London Olympics: 5 Reasons Why Aly Raisman Will Take Gymnastics All-Around

After dominating the team final Monday night, USA gymnastics is looking for yet another huge victory in the individual all-around.

But with Jordyn Wieber failing to make the cut, there is some doubt that the U.S. will grab the gold.

No need. Even though Gabby Douglas is presumed to be the one hope for the Americans in the event, the true threat may very well be team captain Aly Raisman.

The 18-year-old is prime to contend in the individual final, and should not be considered a dark horse, but rather a favorite in the competition.

And there are plenty of reasons why.

Something More to Prove

Jordyn Wieber or Gabby Douglas? Athletes can say all they want about how they don't read the headlines, and don't care what people say about them.

All the talk coming into the gymnastics program of the Olympics was based on those two names, and not Aly Raisman.

But could you blame anyone for it? After all, Wieber and Douglas were to be the next Nastia Liukin-Shawn Johnson dynamic duo. Raisman was merely supposed to be the 2012 version of Alicia Sacramone, minus the embarrassing routine on balance beam.

Raisman surprised everyone though by taking the second spot for the U.S. in the all-around. But it really shouldn't have come with much shock and awe at all.

The fact that Wieber missed out on the final was unfortunate (complete bogus may be a better term), but any doubt that Raisman won't rise to the occasion is just fuel to her fire.

We quickly realize that she's been extremely undervalued, and she plans on showing just how much in the all-around final.

Focus

Physically, Aly Raisman is one of the most advanced gymnasts of her time. But mentally, she has no equal.

Focus is the name of the game for Raisman, who always seems to be calm, cool and collected in the most tense of moments.

During the team final, Raisman was spotted calming down Gabby Douglas before the latter went out for her beam routine.

There are the type of performers like Douglas, the gymnasts that are practically bouncing off walls even between apparatuses. Then there are the performers such as Russia's Aliya Mustafina, divas that aren't afraid to show their lack of composure.

Then there's the Aly Raismans of the world. There aren't too many like her, and none at the same level as her in the relaxed department.

It's rare to find so much style and grace in what seems to be a mind resembling robotics, equipped with built-in routines and not an ounce of stress.

But that's yet another advantage Raisman has when stepping on the big stage.

Competition

The 1-2 finish we all expected could very well still come to fruition, even if Wieber won't be competing.

Because beyond Raisman and Douglas, there may not be much depth in the all-around.

Mustafina is one-half of a terrific pairing of stars from Russia, and should be considered the dark horse for the all-around event.

Her teammate, Viktoria Komova, is the lead candidate to take down the Americans, but some question the inconsistency lately of the Russian gymnasts.

Besides the Russian duo, Romania's Larisa Iordache would have also been considered a contender, but has been set back with injury.

With that being said, the potential of the two Russians is what makes the rest of the world respect them. But Raisman still won't face quite as much talent as she would have in the all-arounds of the past.

Floor Routine

Raisman finished the team final Monday night for the U.S., showing off an impressive floor routine that may be her ticket to the top of the podium.

While her performances on beam have been almost equally magnificent in the recent past, Raisman's floor routine is a borderline masterpiece.

She is considered the best tumbler in the world, and the entire routine is perfectly proportionate between power and grace.

Douglas had her own champion-like turn on the floor during Monday's team final, but Raisman is still considered the best out of the two in that particular event.

If she can get by Douglas' jaw-dropping uneven bars show, she will have her moment to once again secure a gold medal on the floor.

Consistency

If focus isn't Raisman's middle name, then consistency definitely should be.

While she dominates on the floor and beam, her other two rotations aren't considered anything with a "high-ceiling" score. But don't expect her to have much taken off in deductions.

Raisman is the most reliable performer in the world, never costing her team, never receiving poor scores.

And while many of the competitors around her seem to be hit-or-miss the majority of the time, Raisman is always putting up solid numbers, with the potential for greatness.

So while she may not light up the world on the bars or vault, don't expect her to ruin her chances on those events either.

And that sets her up for the beam and floor, rotations where she is one of the most dangerous, and consistent, competitors.