Gabrielle Douglas, or Gabby, is undoubtedly the breakout star of the US Women’s gymnastics team. Gabby made her desire to win a medal clear after she earned a second spot behind teammate Aly Raisman in the women’s all-around event. Unfortunately, that meant that the 2008 winner Jordyn Weiber was out.
Wieber, who had lost only two all-around competitions since 2008, cried as she made her way past the media and did not speak to reporters.
Douglas was spectacular in her first three efforts. However, she was disqualified for a medal in the floor exercise when she stepped out of bounds on her routine. Still, Douglas will compete for four gold medals.
It rained, as it often does in London, and Douglas said she took it as a positive sign.
“It’s like a manifestation is going to happen, you know, like a good thing is going to happen. It’s God; it’s God,” Douglas said. “So when it rains, me and my mom always text each other like, ‘its going to be a great day today.’ So I had peace in my heart and I came out here and performed very well.”
Douglas and Team USA will need to duplicate their dominant performance in order to hold off Russia, Romania and China for its first gold in the team event since 1996.
Venus and Serena Williams
The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, started their path toward Olympic gold with pedestrian victories in their opening matches, generating chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” from fans.
Twenty minutes separated the victories by the American sisters. Venus Williams took care of Sara Errani, 6-3, 6-1 in a match during which she hardly was threatened.
At the other end of the All England Club, Serena Williams disposed of Poland’s Urzula Radwanska, 6-2, 6-3.
