Sports analysts are calling them the most talented women’s Olympic gymnastic team in U.S. history—AND they just so happen to be the most diverse team.
But one key member of the all-star team almost didn’t make the cut. The highly decorated Gabby Douglas, who won two gold medals in the 2012 Olympic as the best all-around individual gymnast and as part of the winning team U.S., had a very murky possibility of making this year’s Olympic team after poor performances on the first day of the 2016 Olympic trials.
Meanwhile, teammate and Simone Biles was an automatic qualifier for a spot on the team of five as the all-around leader in the Olympic Trials. Biles is a leading favorite to win the all-around competition in the Rio Olympics.
And newcomer Laurie Hernandez, who is of Puerto Rican decent, is the first U.S.-born Latina gymnast to compete with the U.S. Olympic team in more than 30 years. Biles, Douglas, Hernandez and team veteran Aly Raisman, who is Jewish, make this team the most diverse U.S. gymnastics team in history.
Congrats for making the U.S. Olympic Team:
Gabby Douglas
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Age: 20
Simone Biles
Hometown: Spring, Texas
Age: 19
Laurie Hernandez
Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ
Age: 16
Aly Raisman
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Age: 22
Madison Kocian
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Age: 19
*Note: Ashton Locklear, who is on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics roster as a replacement, is of Native American decent and is a tribal citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
In such as divisive time in our country, it’s encouraging to see these diverse American athletes come together to compete as one. Will be cheering. Go, TEAM USA!
BMWK, there are some other great African American athletes representing our nation in the Rio Olympics. Is there someone you are most excited about seeing compete?