US Olympic Gymnastics Team: Highlights, Reaction from Men's Qualifying

Danell Leyva, John Orozco and the U.S. men's gymnasts accomplished almost everything they could've wanted in the qualification round Saturday.

The U.S. team has the highest score of the seven teams to compete in the first two qualification phases. Leyva and Orozco are 1-2 in the individual all-around.

Those are the numbers. Perhaps a U.S. women's gymnast can better put the performance in perspective.

"

@JohnW_Orozco @DanellJLeyva @jake_dalton @J_Horton11 @SamuelMikulak Were all freaking out!!! You guys did amazing!! #GoUSA :)

— McKayla Maroney (@McKaylaMaroney) July 28, 2012"

"I think we made a very big statement," team captain Jonathan Horton told USA TODAY.

The feel-good story of the session was Sam Mikulak, the oft-injured gymnast who was only able to compete in one event in trials. The Michigander erased any doubt over his selection to the team, posting a 16.300 that should qualify him for the eight-man vault final. He also broke 15.3 on parallel bars and floor exercise while posting solid scores on pommel horse and horizontal bar.

Horton struggled on pommel horse and parallel bars but turned in good efforts on rings and horizontal bar, where he'll have a shot at the apparatus final.

Jake Dalton only competed in three events but made the most of them. His 15.633 has him solidly in the running for the floor exercise final, and he broke 15 on pommel horse and rings.

Orozco, oddly enough, might be the only U.S. gymnast left out of the apparatus finals. He's clinging to eighth in the pommel horse and horizontal bar. But the consistent American will take plenty of momentum into the team and individual all-around finals. 

Leyva ranks third on horizontal bar. 

The third qualifying group, including teams from Russia, Germany and Romania, will start at 3 p.m. ET. Our live blog will have updates.