Meet The 5 Gymnasts Headed To Rio For Team USA | The Odyssey Online
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Meet The 5 Gymnasts Headed To Rio For Team USA

All eyes on Rio as the "Fierce Five" prepare to defend the 2012 Olympic Team Gold.

Elisabeth McCallum
Jul 18, 2016
UC San Diego
43
Meet The 5 Gymnasts Headed To Rio For Team USA
USA Gymnastics Twitter

With all the talent showcased at the Olympic Trials last weekend in San Jose, all eyes are focused on Rio. Now let’s meet the five women who comprise the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team!

Simone Biles

Born: March 14, 1997 (age 19)

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Home gym: World Champions Centre In Springs, Texas

Head Coach: Aimee Boorman

Specialty: Floor

Where she can most help team USA in Rio: Balance beam, floor, and vault

Fun Fact: Biles committed to attending UCLA and competing on their NCAA gymnastics team, however, chose to pursue a professional athletic career instead.


Aly Raisman

Born: May 25, 1994 (age 22)

Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts

Home gym: Brestyan American Gymnastics

Head Coach: Mihai Brestyan

Specialty: Floor

Where she can help team USA in Rio: Floor, balance beam, and vault

Fun Fact: Raisman trained at Brestyan American Gymnastics alongside 2008 Olympic silver medalist Alicia Sacramone.


Gabby Douglas

Born: December 31, 1995 (age 20)

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Home gym: Prior to the 2012 Olympics, Douglas trained at Chow’s gymnastics and dance institute, however, moved to Buckeye Gymnastics in 2014.

Head Coach: Christian Gallardo

Specialty: Uneven bars

Where she can help team USA in Rio: Uneven bars


Laurie Hernandez

Born: June 9, 2000

Hometown: Morganville, New Jersey

Home gym: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Head Coach: Maggie Haney

Specialty: Balance Beam

Where she can help team USA in Rio: Balance beam, floor, and vault

Fun Fact: Hernandez plans to pursue a career as an NCAA athlete at the University of Florida.


Madison Kocian


Born: June 15, 1997 (age 19)

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Home gym: World Olympic Gymnastic Academy

Head coach: Laurent Landi

Specialty: uneven bars

Where she can help team USA in Rio: Uneven bars

Fun Fact: Kocian is set to attend the University of California, Los Angeles and compete at the NCAA level beginning in the fall.


The US team has the potential to win team gold, as well as several gold medals in individual events. Simone Biles, a three time consecutive world all around champion, is favorited to win the all around gold. Biles has been called “the best gymnast [she] has ever seen” by 2008 olympic all around gold medalist Nastia Liukin. Previous co-champion on the uneven bars, Kocian is the only event specialist representing team USA in Rio, and has the ability to take home gold. As for team USA, it will be interesting to see who will be selected to compete in the all around event- With Biles as a shoe-in, will it be Hernandez or Raisman? Tune in to watch the Olympic team qualifying round on Sunday, August 7th, with the team finals on Sunday, August 9th. Good luck team USA!

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