A look back: 2012 Olympic Trials

Jun 27, 2013 by Elizabeth Stranahan

Jordyn Wieber and Coach Kathryn Geddert hugging at an emotional 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Dreams were a common discussion at the 2012 Olympic Trials in San Jose, California. With only five spots open on the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics team, and fifteen competitors taking to the playing field, emotions ran high at the final leg of the selection process. After two days of fierce competition, in a back room tucked away from the thousands of eagerly awaiting fans, National Team Coordinator Martha Karolyi entered to tell the girls news they trained a lifetime to hear: would they be Olympians?

The debut of the 2012 Olympic Team. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Gabby Douglas. Jordyn Weiber. Aly Raisman. Mckayla Maroney. Kyla Ross.

The names were read quickly. Business-like. And then all at once, the emotions both the selection committee and athletes had been trying so hard to block out, came crumbling down.

“Martha came into the room with the rest of the selection committee and she started crying," Aly Raisman recalled at the press conference immediately following the announcement. “She said it was a really hard decision for her, but she had to do what she had to do for the team. And that she is so grateful for everyone’s hard work.”

Karolyi too, asserts that selecting the team is her hardest job, and one she does not relish. “I have to be objective and at the same time I’m a human being and I have my sentiments," Karoyli stated. As National Team Coordinator, Karolyi watches these girls from the time they are nine years old or younger and plays a strong role in developing them into elite athletes. She sees first hand their strong work ethics, but knows too, she holds the power to end that dream. “It’s very hard to see the effort, and [see] their dreams did not come true. I am fighting my tears, but, ya know, at the same time I have to [m]ake the objective decision.”

Aly Raisman flying high in her bar routine at Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

Martha was not the only one shedding tears that day. Raisman admitted that after they said her name, she too broke down and started to cry. "It was just the best feeling ever. I was thinking about all the years that I've put in and how many days that were so exhausting, but I just pushed myself." For Raisman, making the Olympic Team fulfilled her childhood wish. "I'm so honored to be able to go to the Olympics. I've dreamed of it ever since I was little, and just watching the girls from '96, 2004, and 2008, I can't believe that I'll be able to be a part of that and make my own memories." Gabby Douglas too discussed the surreality of the moment, "This is so weird, and a dream come true. I mean, I remember just starting on vault and now we're talking to you guys…It's just so amazing." Douglas too, was visibly overcome with the emotion of the night.

Kyla Ross on floor at 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

As Raisman joined the ranks of her Olympic heroes, Kyla Ross, the youngest member of the 2012 Olympic squad, gave her own advice to young ones watching at home with Olympic dreams of their own. "You always have to work toward your dreams," Ross said. "You have to work hard, be dedicated, you've always got to do your best and try hard and fight through the tough times, and it's just really fun to get there and be in the moment like this." And for Kyla and the rest of the team, it was evident this was a moment worth the sacrifice.

Despite the overwhelming sentiment of achievement of the night, the newly named team--not yet coined the Fierce Five--made clear that the San Jose Trials were not the finish line. For McKayla Maroney, consistency would be key. "I haven't been very consistent here because [ ] I only had like a week of training, so, [ ] I'm really ready to go home and train really hard and try to get ready for London." Maroney was not the only one looking for improvements. Ross, Douglas, and Wieber all cited beam as an event they would be targeting for improvement in execution. "Of course I wasn't perfect tonight," Douglas said. It seemed even taking the top spot of the night was not enough for this young lady. "I had little wobbles on beam and kind of missed a connection on bars, but, ya know, that's what training is for, so I'm just going to go back in the gym and [ ] polish up my skills." Gymnastics is a sport of perfection, and it looked like this team was willing to chase it.

Celebration at the dramatic conclusion of the 2012 Olympic Trials. Photo by Melissa Perenson.

With the team announced and the confetti cleared, Ross summed up the feeling for the entire team saying, “I definitely think the work has just begun.” Team USA was off, and in pursuit of one color: gold.

Relive the San Jose Olympic Trials by visiting our photo gallery of the event.

To read Mckayla Maroney's full post-trials interview click here.

To read Gabby Douglas's full post-trials interview click here.