While each has their strengths, the truth is the USA has few weaknesses. “It started in 2013 after a little bit before I made the world [championships] team”, Simone recalled. Ashton Locklear, Ragan Smith and MyKayla Skinner are the alternates if any of the five suffer any injuries.
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The final subdivision will compete later on Sunday night. It was always highly improbable that she’d be able to win a second all-around title because she had the undefeated, unstoppable Biles in her way. As for Biles-well, she not only the top qualifier to the all-around final; she earned the top qualification spot to the vault, balance beam, and floor exercise finals.
The team is favored to win the team gold at Rio and the scores from this evening’s qualification event show just how dominant these athletes are. At this 2016 Olympics nobody will cheer for Simone more than her “mother” Nellie.
Katie Ledecky of the United States earned the gold when she set a world record, completing the women’s 400-meter freestyle with a time of 3:56.46.
“The announcer here said, ‘Simone Biles, making it look effortless, ‘” the insider said. Therefore, the fans believe Douglas should have been in the finals with superstar Biles, not Raisman. Theoretically, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Douglas didn’t have a great performance at the Olympic Trials, but the reigning all-around gold medalist is hoping to bounce back and lead the team to a second team gold in a row. Biles is the clear favorite in the all-around. Hernandez also lost a spot in floor finals, where she finished fourth, but behind Biles and Raisman, who finished 1-2.
“I don’t really view myself as the world’s best or anything like that”, Biles admitted earlier in the year.
“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 unbelievable experience”, she said.
“I’m just so proud of myself and the team”, Biles said.
“He told me really kind words at the end”, del Potro said, “and I appreciated that”. “I’ll just pray normally to myself, but I have it there in case”. A simple solution could be to add a gymnast to finals for every third from a country instead of replacing them. “I’ve been on both sides of it”, said Raisman, who was the odd woman out at world championships a year ago where Douglas won silver behind Biles. Comaneci did it in 1980 after winning gold in 1976.
What helped Biles before the balance beam routine were encouraging words from national team coordinator Martha Karolyi, who was in the stands.
At 22, Raisman, of Needham, Massachusetts, is the oldest on the team. Her adoptive parents noticed her interest and talent in the sport, remarking in an interview with the Washington Post, “she always had loved bouncing on furniture in the house, so much so that her mother, Nellie, had grown tired of harping that the sofa and chairs weren’t a playground”.
“We thank everyone for all the support”, Raisman said. Laurie Hernandez, who was the odd one out in the all-around battle, put together three solid routines on floor, vault and beam.
“I wish they would change it, but I don’t think they ever will”, Raisman said. “I was like, ‘Whoa!'”
On bars. On uneven bars. Nor is winning two medals on every event except vault. But the uneven bar world champions Fan Yilin failed to make the final in her speciality.
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“Rio better watch out, because we’re coming”, Douglas said.
