Jordyn Wieber, 17, may have started out the week on a low note, failing to qualify for the all-around final gymnastic competition, but her dreams were still realized when the U.S. women's gymnastics team, or the "Fabulous Five" (as Wieber, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross have been dubbed) secured the gold medal in the team final event on Tuesday with a cumulative score of 183.596, more than five full points over the silver medalists from Russia.
Though Maroney,16, was the only teammate of the Fab Five to compete in just one event, the vault, her 16.233 was the highest score of all the team final competitors. For Wieber's part, her setback earlier this week didn't stop her from executing very strong performances in all three of her team sports — the floor, vault and uneven bar routines. Wieber ended up with a vault score of 15.933, just barely outdone by Douglas' 15.966, reports the New York Times.
By the time Raisman closed out the team's performances, it was clear that both Russia and China had suffered large enough setbacks that the U.S. Fabulous Five would nab the gold. When Raisman, Douglas, Ross and Maroney heard that they were number one, the teammates and friends embraced emphatically, celebrating on the sidelines.
This marks the first Olympic team gold medal for the United States women's team since the Magnificent Seven scored it in 1996.
Watch our exclusive with U.S. Olympic gymnast and gold medalist McKayla Maroney here:
Watch our exclusive with U.S. Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Jordyn Wieber here:
For more on the 2012 London Summer Olympic games:
U.S. Olympic Swimmer Matt Grevers Wins Gold, Sets Record
U.S. Olympic Swimmer And Aurora, Colorado Native Missy Franklin On Winning Gold: 'Pinch Me'
U.S. Olympic Gymnast McKayla Maroney
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Diver Kristian Ipsen Is 'Not Wearing Much'
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympian Phil Dalhausser's 'Late Start' At Beach Volleyball
EXCLUSIVE: Olympian Jessica Hardy Swims 2.5 Hours Every Morning
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Gymnast Jonathan Horton On The London Games
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Gymnast Jordyn Wieber On Training For London Games
Lolo Jones Reveals She's A Virgin
Daniel Craig To Open Olympics At Buckingham Palace
Warrior Star Kurt Angle Is Training For Return To Olympics
Evan Lysacek Wins Olympic Gold
Michael Phelps Makes A Splash In Vegas
VIDEO: Olympic Swimmer Matt Grevers' Proposes To Annie Chandler
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