United States out to dominant start in women's gymnastics

Adam Stites

The United States women’s gymnastics team entered the 2016 Olympics as big favorites, and overachieved in the first day of competition, even by the team’s own lofty standards.

Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas earned the top three spots in qualifications on Sunday, and no other country was close to topping USA’s score of 185.238. China finished second, nearly 10 points behind at 175.279.

[Related: French gymnast Samir Ait Said speaks from hospital bed after gruesome injury]

Only eight countries advance to compete in the team competition on Tuesday:

  1. United States – 185.238

  2. China – 175.279

  3. Russia – 174.620

  4. Great Britain – 174.064

  5. Brazil – 174.054

  6. Germany – 173.263

  7. Japan – 172.564

  8. Netherlands – 171.929

Biles, Raisman and Douglas were the only three gymnasts to post an all-around score over 60. But because each country can send just two gymnasts to the all-around competition, Douglas was left on the outside looking in and won’t have a chance to defend the gold medal she won in London four years ago.

Simone Biles is on track for a record five gold medals (Getty)
Simone Biles is on track for a record five gold medals (Getty)

Still, Biles is the favorite to win after posting a score of 62.366 on Friday, well ahead of Raisman’s 60.607 and the 60.131 tallied by Douglas. Altogether, 24 will compete in the all-around competition, including 22 that finished behind Douglas.

Rounding out the top 10 in the all-around on Sunday are two gymnasts from Russia and one each from Brazil, China, Netherlands, Japan and Canada:

  1. Simone Biles (USA): 62.366

  2. Aly Raisman (USA): 60.607

  3. Gabrielle Douglas (USA): 60.131 [Won’t compete in all-around]

  4. Rebeca Andrade (Brazil): 58.732

  5. Seda Tutkhalian (Russia): 58.207

  6. Aliya Mustafina (Russia): 58.098

  7. Yan Wang (China): 57.599

  8. Eythora Thorsdottir (Netherlands): 57.566

  9. Mai Murakami (Japan): 57.265

  10. Isabela Onyshko (Canada): 57.232

Biles’ day was so good that she finished as the leader in the balance beam, vault and floor routine, in addition to her all-around lead. The uneven bars is the only event which Biles didn’t earn the top spot in and won’t compete in next week.

If she can win gold in the balance beam, vault, floor routine and all-around, Biles could be the first women’s gymnast to ever win five gold medals. A tall task, but one that doesn’t look out of Biles’ reach so long as the United States is able to keep its dominant form and earn the team gold.