McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Alexandra Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas and Jordyn Wieber captured the gold in the team gymnastics final. Photo by Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports
USA TODAY
LONDON - For reigning world champion Jordyn Wieber, there will be no chance to be the next Nadia or next Mary Lou. But Tuesday, in the team finals, she wrote a bigger story, perhaps a more lasting one, too.
The Americans won their first Olympic team gold since the "Magnificent Seven" in 1996 as Wieber shook off her own disappointment and came up big for the USA. The Americans finished with 183.596 points. Russia won silver with 178.530. Romania took the bronze 176.414.
Competing in three of the four rotations, Wieber was her usual solid self. On this night at North Greenwich Arena, there was no time for jitters. She was first up on vault. As she landed a huge smile spread across her face. Wieber Fever had begun. As she left the floor, the first person to embrace her was Aly Raisman, her best friend and teammate who grabbed one of the USA's two spots in the individual all-around.
On Sunday Wieber finished fourth during qualifying, missing a shot individual Olympic gold because international rules allow only two competitors per country in the finals. On parallel bars, Wieber didn't dazzle, but she didn't make any major mistakes. Afterward, the expression on her face - satisfied relief.
"Today was pretty good redemption," Wieber said. "I was pretty disappointed (after Sunday). I knew I had to mentally turn it around for the team."