The American gymnasts’ room in the Olympic Village is in for an uncomfortable evening. How will best friends Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber react to the news that only one of them will advance to the all-around competition, the pinnacle of women’s gymnastics?
As the current world champion, Wieber was also a strong contender to win the all-around championship. Raisman is used to coming in second to the bride because she has placed third in the last three national championships and the US Olympic Trials.
2012 Olympics Women’s Gymnastics Qualifying Results
The United States had won the gold in this competition at the previous two Olympic Games, and they hoped to make it a hat trick this time around. Together, Wieber and I. Unfortunately, only the top two gymnasts from each country are allowed to compete, and Wieber only placed third within her own squad. For the Americans, Raisman led the pack, with Douglas and Wieber following at.126 and.359.
Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin said, “It’s very hard to even fathom this circumstance.” It’s unfortunate that each country can only have two. That news completely shocked everyone on the squad. Through sobs, Wieber addressed only the television media, skipping the rest of the press, as she tried to process the news that she would not be carrying on to compete in the all-around event, in which gymnasts face off on all four apparatus.
In a statement she released later, she acknowledged that the news was “a little bit of a disappointment.” Even though I didn’t get to compete in the all-around event myself, I’m very proud of Aly and Gabby for making it to the finals and delighted that I was able to help the team get there. Between the three of us doing all-around, the final score was bound to be close.
John Geddert, Her Trainer, Showed MoreFeeling Than She Did.
He called the rule limiting each team to two gymnasts “stupid” and said, “I’m basically devastated for her.” One child will make a mistake that costs her country a medal, and that person will have to deal with the consequences of that decision for the rest of her life. As a result, the FIG [International Gymnastics Federation] needs to reevaluate its policies.
After years of hard work, one young athlete learns that he or she will never get the chance to compete in their dream event because they finished third in their country. I can’t fathom their motivations or assumptions. She’s spent her whole life preparing for this moment, so anything short than perfection would be awful. A long time will pass before she emerges from her protective cocoon.
