Olympic Rewind: Fierce Five Win Gold

Jul 31, 2013 by Elizabeth Stranahan

McKayla Maroney and Jordyn Wieber moments after receiving their Olympic Gold medals. Photo by Larry Nassar.

We watch sports for the promise that the miraculous may occur. The chance that at any moment the stars will align and the winds will breathe just so, and our personal heros will become the world's sports legends. So we root for the underdog, we keep the faith through the injuries, and we wait. We wait for the time when the tides turn, and it's our chance to win.

One year ago today, the fates came together at the North Greenwich Arena in London, England as the US women's artistic gymnastics team entered the arena. Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber. The team not yet coined the Fierce Five all sat on the precipice of Olympic glory, but they did not know that yet.

Team USA started on the vault with Jordyn Wieber kicking off the night, but it was vault anchor McKayla Maroney who set the tone for the competition. Added to the Olympic team specifically for her vault, Maroney proved her merit sticking an Amanar, one of the most difficult vaults shown at the competition. Even the judges displayed apparent shock as Maroney fell from the sky and froze her momentum landing in a perfect salute. While the judges may not have awarded Maroney the perfect score, audiences around the world and Maroney herself said, "I knew it was the perfect vault." The perfect vault, and the perfect start to a memorable competition.

On the bars, Kyla Ross, the youngest member of Team USA continued the momentum. A high pressure situation, Ross admits she was not that nervous. "All the jitters had sort of already gone out," Kyla recalls, "I was just excited to compete in front of that crowd and have my moment to go up there and help the team." And help she did. Ross nailed the routine finishing with a stuck double layout dismount and contributing a huge score to USA's slowly increasing lead.

Lynn Raisman, mother of Aly Raisman, reacts to the final scores. Photo by Ashely Allen.

Going into the third event, nerves held a major concern. For Gabby Douglas, beam loomed as the most mentally taxing event. But at the team final, it looked as though nothing could faze Douglas. Douglas gave a rock-solid routine that featured impressive difficulty and elegant grace. Douglas said in an interview with Gymnastike that her message for the games was, "fight for your dreams" and one year ago in London, Douglas fought to a win.

USA finished their meet on the floor exercise, arguably their most consistent event. Jordyn Wieber, who provided solid performances throughout the night, truly shined on the floor rotation. Sticking the opening double twisting double back, it seemed Wieber could not misstep. Wieber delivered one of her best London performances in the team final, and as she wrapped up her competition she entrusted her teammates with finishing the task at hand.

The moment Team USA realized they'd won Olympic Gold.

Team Captain, Aly Raisman performed the last routine of the night. Energetic, powerful, Raisman put it all out on the floor that night, and it was written on her face. Leaping out of her double pike, tears already streamed down Raisman's face. This night, this competition, Team USA was perfect. More than perfect, they were golden.

Team USA during their Olympic medal ceremony. Photo by Larry Nassar

In one year's time a lot can change. After the Kellogg's Tour of Champions and a media blitz, all of the Fierce Five members returned to training. This past weekend Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney rejoined the elite competition field at the Secret US Classic where both saw considerable success with Ross taking the senior All Around title, and Maroney the vault crown. Ross stated in London that she wanted to go to a World Championships, and in only a matter of time, Ross may check this next dream off her gymnastics to-do list. For Douglas, Raisman, and Wieber the return to gymnastics comes more slowly. Gymnastike followed Wieber and Douglas's transitions back to life after London in their Beyond the Routine series. Relive the Olympic moment with Wieber, and watch as Gabby and Coach Liang Chow start plotting the next move in her gymnastics career.

No matter where these young athletes travel, their accolades in London stand as inspiring a generation.

Related:
- Catch up on the latest Fierce Five news
- Watch Gabby Douglas in Beyond the Routine
- Watch Jordyn Wieber in Beyond the Routine
- Re-read the 2012 Olympic Team Finals Recap with Quotes from Team USA