing so meant that she can no longer compete collegiately; she signed on with the same agency that represents United States superstar swimmer, Michael Phelps.
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This is her seventh Games. There are still a few more lessons to teach.
