2012 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials: Men’s, Women’s Teams Set

The U.S. Olympic Gymnastics teams are set after the trials in San Jose wrapped up this weekend, and each is filled with fresh faces ready to light up America’s television screens pretty much nonstop for the next month and a half.

Let’s take a look at each team, starting with the women. Each participant on the women’s team will be headed to their first games -- the oldest participant, Alexandra Raisman, turned 18 a little more than a month ago, so none of these girls were old enough to compete back in 2008.

The trials are over, and USA Gymnastics has selected the five gymnasts who will make up the Women’s Team headed to the 2012 London Olympics.

Headlined by Gabby Douglas, who had a unique way of celebrating after her team-high score clinched her an automatic berth in the games. The five-woman squad is rounded out by McKayla Maroney, Alexandra Raisman, Kyla Ross and Jordyn Wieber. The squad is more or less the odds-on favorite to win team gold in London.

Really, there’s only one way to celebrate making the Olympics when your name is Gabrielle Douglas: Doing The Dougie on national television. Because hey, why not?

Douglas said it was her happy dance, which is pretty perfect. A+ for effort and having the guts to break that out on NBC.

This was almost like calling off a fair catch in football. Nastia Liukin faceplanted on the uneven bars, which is something in itself. But there was a spotter standing by. And he appeared to have everything sized up ... until he didn’t.

via gif.mocksession.com / BubbaProg

The U.S. men’s Olympic gymnastics team is now complete, following U.S. Gymnastics’s announcement of the three gymnasts who were chosen by the selection committee to represent their country at London. Jake Dalton, Jonathan Horton and Sam Mikulak were selected for the team.

Those three join Danell Leyva and John Orozco, who qualified automatically. Leyva and Orozco were favorites to make the team entering U.S. trials and finished in the top two places at the meet to ensure that they would have a place on the team for the Olympics. Horton finished just behind them in third place in the all-around. Mikulak led after the first day and wasn’t as strong on Saturday, but still did well enough to be selected for his team on his first attempt to qualify for an Olympic games.

Sunday will be an important day at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials as the final day of the women’s competition wraps up and the remaining spots on the men’s and women’s Olympic teams are announced.

Jordyn Wieber holds a slight edge heading into the final day of the women’s all-around competition. Her Day 1 score of 61.700 was just enough to edge Gabrielle Douglas who is second at 61.400. The winner of the all-around competition will automatically qualify for the London Olympics.

Two more members of Team USA qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games on Saturday, the final day of the men’s competition of the Gymnastics Trials, when Danell Leyva and John Orozco finished first and second, respectively, in the all-around at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Levya took first place after his parallel bars routine in the final rotation, which earned a 15.850 and pushed his four-day combined score to 368.350. Levya was followed by Orozco, 367.400, and Jonathan Horton at 361.500. Leyva and Orozco qualified for the Olympic team by virtue of their 1-2 finish in the All-Around and because each recorded three top-three finishes in other individual events.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team will begin to take shape Saturday when the men have their final day of competition at the Olympic trials. USA Gymnastics’ official site has the detailed rotation/start list.

Danell Leyva leads the men’s all-around heading into the final day with John Orozco, Sam Mikulak, Jonathan Horton and Jake Dalton all close behind. The complete standings heading can be found below.

Nastia Liukin was one of the stars of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, but after struggling during the first round of competition at the Olympic trials, she is unlikely to make a return trip to the Olympics in 2012.

Liukin won five medals at the 2008 Olympics, including the gold medal in the all-around competition. She returned to the Olympic trials this year, despite a long layoff from competition. Things didn’t get off to a good start for Liukin Friday when she failed to land her dismount on the uneven bars.

The women’s competition at the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastic trials started Friday in San Jose, Calif. The winner of the all-around competition is guaranteed a spot on the 2012 Olympic team while the other team members are named following the women’s final on Sunday.

Following Friday’s action, Jordyn Wieber holds a slim lead in the women’s all-around competition. Wieber has a 61.700 score after two days of events, narrowly ahead of Gabrielle Douglas, who has a 61.400 score. Alexandra Raisman, Elizabeth Price and Kyla Ross round out the top five.

The men’s competition started on Thursday in the U.S. Olympic Trials for Gymnastics, held in San Jose, Calif. The spots for the U.S. gymnastics team at the 2012 Olympics in London will be set based on a cumulative total at the end of the four-day trials. Through two days of competition, the overall leaders are Danell Leyva, John Orozco and Sam Mikulak, with Jonathan Horton and Jake Dalton close behind.

Leyva is the leading scorer thus far on both the men’s high bar and the men’s parallel bars. He is also currently sitting in second place in men’s pommel, fourth place in men’s floor (tied with Orozco), seventh in men’s vault and eighth in the men’s rings.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic trials in gymnastics continue on Friday with the women taking center stage in San Jose, Calif. The women will go through their full gymnastics routines as they attempt to qualify, with only one guaranteed spot awarded to the winner of the all-around competition. The remaining four women’s team members will be named after the competition concludes on Sunday.

A mix of female gymnasts will be chosen based on the combination that will give the U.S. the best opportunity to win gold in the team finals at the upcoming Summer Olympics in London. The three favorites to make the team, regardless of qualifying, are Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber and Gabby Douglas. There will likely be six contenders for what’s predicted to be two open spots, which should make for a tense Saturday evening.

Following Wednesday night’s Olympic Trials in San Jose, the United States trampoline team is set for the 2012 summer games in London.

Three-time national champion Steven Gluckstein punched his ticket to the event by winning the trials and will be the men’s representative for the U.S. Gluckstein missed out on making it to the 2008 Olympics after faltering in the trials that year, according to NBC Olympics.

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Gymnastics for both men and women begin Tuesday afternoon in San Jose, though television coverage does not pick up until Thursday.

Things get started with the Rhythmic and Trampoline Championships (PDF of full competition schedule), which take place Tuesday and Wednesday, at the San Jose Convention Center.