Jordyn Wieber Secures Grand Legacy Despite Failure to Reach All-Around Event

Jordyn Wieber was left heartbroken at the end of the 2012 Olympic Games gymnastics qualifying session that left her out of the individual all-around competition, but she found an eternal spot in the annals of USA Olympic history with her sterling performance and gold medal in the team competition. 

Wieber, the reigning world all-around champ, entered London as one of the favorites to win the all-around gold. Qualifying for that competition seemed like an afterthought.

The problem ended up being not Wieber's performance, but how good Team USA was. Wieber finished fourth in the all-around standings, but her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas finished second and third respectively and only two women can advance to the individual all-around from one team. 

This certainly highlights a flaw with the rule. Any person who is fourth in qualifying should have a spot in a 24-person field, but the rule is what it is, and it left Wieber on the outside looking in on what is likely her only chance to compete for an individual all-around Olympic medal—in this day and age of gymnastics, it is unlikely that any American woman will have the longevity to compete in two Olympic Games. 

Wieber is currently 17, and the oldest participant of this year's team is Aly Raisman at 18.  

So here is Wieber with one shot to claim her legacy as one of the great gymnasts of her time, and it slipped through her grasp because she will not be able to compete in the all around. 

However, Wieber wound up earning something that will net her an even bigger legacy with the team gold, and she was a huge reason why they captured that glorious hardware.  

She started the meet off by nailing her two-and-a-half twisting Amanar vault. This is not a simple move, and few gymnasts have the nerve to attempt it. She earned a 15.993 for her effort and set the tone for her team. 

It was all dominance for Team USA after that. By the time Wieber ended her night with an excellent floor routine, worth a 15.0, all that was needed to capture gold was essentially Aly Raisman to keep from face-planting in her floor routine. 

This was a statement win for the group we have come to know as the Fab Five. They are one of the most dominant gymnastic squads ever assembled and certainly the most dominant in U.S. history. 

The impact this win had on the American public was immediately evident. It earned them, among many other things, a call from President Barack Obama, a spot on NBC's Today Show and shout outs from numerous celebrities like Justin Bieber (which is probably far more important to them than it would be for me). 

These women are going to be the most identifiable aspect of these Olympic Games for Americans, and in many ways, Jordyn Wieber is still the face of this team. 

She will still get endorsement deals, and she will forever be remembered as a great Olympic champion. And she will ever be able to happily reflect on being a part of an unbeatable team.