Olympic Gymnastics Results 2012: US Team Gold Far Outshines Individual Glory

The U.S. women's gymnastics team won its first gold medal since 1996 simply because they were the best team out there. In doing so, it delivered what could arguably be called the biggest moment in U.S. gymnastics history.

The all-team effort and success is exactly what the U.S. gymnastics program needs. Young girls across the country will be watching Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Gabby Doulas, McKayla Maroney and Kyla Ross and want to become gymnasts just like them.

Forget the Wieber all-around drama, forget how medals await the individual members, forget the U.S. trials drama. This victory is bigger than anything else because it proves that this was the perfect combination, the perfect team to represent America in the gymnastics finals.

There was not a breathtaking moment or a single super star; the atmosphere was not tense heading into the final rotation; and spectators were nervous but nobody was hiding in the corner out of fear to watch.

Yes, Russia had a rough meet and a horrendous floor performance, but Team USA beat them by five points. The Americans would have won either way. They were just that good.

People may argue that it will be just as big of a deal if Douglas or Raisman wins the all-around gold medal.

Not a chance.

The team gold medal is always the most coveted because it shows the country's dominance.

It will be huge if Raisman or Douglas wins the all-around gold, but it will just add support for Team USA’s foothold at the peak of the sport. 

The Chinese men’s team won the 2008 team gold medal by more than seven points. Then the Chinese went on to claim gold in seven out of eight individual events. The American women could potentially do the same thing and cement the already obvious fact: the U.S. women are a gymnastics powerhouse. And they aren’t going anywhere.

Now the United States has respect as a gymnastics powerhouse—respect they have been hoping to gain in the last two Olympics. Both times, Team USA came into the Olympics as the defending world champions and failed to leave with gold. The Americans have finally broke that curse. It’s also important to mention that they broke the Sports Illustrated cover curse, which I’m sure all the executives at SI are cheering about.

The team gold medal is the second in the history of U.S. women’s gymnastics and will likely pave the way for many more in years to come.

The best aspect of the win was how the Americans had basically won before floor and they just owned their routines. That was the only time I’ve ever seen Wieber smile in the middle of a routine. (I’m also very excited that Wieber has her gold medal).

The women will forever go down in history as the "Fab Five" or the "Fierce Five"—we’ll have to see which name sticks. They deserve to be remembered as a team because it is together that they lived up to their expectations. 

The magazine covers, billboards and cereal boxes can fit five heads for every victorious women’s gymnast.

It doesn't matter what happens in the individual comments. Nothing can overshadow the glory of Team USA finally winning another team gold medal.