{"id":10312,"date":"2016-08-08T05:29:07","date_gmt":"2016-08-08T05:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=10312"},"modified":"2016-08-08T05:32:27","modified_gmt":"2016-08-08T05:32:27","slug":"u-s-women-romp-in-olympic-gymnastics-team-qualifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/rio-olympics\/u-s-women-romp-in-olympic-gymnastics-team-qualifying.html","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Women Romp in Olympic Gymnastics Team Qualifying | Simone Biles"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Women Romp in Olympic Gymnastics Team Qualifying | Simone Biles
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U.S. Women Romp in Olympic Gymnastics Team Qualifying<\/strong> : RIO DE JANEIRO \u2013 It would have been easy to do it, but Gabby Douglas didn\u2019t blame the two-per-country rule that will keep her from defending her Olympic all-around gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

She rued not getting her Amanar vault back just a little. But the rule that\u2019s been the greatest limiter of American success didn\u2019t draw her ire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like the two-per-country rule is fine,\u201d Douglas said, who finished third in Olympic qualifying. \u201cI\u2019m feeling pretty confident, and I\u2019m rejoicing now. It\u2019s been an amazing experience so far. I would have loved to go back and defend my title, but you know what? It\u2019s been an amazing ride. I can\u2019t complain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Following qualifying at the Rio Olympic Arena on Sunday, it\u2019s Simone Biles and Aly Raisman who will advance to the all-around after the Americans\u2019 jaw-dropping rout to advance to the team final.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Americans scored 185.238 to take a 9.979-lead over China with one qualifying round to go later Sunday. Japan and Canada, the best teams in that final, could only cut into the lead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Biles\u2019 spot was never really in question \u2013 she scored 62.366 to win by more than 1.7 points \u2013 but Raisman and Douglas were fighting for the second spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vault proved to be key in determining who would advance to the all-around final on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raisman hit what she said is the best Amanar of her life. The vault, which is a roundoff onto the board followed by a 21\/2 twisting layout back flip, is one of the most difficult vaults being competed today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Douglas competed that vault in London, but she hasn\u2019t attempted it in competition in her comeback. Raisman beat Douglas by .476 in the all-around and held a .600 advantage on vault.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe two-per-country rule is always very heartbreaking. I\u2019ve been on both sides of it,\u201d said Raisman, who was the odd woman out at world championships last year where Douglas won silver behind Biles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think she has a lot to be proud of. She looked amazing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For her part, national team coordinator Martha Karolyi is not such a fan of the rule. The International Federation of Gymnastics instituted the rule after the Romanians initially swept the podium. (Gold medalist Andreea Raducan was later disqualified after failing a drug test for cold medicine.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s that global, involving everybody, leaving chance for everybody,\u201d said Karoyli. \u201cI feel like when we\u2019re talking about individuals, it should be at least three gymnasts who are going because this way some fairly lower level gymnastics will be even in finals and some girls with high level will sit out and watch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The three Americans were the only ones to top 60 points in the all-around in the first four sessions. Now Biles \u2013 a practical shoo-in to win the title after winning the past three world championships \u2013 and Raisman will try to claim the top two spots.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Raisman, it\u2019s a chance at the medal she missed in London after losing a tiebreaker to finish fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Douglas, team finals \u2013 where the Americans can have a bad day and still win gold \u2013 await, and she\u2019ll have uneven bar finals later in the week.<\/span><\/p>\n

So while she and coach Christian Gallardo would have loved for her to be able to defend the all-around title, there was no reason to blame the rule on a night when so much went so well for Douglas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough, but you have to go into it knowing our team is incredible,\u201d Gallardo said. \u201cWe\u2019re up by almost 10 points and any one of these girls from our team can go out and place in the all-around. It\u2019s still good. Third in the world is still pretty solid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/strong><\/span> : http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/olympics\/rio-2016\/2016\/08\/07\/us-women-gymnastics-team-qualifying-simone-biles-gabby-douglas\/88371230\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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