Team USA had an all-around solid competition in the World's team finals and claimed the bronze medal, coming up short of China and Japan, who took first and second. 


Pommel Horse

The team started out on pommel, just like qualifications, and they were able to hit three for three to start their meet off on a good note. Danell Leyva was up first and had a solid routine, fist pumping after his dismount and scoring a 14.466. Sam Mikulak up second and began beautifully with his signature combination- scissor from end to end. He displayed great hip extension and form on the pommel and scored a 14.708. Alex Naddour anchored the first event where he performed two scissor handstands to begin, great single pommel work throughout the routine, and stuck the dismount, for a 15.066. 

After the first rotation, Team USA was in sixth place. 

Click to watch the individual routines: Leyva, Mikulak, Naddour

 

Rings

 

Jake Dalton was up first for the USA on rings. Dalton has excellent style and execution on each event, and it’s especially evident on the rings. He began with a kip to Maltese, press up to planche, roll to cross, and a huge piked to tuck Yama. Hnds with a small hop on his double double dismount and scored a 15.000. Donnell Whittenburg was up second for USA on the rings. He displayed incredible strength positions, but had one minor break on his shoot to handstand. He fought hard throughout the entire routine, and finished with a 14.766. Naddour anchored the second event, as well. He had a solid routine, with great rhythm and strength hold throughout. He took a small hop backwards when landing his 1.5 twisting double dismount and ended with event with a 15.00. 

Watch the routines: Dalton, Whittenburg, Naddour

 

Vault

 

Mikulak lead the vault lineup on the third event. He performed a double twisting Kasamatsu with only a small hop on the landing for a 15.166. Dalton performed a Kas double as well, but took a big step to the side on the landing and earned a 14.933. Whittenburg performed his big Dragulescu and took a hop to the side for a 14.966. 

Team USA moved into fifth place after the third event. 

Watch the routines: Mikulak, Dalton, Whittenburg

 

Parallel Bars

 

John Orozco was up first on parallel bars for USA. He performed a front to support, Dimitrenko, and great double pike between the bars. It was a great hit for USA on Orozco's first event of this competition and he scored a 15.066. Whittenburg was next and had a few mistakes in his set. He faltered on his one bar handstand, had slightly open legs during elements in the routine, and took a big hop back on his double front half dismount. Still, he put up a big routine for USA with a 14.633. Leyva was the anchor and executed beautiful pirouetting combinations throughout his set. He had lots of peach and giant work through the set, overall,  and performed a very strong to finish the event. He scored a 15.666. 

 

Slowly but surely, USA continues to move up in the rankings. They sit in forth place after the fourth event. 

Watch the routines: Orozco, Whittenburg, Leyva
 

High Bar

 

Dalton started off this rotation for USA. He performed a tak half layout Tkatchev to Gienger, layout Tkatchev half- huge! It was a great start for USA and he earned a 14.500. Orozco was next and began with a Liukin, Rybalko to mixed, layout Tkatchev half, Tak to Tkatchev half. He had incredible height on all his release moves and stuck his dismount for a 14.833. Leyva was the anchor for the second event in a row. He performed a tak full to Yama, Kolman, Kovacs, and Rybalko mixed. He displayed eautiful execution throughout the routine and scored a big 15.100. 

Going into the final rotation, USA was in third, about three tenths above Russia who was in fourth. 

Watch the routines: Dalton, Orozco, Leyva
 

Floor

 

Whittenburg began with a big 1.5 to tuck double first pass, contniued with a double double in the free position and a wide press, gracefully done. His routine was a great start to the third rotation and he earned a 15.300. Mikulak was next and his routine included a back 1 1/2 to front double twist, front full twist to tuck double, and a triple full dismount. He displayed beautiful execution throughout the set and scored a 15.30. Dalton anchored floor with a huge set under pressure! He performed a layout arabian double, whip pike arabian, 1.5 to double twist. He’s looked flawless and nailed it for a big 15.9 to clinch the bronze medal for USA.

Watch the routines: Whittenburg, Mikulak, Dalton

Related:
Full Results here: Men's Team Finals
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