Public Readings - Jordyn Wieber’s elimination upsets coaches, gymnast going for team title. The elimination from individual all-around final may have shattered the current world champion and leading star of the five member Team USA Jordyn Wieber’s London Olympics gold medal dreams. However, Jordyn Wieber’s elimination isn’t settling well with her coach John Geddert, or other former coaches from the Olympics circuit.
Although every team and their coaching staff is aware of the Olympics rule that allows only two member per team to progress to the next stage in individual all-around, Jordyn Wieber contested that the system was penalizing “strong countries,” who had a lot of depth.
Jordyn Wieber put up a less than flawless performance that cost her a shot at the individual all-around title. The 17-year-old gymnast Jordyn Wieber coming from DeWitt, Mich lost by a one-tenth of a point and ran in for the third place after she was outclassed by her own teammates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman.
However, Jordyn Wieber may find some consolation knowing that her team finished at the top of the chart. Team USA going strong for their first team title since former gold medal gymnast Kerri Strug and the 1996 Olympics team won the title. Team USA summed up 181.863 points in the individual all-around while is Russia is not far behind at 180.429. However, Jordyn Wieber is a mutual disappointment shared by all familiar with the Olympics gymnastics.
“To penalize an athlete or country for being OUTSTANDING is not in the spirit of sport and certainly not the spirit of the Olympic Games,” wrote John Gedder on facebook regarding Jordyn Wieber’s elimination,. John Gedder, who is also coaching the women’s Team USA stated that it is “unfair” for the 4th best AA finisher, the former world champion” to be left behind in the competition due to a controversial Olympics rule.
The 1996 women’s gymnastics Team USA coach Bela Karolyi thought along similar lines.
“What a travesty!” Bela Karolyi recently stated. “To eliminate somebody because a teammate beat her (Jordyn Wieber). Still among the first four gymnasts in the world, and still you’re eliminated?”
Although, Jordyn Wieber was disappointed and found it “hard to explain these feelings,” she’s holding strong and aiming for the team title.
“Thank you all for your love and support,” Jordyn Wieber tweeted. “I am so proud of our team today and I can’t wait for team finals!!”
“She didn’t have the competition of her life in the prelims but she can come back in the team finals and show everyone how strong she is,” Kerri Strug, member of the 1996 gold medalist women’s Team USA made the observation about Jordyn Wieber’s bright opportunities.
The women’s Team USA have a big chance at the Olympics title thanks to their talented team. Apart from Jordyn Wieber, the team consists of,19-year-old Aly Raisman, who is leading the team into a strong direction while 16-year-old Gabby Douglas is renowned for her speed and flexibility. Kyla Ross is highly talented at 15, and 16-year-old McKayla Maroney is a reigning world champion on the vault.
“This women’s team is phenomenal,” continued Kerri Strug. “They’re mentally so tough. They’re physically fit. They have so much depth… We’re expecting great things from them.”