After leading the US to gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, many had high hopes that the Women's Artistic Gymnastics National Team - The "Fierce Five" - would return for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. While many Olympians return to the games, gymnastics has a significantly lower return rate.
Elite female gymnasts often have short careers. Body changes due to puberty can significantly affect a gymnasts ability to perform well. Holding extra weight means you have to be stronger. Growing an inch or two means you won't be able to flip as quickly as you used to. Younger girls are at an advantage and older girls can't keep up. In fact, no female US gymnast has gone to back-to-back games since Dominique Dawes and Amy Chow in 2000.
By the time the 2016 Olympic Games come around, the ages of the Fierce Five will range from 19-22, leaving them far past their prime. At the conclusion of the 2012 games, four of the five confirmed they intended to return in 2016. However, since 2000, six female US olympic gymnasts have tried and failed.
With Olympic qualifications less than a year away, it's time to check in on the Fierce Five.
Jordyn Wieber
Jordyn Wieber went into the 2012 games as the favorite to win all-around gold in London. However, due to a few minor mistakes, an ankle injury, and the two-per-country rule, she failed to qualify for the all-around finals. Still, her efforts during the team competition helped earn another gold medal for the US.
After the devastating heartbreak, many had hoped Wieber would return to the games in 2016 and bring home the all-around gold. Wieber remained quiet about whether or not she intended to return to the games. After taking a year off, she returned to the gym, leading many to believe she had her sights set on Rio.
However, after spending two years in college at UCLA the gymnast announced she was retiring from gymnastics, writing "Deciding to end that part of my life was one of the most difficult, emotion-filled decisions I have ever made."
Gabby Douglas
At the age of 16, Gabby Douglas became the first African-American woman to win gold in the women's all-around competition with her unique blend of power and poise. After a brief post-Olympic break, the 2012 Olympic all-around champion returned to the gym in May 2013 with plans to make it back to Rio.
Douglas returned to competition with the US team at the 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy in May. Douglas made a strong return, placing fourth in the all-around finals, scoring 58.900. Douglas continued her success finishing second in the all-around at the Secret US Classic with a score of 60.500 and fifth in the all-around at the P&G Championships with a score of 59.280.
Douglas appears to be a serious contender for a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.
Aly Raisman
Aly Raisman was the oldest member and team captain of the Fierce Five at the London Games. Raisman left the Games with the most medals; gold on team, gold on floor, and bronze on beam.
Raisman took a break from gymnastics and even made it to the finals during her run on Dancing With the Stars. Raisman returned to the gym in 2014 to begin training. Raisman returned to competition alongside Gabby Douglas at the 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy in May 2015, earning the bronze in the all-around finals with a score of 59.100. Raisman once again claimed the bronze in the all-around finals at the P&G Championships with a score of 59.900.
If Raisman continues to compete at this level, she is likely to make the 2016 Olympic team
McKayla Maroney
McKayla Maroney made the 2012 Olympic team based to her incredible power on vault. Maroney's near-perfect Amanar during the team finals remains one of the best vaults ever seen in elite competition. While she was expected to easily capture the gold medal during the vault finals, a botched landing left her with the silver. Maroney announced her intention to return for the 2016 Summer Games immediately following the conclusion of the London Games
Maroney returned to competition in July 2013 at the US Secret Classic where she earned the gold on vault, and the bronze on floor. During the 2013 P&G Championships Maroney continued her success, claiming the gold medal on vault and floor. At the 2013 World Championships, Maroney recieved the gold on vault.
In March 2014, Maroney underwent surgery on her knee. Since the surgery, her future in gymnastics remains unclear.
Kyla Ross
The youngest member of the Fierce Five never took a break from gymnastics following the London Games. Ross was in the gym and back in competition by March 2013.
While Ross has been a clean and consistent competitor over the past two years, with Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas back in competition, Ross's scores are no longer making the cut.
Ross was notably left off the nominative roster for the 2015 World Championships after getting tenth place in the all-around finals at the P&G Championships in August. Ross withdrew from the 2015 World Championship team selection camp to focus on training.
Ross will have to upgrade her routines if she hopes to make the 2016 Olympic team.
