Jordyn Wieber did not qualify for the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 2012 London Olympics. Despite finishing with the fourth-highest score during qualifying, the reigning World Champion and favorite to win Olympic gold failed to make the cut due to a rule that limits the number of bids to two per country — known stateside as the “Wieber Rule” until further notice.
Without Wieber, the individual all-around competition — which consists of all four apparatus (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise) — is any girl’s game. The following is a rundown of the top 10 contenders heading into the meet on Thursday, August 2.
1. Gabby Douglas, USA
Age: 16 (Dec. 31, 1995)
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Height: 4’11”
Weight: 90 pounds
Best event: Uneven Bars
Worst event: Floor Exercise
The “Flying Squirrel” is an uneven bars ace and a live wire with the upside to win it all. Douglas claimed uneven bar gold at the 2012 Visa Championships in St. Louis, where she earned silver in the all-around — behind gold medal winner Jordyn Wieber.
Having already graced the covers of TIME Magazine and Sports Illustrated, respectively, Gabby is no stranger to the Olympic spotlight. And her commitment is unquestioned after moving from Virginia Beach to West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2004 to train with Liang Chow — who also coached 2008 Beijing Olympics all-around silver medalist Shawn Johnson.
If Gabby can stay poised under pressure, she has the raw talent to join Nastia Liukin (2008), Carly Patterson (2004) and Mary Lou Retton (1984) as the only American women to win Olympic gold in the individual all-around.
2. Viktoria Komova, Russia
Age: 17 (Jan. 30, 1995)
Hometown: Voronezh, Russia
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 76 pounds
Best event: Uneven Bars
Worst event: Floor Exercise
“Vika” was the top qualifier at the Olympic preliminaries. Winner of the individual all-around silver medal at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo — behind USA gold medalist Jordyn Wieber — Komova is another uneven bars whiz, taking gold at both the 2012 European Championships and 2011 Worlds.
3. Aliya Mustafina, Russia
Age: 17 (Sept. 30, 1994)
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Height: 5’4”
Weight: 112 pounds
Best event: Uneven Bars
Worst event: Balance Beam
NBC labeled her the latest Russian diva, and "Musty" does have the attitude, style and talent to win gold. Mustafina won the individual all-around gold medal at the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, while also taking silver in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. However, a knee injury at the 2011 European Championships raised serious questions heading into the 2012 London Olympics. But Musty appears fit, which means she will be fierce competition.
4. Aly Raisman, USA
Age: 18 (May 25, 1994)
Hometown: Needham, Mass.
Height: 5’2”
Weight: 115 pounds
Best event: Floor Exercise
Worst event: Uneven Bars
Aly — a.k.a. “Alexandra” — has gotten a raw deal. After Raisman clinched one of the USA’s two spots in the individual all-around, not only did NBC’s cameras focus more on Wieber crying but the producers also gave her Polo-wearing parents (Ricky and Lynn) nearly as much air time as their daughter.
Make no mistake, Aly could go from underdog to the medal stand. She won individual all-around bronze medal, along with gold medals on floor and balance beam, at the 2012 Visa Championships in St. Louis, and also earned bronze medal on floor at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo.
The oldest member of Team USA, the captain has already proven clutch on the floor exercise — where she nailed her routine to clinch her spot in the individual all-around competition.
5. Larisa Iordache, Romania
Age: 16 (June 19, 1996)
Hometown: Bucharest, Romania
Height: 4’11”
Weight: 82 pounds
Best event: Floor Exercise
Worst event: Uneven Bars
Romania faked out the gymnastics world by announcing that Iordache had had plantar fasciitis — a painful inflammation of the connective tissue on the sole of the foot — just days before preliminary qualifying. But their young star looked just fine in London, and is a threat to make a name for herself in the Games of the XXX Olympiad.
6. Linlin Deng, China
Age: 20 (April 21, 1992)
Hometown: Fuyang, Anhui, China
Height: 4’6”
Weight: 79 pounds
Best event: Balance Beam
Worst event: Uneven Bars
A member of China’s gold medal winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Deng was also a gymnast whose age has been debated. In order to compete in the Olympics, gymnasts must turn 16 years old during the year of the games. Deng was either an illegal 14 years old or 16 years old in Beijing; making her either 18 or 20 this time around. No matter how old she is, Deng is still a tiny 4’6”, 79 pounds and brilliant on the balance beam.
7. Qiushuang Huang, China
Age: 20 (May 28, 1992)
Hometown: Xiangfan, Hubei, China
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 95 pounds
Best event: Uneven Bars
Worst event: Floor Exercise
Huang was not a member of the Chinese national team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but she was part of the bronze medal winning squad at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo. In a down year for China, Huang joins Deng as the top threats.
8. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy
Age: 21 (Nov. 10, 1990)
Hometown: Genivolta, Cremona, Italy
Height: 4’9”
Weight: 97 pounds
Best event: Floor Exercise
Worst event: Uneven Bars
The name of the games, the compact Italian Ferrari is a ball of energy with the ability to dominate on the floor and on the beam. The 21-year-old veteran will put on a show but may not have the individual all-around game to medal.
