Rocking to Rio: 2016 Women’s Gymnastic Team
Look out Rio! The 2016 United States Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team has been selected and they are ready to put their powerhouse skills to work! Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, and Laurie Hernandez were all chosen to defend the Olympic team’s gold medal as one of “team USA’s most decorated and competitive women’s gymnastics teams ever,” according to Team USA official website.
The trials took place this past weekend and brought old faces as well as newcomers to the team. Douglas and Raisman were both teammates on the 2012 Olympic team when they brought home the team gold for the US. The two teammates are also the only other gymnasts to make back-to-back Olympic teams since Chow and Dawes in 2000.
As for the other three members, all eyes will be on Biles. At just 19 years old, Biles has won 14 world championship medals, more than any other U.S athlete in history. She also has a strong chance of taking home five gold medals in Rio this year for team, all-round, balance beam, floor and vault.
Now that they have earned their spots doesn’t mean they can break until Rio in August. “The gymnasts will train at their home gyms for five days before heading to an intense, nine-day pre-Olympic training camp.” states the Team USA website. These five women bring strong and unique assets to the 2016 U.S. gymnastics team and we can’t wait to see them bring home the gold in Rio.