LONDON – Gabby has got her gold in the greatest event in gymnastics.
Gabby Douglas, the graceful, effervescent 16-year-old out of Des Moines, Iowa, flipped, somersaulted and bounded her way to a gold medal today and perhaps onto the next Wheaties cereal box with a flawless performance at North Greenwich Arena.
Douglas is the first African-American Olympic all-around gymnastic champion.
“That’s an amazing feeling,” she said of the distinction. “I had forgotten about that. Everything is possible.’’
In the four routines, Douglas didn’t score lower than 15 and finished up with a 62.23. Douglas aced a 15.966 on the vault, a 15.733 on uneven bars, a 15.5 on the balance beam and finished her gold show with a 15.03 on the floor exercise after which her USA teammates were left crying.
Aly Raisman of Needman, Mass., the other American in the final, finished in a scoring tie with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina with totals of 59.566, but the Russian was awarded the bronze based on the highest sum of final apparatus scores, according to a statement from IOC Communications. Mustafina’s sum was 45.9 to Raisman’s 45.3.
American gymnastics federation planned to appeal the ruling, but it was never heard because the Americans didn’t file it within the five-minute requirement.
Gymnastics coaching legend Bela Karolyi compared Douglas to Nadia Comaneci, whom he coached to Gold in 1976.
“It looked to me like a skinny Nadia was jumping up and down on the floor,’’ he said. “It was like Montreal, 1976. Unknown, no experience, it was unbelievable. I’m a little surprised. We didn’t know how she’d last.’’
U.S. Olympic coach Martha Karolyi said the rise in Douglas’ level in five months has been extraordinary. “
“She was good but others were good,’’ she said. “I’ve never seen someone in five months go from that level to the best in the world. Just in the five months, she became so much sharper and perfect.’’
The individual all-around is regarded as the top prize in the sport and Douglas’ gold makea it three straight for the American women. Carly Patterson won the 2004 gold in the individual event and Nastia Liukin took the gold home in 2008. The event features all four women’s events – the vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor.
With one event left, Douglas led Viktoria Komova by 0.326 – both fighting for a gold going into the floor exercise. Komova was breathing down Douglas’ neck by achieving a 15.96 on the uneven bars.
Douglas and Raisman were dressed in purplish-pink, sparkling leotards – not far from from the London 2012 color scheme that greater London has been draped in for a week.
It was a brilliant opening for both Douglas and Raisman as they finished 1-2 in the vault. Douglas executed a amanar vault and the judges gave her a score of 15.966. Raisman followed up with a similarly sensational amanar vault, earning a 15.9. e Russian threat Victoria Komova stood in third after the first rotation with a 15.466 despite stumbling.
Douglas kept up the brilliance by nailing a 15.733 on the uneven bars while Raisman delivered only a 14.33. Douglas, whose father was a soldier once employed in Afganistan,
Onto the balance beam where Douglas was dynamite again, scoring a 15.5. But Raisman faltered, nearly falling three times, and looking noticeably upset as he walked to her sideline seat. The score was a 14.2 and she fell to fifth after the third rotation, with one leg left.
Going in, there was the promise of Douglas and Raisman going mano-a-mano for the gold and silver. Douglas was said to have an edge on the bars, Raisman’s speciality on the floor, with their vaults considered equal. There’s been suggestions the battle between the Americans could come down to the balance beam.
Douglas, 16, lives and trains in West Des Moines, Iowa. Raisman is from Boston and together – along with Weiber – they led the U.S. to team gold Tuesday while men’s gymnastics team finished a disappointing fifth.
Douglas moved two years ago from Virginia to Des Moines to work with prestigious coach Liang Chow, who was mentor for 2008 star Shawn Johnson.
“In the bus (riding to arena), it was raining and I knew it will be a great day,” Douglas said. “My mom always told me if it rains, it is going to be a great day.’’
They don’t come much greater.