Best of 2016 AwardsDec 24, 2016 by Rebecca Johnson
Best of 2016: Top Tear-Jerking Moments in Gymnastics this Year
Best of 2016: Top Tear-Jerking Moments in Gymnastics this Year
Some of the best gymnastics moments of this entire year included rushes of emotion and happy tears.
Some of the best moments of the year came complete with uncontrollable rushes of emotion and happy tears. See our favorites below.
The U.S. women's team -- Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman -- named itself the Final Five after winning team gold in Rio. The name was inspired by 2016 being Martha Karolyi's last year as National Team Coordinator, and therefore, the final Olympic squad she coached. The Rio Games were also the last Olympics in which five members made up the team. In Tokyo, it will be four. It was an emotional moment when the team told Karolyi -- one she will likely remember forever.
Arthur Mariano is an incredibly animated competitor who always wears his heart on his sleeve. When he nailed his floor routine in the Olympic event final, he knew he had a chance for a podium spot. When he learned that he secured the bronze behind Max Whitlock (gold) and teammate Diego Hypolito (silver), his celebration was undeniably one of the most endearing moments of the year.
Raisman nailed every routine she competed in Rio, but none compared to her final floor routine during the all-around final. She was chasing redemption from four years ago, when she tied for third but lost the bronze to Russia's Aliya Mustafina on a tiebreaker. This time, "Grandma" Raisman was well ahead. After finishing a gorgeous floor routine, she was overcome by emotion, crying tears of joy and blowing kisses to the crowd. Redemption complete.
3. Final Five revealing their name to Martha
The U.S. women's team -- Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman -- named itself the Final Five after winning team gold in Rio. The name was inspired by 2016 being Martha Karolyi's last year as National Team Coordinator, and therefore, the final Olympic squad she coached. The Rio Games were also the last Olympics in which five members made up the team. In Tokyo, it will be four. It was an emotional moment when the team told Karolyi -- one she will likely remember forever.
2. Arthur Mariano winning an Olympic medal for Brazil
Arthur Mariano is an incredibly animated competitor who always wears his heart on his sleeve. When he nailed his floor routine in the Olympic event final, he knew he had a chance for a podium spot. When he learned that he secured the bronze behind Max Whitlock (gold) and teammate Diego Hypolito (silver), his celebration was undeniably one of the most endearing moments of the year.
1. Aly getting redemption in the AA final
Raisman nailed every routine she competed in Rio, but none compared to her final floor routine during the all-around final. She was chasing redemption from four years ago, when she tied for third but lost the bronze to Russia's Aliya Mustafina on a tiebreaker. This time, "Grandma" Raisman was well ahead. After finishing a gorgeous floor routine, she was overcome by emotion, crying tears of joy and blowing kisses to the crowd. Redemption complete.