Olympic Gymnastics 2012: Jordyn Wieber Needs to Forget All-Around Failure

Missing out on qualification for the all-around competition at the 2012 Games came as a severe personal blow to gymnast Jordyn Wieber. However, if Team USA want to win their first gold since the 1996 Olympics they will need their star asset to fire on all cylinders.

Team USA's main competition for the gold will come from arch rival Russia, who are determined to regain their place as the world's best.

In 2010, the Russians won the World Championship, but were then comprehensively overtaken in 2011 by a stronger-looking U.S.

Wieber was inconsolable on Sunday after her failure to qualify, and was seen crying in her coaches arms.

Alexandra Raisman, who knocked Wieber out of the competition, was understandably upset for her American counterpart and was quoted as saying (via Business Week):

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“I feel really bad knowing how much she wanted it, I had no idea that I was in the position to outscore her. I was completely focusing on my exercises and not on the scores."

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The two will now compete together for the team medal and will have to brush off any ill feelings to one another if they are to be successful.

Wieber went public on Twitter after the loss, announcing: "I am so proud of our team today and I can't wait for team finals!!"

With (top form) Raisman and Weiber, Team USA look stronger than they have in many years and British gymnast, Rebecca Tunney agrees.

While speaking to the Associated Press, Tunney staked her predictions for Tuesday night's events:

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"We knew the Americans were going to be up there. They're going to be unbeatable."

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Let's hope she's on to something!