© John Cheng

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 1, 2012 – Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance, earned an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games in London after posting the highest two-day total in the all-around, 123.450, at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,526 fans at the HP Pavilion at San Jose (Calif.).

The complete women’s U.S. Olympic team is comprised of: Douglas; McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./AOGC; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics; Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max; and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA. Three replacement athletes were also selected: Sarah Finnegan of St. Louis, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics; and Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes.

Douglas, Wieber (123.350), and Raisman (120.950) took the top three spots in the all-around standings.

"All of this hard work has definitely paid off," Douglas said. "I just can’t wait to wear those red, white and blue stripes down my back. It felt like a dream come true."

"It feels amazing to be an Olympian," Wieber said. "This is definitely the best day of my life and knowing that all of my hard work has paid off is amazing. I’m just so proud of each and every girl who competed here today."

Douglas and Wieber came down to the wire. Wieber performed first in the final rotation, performing a solid Amanar vault to score 15.800. Douglas took to the floor exercise needing to post better than 15.200 to win the Olympic Trials and secure the automatic Olympic berth. She delivered a 15.300 after executing a one-and-a-half through to triple full mount.

In the first rotation, Douglas wasted no time as the night’s first competitor, performing a nearly flawless Amanar to score a 16.000. On the uneven bars, Douglas kept her calm as her hand slipped on her Pak salto, not missing a beat to score 15.900. Douglas posted a 14.850 on the balance beam.

Wieber started competition on the uneven bars with a 15.350, sticking her full-twisting double-layout dismount. Wieber executed a front aerial to one-arm back handspring to layout stepout on the balance beam in the second rotation, posting a 14.900. Wieber’s energetic floor routine brought the house down and scored a 15.600.

Steady throughout every routine, Raisman received her highest score on the floor exercise, 15.500, where she performed her signature opening pass, a one-and-a-half through to Arabian double, punch layout.

"I don’t even know what to say – I’m so speechless right now," Raisman said. "I feel so honored and so excited. I didn’t think I would get this emotional about it, but I’m thinking about all of the hard work it has taken to get to this."

Raisman also received scores of 14.450, uneven bars; 15.400, balance beam; and 15.300, vault.

Completing the American squad for the London Olympics, Ross and Maroney posted combined all-around totals of 120.000 and 117.650, respectively.

"This is the most surreal feeling," said an emotional Ross. "Hearing my name called, I couldn’t even believe it."

Ross dazzled on the uneven bars where her opening combination, a toe-on Shaposhnikova to Pak salto, helped her earn her highest score of the night, a 15.650. She also earned scores of 15.150, vault; 15.050, balance beam; and 14.750, floor.

Maroney’s incredible height on her Amanar vault captivated the crowd and scored a 16.150. Nearly sticking her second vault, a Mustafina, she earned a 15.750 and a 15.950 two-vault average. Maroney also scored 13.700, uneven bars; 15.000, balance beam; and 14.500, floor.

"This is the best feeling – it’s just so amazing," said Maroney. "I’m in shock right now. I think this will be the happiest I’ll ever be in my life."

All athletes named to the Olympic Team are subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors.

Background information

  • HP Pavilion. HP Pavilion at San Jose, managed by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, hosts nearly 100 sporting events annually including more than 40 San Jose Sharks regular season home games and the SAP Open men’s professional tennis tournament. The building hosts approximately 170 events every year — including Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners and a variety of family and children’s favorites that account for more than 200 event days. Pollstar, the leading concert industry trade magazine, nominated HP Pavilion at San Jose as "Arena of the Year" for 2005 and 2007. In 2007, Pollstar also recognized HP Pavilion at San Jose based on non-sports attendance as fourth in North America, top 10 in the world. Over the past 10 years, HP Pavilion at San Jose has consistently been in the Top 5 in North America and top 10 in the world.

  • San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose’s economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City’s sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org.

  • City of San Jose. From its founding in 1777 as California’s first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world’s leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the United States, is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov.

  • San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB). The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB), a 25 year old organization focused on enhancing the image and economic well being of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose, a unique customer service model that works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts leadership and business community to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. Team San Jose manages the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose, including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.

  • San Jose Hotels Inc. (SJHI). San Jose Hotels Inc., is a hotels-led, non-profit business improvement district representing 35 San Jose-based hotels. SJHI leverages destination investment focused on event sponsorship, marketing and public relations to attract conventions, events and meetings to San Jose through a unique partnership with Team San Jose and the SJCVB.