The dynamic was nothing new. For years, U.S. gymnasts Jordyn Wieber and Aly Raisman have been each other’s best friend and biggest competitor. Along with teammate McKayla Maroney, they have grown up together on the mat. They have traveled the world together, cried with each other, and giggled their way through life. Best Friends Forever.
But they have also crushed one another’s dreams. On Sunday, one friend’s greatest joy was another friend’s greatest disappointment.
In team and event qualifying, Raisman knocked Wieber out of the all-around final, ending the reigning world champion’s chance of competing for gold Thursday. Both left the arena in tears.
Neither Wieber nor her coach, John Geddert, spoke to news reporters immediately afterward, but Geddert issued a statement that said it all: “I’m basically devastated for her. She has trained her entire life for this day and to have it turn out anything less than she deserves is going to be devastating. She has waited her entire career for this. She is happy for her teammates and disappointed that she doesn’t get (to) move on.”
Still, the Americans must move on. The team final is up first, Tuesday night at North Greenwich Arena, and the USA is favored to win its first team gold since 1996. But how will Wieber, considered the most unshakeable of performers, respond? She might have waited her entire career for a shot at the all-around gold, but the other four members of the team, and Wieber, have been training for the primary goal.
Former U.S. coach Bela Karolyi said the results could have a negative effect on the USA’s chances for the team gold if Wieber doesn’t’ psychologically respond from the disappointment. “I’m afraid, to be honest,” he said about the gymnast he called the anchor of the team.
The Americans go into the team final with the best qualifying score, just ahead of Russia and defending Olympic champion China. The USA had three of the top four all-around qualifying scores.
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