Olympic Gymnastics Trials 2012: The 5 Women Who Give Team USA Best Shot at Gold

The first day of the 2012 US Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials is in the books. Rising stars like Jordyn Wieber and Gabby Douglas rose to the occasion, while Olympic veterans like Nastia Liukin and Bridget Sloan seem ready to call it a career after this weekend's event.

Now that we've seen these national qualifiers in action, the race for a spot on the Team USA roster has become quite clear. It's time to look at the five gymnasts who are ready to lead the U.S. women's team into competition this summer at the London Games. 

Jordyn Wieber

"Wieber Fever" is spreading across America and is now a lock to soon sweep through London. The 16-year-old has already earned the status of 2011 All-Around World Champion and is the two-time reigning U.S. National Champion. 

A U.S. National Team member since 2006, she'll soon add 2012 Olympian to her list of achievements. Wieber leads the field after the opening day of U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials.

Wieber's time has come. She ranks among the top three in every Trials event and is steadily stepping up as the face of American gymnastics. 

"I'm close to where I need to be," Wieber told Sports Illustrated's Brian Cazeneuve Friday night. "I still have some things I need to clean up, but everything was pretty strong." 

If Team USA is to top the Russian and Chinese Olympic teams in London, much of the success will hinge on Wieber's ability to blossom as an all-time great.

So far, so good.

Gabby Douglas

Douglas trails Wieber by just 0.3 on the all-around scoreboard after Friday night's trial. The 16-year-old Virginia Beach native may have just as much potential as the event leader, and that's setting up quite an interesting American rivalry. 

It may not be Lochte versus Phelps, but it's compelling and adding some pizzazz to the Olympic trials.

"I love the competition; it makes us do better," Douglas told USA Today's Kelly Whiteside. "She just did perfect routine. You know what? I'm going to do perfect routine."

Douglas placed second with a sterling performance on floor, had an impressive session on bars and could potentially overcome Wieber in all-around scoring with a strong showing on Sunday. 

Aly Raisman

Raisman currently ranks third in all-around scoring behind Wieber and Douglas at U.S. Trials. She appears to be the team's top performer on floor and a quality option on beam. 

The 18-year-old, who won a team gold medal with the U.S. National gymnastics squad at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, is a well-rounded competitor whose strong suits would serve Team USA well at the 2012 Olympics. 

Given her experience and consistency, it's hard to picture her not joining the team in London.

"I don't like to think that I'm on the team," Raisman told ESPN reporter Amy Van Deusen. "Because it's always so important that I keep really humble and keep working hard. But I really hope I am."

McKayla Maroney

Maroney might be a one-trick pony, but nobody in the world performs the trick like she does. The 16-year-old placed first on vault Friday night, edging Olympic veteran Alicia Sacramone.

Her performance in San Jose shouldn't come as a surprise to gymnastic enthusiasts. Maroney won the 2011 U.S. national championship and earned a 2011 World Championship as a member of the U.S. national team.

Although she is seemingly restricted to just one event, Maroney's prowess on vault is hard to ignore. She has looked the part of an Olympian since recovering from a concussion suffered at the 2012 national championships in St. Louis.

Plus, her improving floor set makes her an extremely viable candidate for Team USA.

Kyla Ross

The 2009 and 2010 U.S. Junior National Champion rounds out our list of Olympic qualifiers. The versatile Southern California native would be the youngest member of Team USA, at age 15. 

Ross is versatile and could be used as a utility asset of sorts on the Olympic squad. She can hold her own on bars and beam, and proved that once again on Friday.

Ross took top honors on bars and placed fifth on beam, finishing fifth overall in the trials' day one all-around rankings. 

Wieber is outstanding on bars, but Ross' abilities would add necessary depth to the team and give her an edge when it comes to making the final cut.

Alternate: Alicia Sacramone

Sacramone is the only member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team with a chance of making this roster and earning a return trip to the Summer Games. With that being said, she currently ranks 11th in all-around scoring and appears to have lost her spot on vault to upstart McKayla Maroney.

No one has dealt with more adversity than Sacramone, who tore her Achilles during a training session just eight months ago. At 24 years old, she would provide the veteran presence that this team is lacking.

We'll give a nod to Sacramone by giving her the alternate spot. She not only offers the team some leadership, but she also provides potential depth on vault and beam, an event in which she placed third on Friday.