Olympic Women's Gymnastics 2012: Bold Predictions for the 'Fab Five'

Not since the "Magnificent Seven" were the last U.S. women's gymnastic team to win the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games has the country's attention been captured like it has by this year's group of fresh-faced youngsters, led by reigning world all-around champion Jordyn Wieber and Olympic Trials all-around champ Gabby Douglas.

Dubbed the "Fab Five" by the media, the U.S. squad is one of the favorites to win the Olympic team gold and filled with contenders in the individual events.

Here's a look at some admittedly bold predictions for how the ladies will fare in London when the women's gymnastics competition gets underway on Sunday.

McKayla Maroney Will Land the Amanar...Perfectly

Much has been made over the past few days about the toe injury suffered earlier this week by American vault specialist McKayla Maroney. She aggravated an injury suffered at a competition in Chicago in May while practicing on the balance beam earlier this week.

However, according to Juliet Macur, the 16-year-old told The New York Times that she will "ignore the pain" when she competes in the event in which she was the overwhelming gold medal favorite before suffering the injury.

Not only will Marony ignore that pain and those who question how it might affect her chances in the event, but Maroney will carve a name for herself in Olympic lore by earning a perfect score on the incredibly difficult Amanar vault en route to a gold medal in the event.

Kyla Ross Will Bring Home Gold on the Uneven Bars

At only 15 years of age, Kyla Ross is the youngest competitor on the entire U.S. Olympic team, but you'd never know it from the calm and unflappable demeanor she displays in competition.

Ross tied with Gabby Douglas for first place on the uneven bars at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and while the youngster may not be the best athlete in the world on the bars, she displays very solid technique and makes few mistakes.

It's that combination of technique and cool demeanor under pressure that will open the door for possibly the biggest upset of the women's gymnastics competition, as miscues by other competitors open the door for Ross to steal a gold medal and shock the world.

The Floor Will Belong to Gabby Douglas

It was something of a surprise when Gabby Douglas edged out Jordyn Wieber for the all-around title at the Olympic Trials, and while the 16-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia, can be inconsistent at times, she's as talented a gymnast as any in the world.

As evidenced by her nickname of "The Flying Squirrel," the uneven bars are Douglas' best event, but the youngster will suffer a misstep on her aerial routine that becomes one of the factors that opens the door for the aforementioned Ross shocker.

No matter, though, as Douglas will turn to one of the motivational quotes that WHIO-TV reports she uses, "No fear, no pain, no mercy!" to perform the best routine in the floor exercises of her life and win the gold medal that many expect her to, even if it's in an event they had not anticipated.

Jodyn Wieber Will Win Three Gold Medals

Hey, I said these predictions were bold.

As mentioned in the title slide, 17-year-old Jordyn Wieber is the reigning all-around world champion and is considered by many to be the finest female gymnast in the world.

Wieber will leave no question as to who the holder of that title is after all is said and done in London. The teenager from DeWitt, Michigan, will pull off a trifecta for the ages by surprisingly winning gold on the balance beam, capturing the women's all-around competition and earning her third gold medal when....

The United States Will Steamroll to the Team Gold Medal

Maroney's broken toe? No "big" deal.

The Sports Illustrated cover curse? Forget about it.

This quintet of young ladies is a close-knit bunch of supremely talented gymnasts who may well have only scratched the surface of their immense potential.

That potential will be on full display in the team competition. Not only will the United States women's gymnastic team win their first team gold medal in 16 years, but they will dispatch the Russians, Chinese and Romanians with ease and ferocity.

The rest of the world will be so struck with awe at the American team's runaway victory that it will set the stage for all the predictions preceding this one.