Simone Biles - Vault, Bars, Beam, Floor - 2014 World AA (60fps)
The USA women"s gymnastics team reacts to being selected to compete in the Rio Olympics.
Three-time world champion Simone Biles.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
RIO DE JANEIRO The lineup for womens gymnastics qualifying was hardly a surprise after podium training on Thursday.
As expected, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman will compete in the all-around. It came down to Raisman and 16-year-old Laurie Hernandez for the last all-around spot.
Hernandez, who went pro earlier this week, was an early favorite to grab an all-around spot after finishing third at U.S. championships and second at trials in July.
Douglas the defending Olympic gold medalist pulled ahead of Hernandez in the past three weeks, making marked improvement in the pre-Olympic training camp.
In podium training, it was clear Raismans gymnastics were better than Hernandezs. A member of the Fierce Five, Raisman has two gold medals and a bronze from the London Olympics. Shes 22 this time around, and shes performing better gymnastics than she was four years ago.
It obviously would mean a lot to me, Raisman said Thursday. I know that it is between me and Laurie, but at the same time, I think that we both kind of have the mindset that weve done everything that we possibly can. We both respect each other for it.
Biles, the three-time world champion and favorite to win multiple golds here, was a virtual lock for the all-around.
The Americans can only send two gymnasts to the all-around final under the two-per-country rule, so someone will be on the outside looking in.
At world championships last year, that was Raisman. Biles and Douglas went on to finish first and second.
The Americans are heavily favored to win a second consecutive team gold in Martha Karolyis final Olympics as national team coordinator. Shes retiring after the competition ends here.
The current team is the best weve ever had, Bela Karolyi, her husband and legendary gymnastics coach, said last month. Its very hard just coming out of my mouth because I never said in my life before big competitions that we are unbeatable or something like that. But at that time, I am saying we are unbeatable in the team competition.
Heres a look at the lineup for the USA:
Vault: Hernandez, Douglas, Raisman, Biles
Uneven bars: Raisman, Biles, Douglas, Madison Kocian
Balance beam: Douglas, Raisman, Hernandez, Biles
Floor exercise: Douglas, Hernandez, Biles, Raisman
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/06/simone-biles-gabby-douglas-aly-raisman-all-around-rio-olympics-us-women-gymnastics/88332312/
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