Sport
London 2012: Gabby Douglas leads US women’s gynastics to gold
That was Russia’s undoing, with two of its three gymnasts falling during tumbling sequences and breaking down in tears. Russia’s gaffes took tremendous pressure off the Americans entering their final rotation, needing just 40.300 points — or a score of 13.500 each — to clinch gold.
And in turn, Douglas, Wieber and top all-around qualifier Aly Raisman delivered far more. And chants of “USA! USA!” rang out as the gymnasts jumped and huddled in a circle waiting for the scores that confirmed the obvious.
The U.S. led the field in vault, balance beam and floor and finished third in the uneven bars to round out a complete team effort with key performances from all five team members. Maroney (vault), Douglas (uneven bars, beam) and Raisman (floor) each led the way in an event and Wieber and Kyla Ross were strong in support.
China, the defending Olympic champion, finished out of the medals, overtaken by Romania.
The women’s triumph was a welcome boon for U.S. gymnastics following the sub-par showing by the U.S. men, who had been favored to win gold in Monday’s team competition but stumbled their way to a fifth.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