9. Asuka Teramoto, Japan
Age: 16 (Nov. 19, 1995)
Hometown: Komaki, Japan
Height: 4’6”
Weight: 66 pounds
Best event: Vault
Worst event: Floor Exercise
One of the surprises in qualifying, Teramoto was more steady than spectacular. In fact, the miniature Japanese gymnast was the highest qualifier (eighth) who posted no score higher than a 14.600.
10. Rebecca Tunney, Great Britain
Age: 15 (Oct. 26, 1996)
Hometown: Manchester, United Kingdom
Height: 4’10”
Weight: 77 pounds
Best event: Uneven Bars
Worst event: Balance Beam
The local legend will have the crowd behind her. Tunney is the brightest star on Great Britain’s roster and she’s too young to know just what an opportunity she has at the 2012 London Olympics. If she medals, Tunney could be next in line to jump out of a plane with James Bond and the Queen. Of course, she’d stick her landing.
Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Schedule
Tuesday, July 31 – Team Competition
Thursday, Aug. 2 – Individual All-Around
Sunday, Aug. 5 – Vault
Monday, Aug. 6 – Uneven Bars
Tuesday, Aug. 7 – Floor Exercise
Tuesday, Aug. 7 – Balance Beam
The qualifying results from the preliminary competition held Sunday, July 29.
Team Qualifying Scores
1. USA (181.863)
2. Russia (180.429)
3. China (176.637)
4. Romania (176.264)
5. Great Britain (170.656)
6. Japan (170.196)
7. Italy (168.397)
8. Canada (167.696)
All-Around – Qualifying Rank. Gymnast, Nation (Score)
1. Viktoria Komova, Russia (60.632)
2. Aly Raisman, USA (60.391)
3. Gabby Douglas, USA (60.265)
4. Jordyn Wieber, USA (60.232) *
5. Aliya Mustafina, Russia (59.966)
6. Linlin Deng, China (57.998)
7. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy (57.932)
8. Asuka Teramoto, Japan (57.865)
9. Larisa Andreea Iordache, Romania (57.800)
10. Qiushuang Huang, China (57.707)
11. Sandra Raluca Izbasa, Romania (57.532)
12. Anastasia Grishina, Russia (57.332) *
13. Jessica Lopez, Venezuela (56.665)
14. Elisabeth Seitz, Germany (56.466)
15. Rebecca Tunney, Great Britain (56.391)
16. Ana Sofia Gomez Porras, Guatemala (56.132)
17. Hannah Whelan, Great Britain (55.699)
18. Dominique Pegg, Canada (55.657)
19. Celine van Gerner, Netherlands (55.632)
20. Carlotta Ferlito, Italy (55.500)
21. Jennifer Pinches, Great Britain (55.266) *
22. Jinnan Yao, China (54.798) *
23. Giulia Steingruber, Switzerland (54.715)
24. Emily Little, Australia (54.498)
25. Aurelie Malaussena, France (54.399)
26. Marta Pihan-Kulesza, Poland (54.365)
27. Rie Tanaka, Japan (54.333)
28. Ashleigh Brennan, Australia (54.232)
* Did Not Qualify Due to “Wieber Rule”
Vault – Qualifying Rank. Gymnast, Nation (Score)
1. McKayla Maroney, USA (15.800)
2. Sandra Izbasa, Romania (15.316)
3. Maria Paseka, Russia (15.049)
4. Oksana Chusovitina, Germany (14.808)
5. Yamilet Pena Abreu, Dominican Republic (14.699)
6. Janine Berger, Germany (14.483)
7. Brittany Rogers, Canada (14.483)
8. Elsabeth Black, Canada (14.366)
Uneven Bars – Qualifying Rank. Gymnast, Nation (Score)
1. Elizabeth Tweddle, England (16.133)
2. Kexin He, China (15.966)
3. Viktoria Komova, Russia (15.833)
4. Jinnan Yao, China (15.766)
5. Aliya Mustafina, Russia (15.700)
6. Gabby Douglas, USA (15.333)
7. Qiushuang Huang, China (15.266) *
8. Elisabeth Seitz, Germany (15.166)
9. Koko Tsurumi, Japan (15.033)
* Did Not Qualify Due to “Wieber Rule”
Balance Beam – Qualifying Rank. Gymnast, Nation (Score)
1. Lu Sui, China (15.400)
2. Viktoria Komova, Russia (15.266)
3. Gabby Douglas, USA (15.266)
4. Linlin Deng, China (15.166)
5. Aly Raisman, USA (15.100)
6. Kyla Ross, USA (15.075) *
7. Kseniia Afanaseva, Russia (15.066)
8. Catalina Ponor, Romania (15.033)
9. Anastasia Grishina, Russia (14.900) *
10. Diana Laura Bulimar, Romania (14.866)
* Did Not Qualify Due to “Wieber Rule”
Floor – Qualifying Rank. Gymnast, Nation (Score)
1. Aly Raisman, USA (15.325)
2. Sandra Izbasa, Romania (15.066)
3. Vanessa Ferrari, Italy (14.900)
4. Kseniia Afanaseva, Russia (14.833)
5. Lauren Mitchell, Australia (14.833)
6. Jordyn Wieber, USA (14.666)
7. Catalina Ponor, Romania (14.600)
8. Aliya Mustafina, Russia (14.433)
