Aly Raisman, the two time Olympic champion and the captain of the Fierce Five, is most known for her incredible gymnastics, especially on the floor. Known as Mama or Grandma Aly to her teammates, Aly has made history in becoming the first female gymnast to make back-to-back Olympic teams since 2000, along with her 2012 teammate Gabrielle Douglas. At 22, Aly is a veteran in the sport of gymnastics and has dedicated these past few years to come back to the elite level. She has been consistent throughout competitions and has come back stronger and more confident than she has ever been. This past weekend, she was elected Team Captain for the Rio 2016 Olympic Team by her teammates and is the best choice for the position for more reason than one.
1. She gives valuable advice.
No matter what the occasion, Aly talks to the other girls and helps them deal with the stress of being an elite gymnast. She can always be seen giving pep talks and comforting the girls. At Olympic Trials, she shared with the other girls that she, too, was nervous, but they were all in this together. She said that they should treat Trials like a team competition, rooting for one another and supporting each other through each routine.
2. She has been through this process before.
Four years ago, Aly went to the Olympics in London where she led the Fierce Five to a gold medal victory in the team competition. She was the captain then and has only grown more as a leader throughout the past few years.
3. She puts the team first.
Her most important priority is the other girls on the team. She never fails to support her teammates, and she pushes all the others to do the same. Her favorite competitions are with the whole team competing together with the goal of winning the gold medal.
4. She is a role model.
People throughout the world look up to her not only for her gymnastics, but also for her qualities of a leader. Simone Biles, the three time world All Around champion and Aly's teammate in Rio, posted an Instagram recently about her relationship with her saying, "She might be crazy and we might be total opposites, but she's still my role model."
5. She has a passion for gymnastics.
At 22, Aly's passion for gymnastics has not disappeared or even diminished. She shows her love for the sport in each competition, and has dedicated herself to becoming the best version of herself for her entire career.
6. She is hardworking and humble.
She never takes anything for granted and is always grateful for the opportunities that she is presented. She is humble and works hard for each and every one of her successes.
In the words of Steve Penny, the president of USA Gymnastics, “She’s sort of the one who’s always looking out for everybody and looking out for how do we do things a little bit better."
I couldn't think of a more deserving person to be Team Captain of the newest women's Olympic gymnastics team, and I couldn't be happier for Aly and all of Team USA.
