Favorite Member of the Fierce Five

Favorite Member of the Fierce Five

Favorite Member of the Fierce Five

Jan 4, 2013 by Anne Phillips
Favorite Member of the Fierce Five
Your Best of 2012 votes are in! 



The Gymnastics Community's Favorite member of the Fierce Five is... 


Aly Raisman




Why you might love Aly Raisman:

Aly Raisman was the captain of the 2012 USA Women's Olympic Team. Peaking at the right time, she left London as the most decorated member of the U.S. women's Olympic team. After helping the Fierce Five clinch the team gold medal, she secured a bronze medal on balance beam, then closed out her Olympic Games with the gold medal on floor exercise as the first American woman to win Olympic gold on her signature event. Raisman also finished fourth place in the all around in heartbreaking fashion, missing out on the bronze medal due to a tie break in the finals. 


Raisman before the final day of London 2012 event finals. Photo (c) Larry Nassar

Raisman also captured America's hearts with her breakout performance in Olympic qualifications, posting the top all around score of Team USA and second in the entire competition then bursting into tears with surprise as she saw her name at the top of the scoreboard.

 
Lynn Raisman, mother of Aly Raisman, in the stands the moment her daughter finished Olympic qualification competition. Photo (c) Ashley Allen

As a young gymnast, Raisman burst onto the elite scene as a junior in 2009. She placed third all around in her very first Visa Championships as easily made the U.S. Juinor National team. Raisman also made a name for herself as the "mini-me" of 2008 Olympian Alicia Sacramone who Raisman trained alongside at Brestyan's American Gymnastics in Massachusetts with coaches Silvia and Mihai Brestyan. 


Raisman at the 2010 Visa Championships

In 2010, Raisman moved up to the senior elite level and was named to her first World Championships team. There she helped Team USA to a team silver medal with strong performances on vault, beam, and floor. She also qualified to the all around finals where she finished 13th place and got her first taste of a major event final, placing 4th in the floor finals. 



Raisman led the young, talented U.S. team through the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo. Team USA dominated the team finals to crowned World Champions. Days later, she earned her first individual World medal by taking bronze in the floor finals. 

Raisman began her 2012 season at the AT&T American Cup where she debuted her new skills which would ultimately give her the edge in the all around, including a nicely executed Amanar vault and her insanely difficult first tumbling pass, a roundoff+1.5 step out+roundoff+back handspring+double arabian+punch layout. Raisman took second place in the meet and further solidified herself as a strong contender for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. 

At the 2012 Visa Championships, Raisman was honored to win her first career National titles with top scores on both beam and floor. Known for her consistency, the 18-year-old ultimately achieved her Olympic dream with a solid performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials in San Jose, duplicating her National Championship placements on beam and floor and taking third all around.  


Raisman and the Fierce Five being announced as the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team in San Jose. Photo (c) Marina Mazor


Regardless of who your favorite member of the Fierce Five may be, each of the five young ladies worked extremely hard and achieved the ultimate dream of becoming an Olympic Champion. They will each go down in history as members of just the second U.S. Team to win Olympic Gold. 


Get to know Aly Raisman outside the gym:

Watch more video of Aly Raisman on gymnastike.org


Related:
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