Jordyn Wieber
© John Cheng

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 29, 2012 – Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA, posted a 61.700 in the all-around to take the all-around lead at the halfway point of the U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics at the HP Pavilion at San Jose (Calif.). Gabby Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance, followed in second at 61.400, with Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan’s American Gymnastics, rounding out the top three with her 60.300. Competition continues tomorrow with the final day of men’s competition beginning at 4 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.

Wieber, who comes into this competition as the reigning U.S and World all-around champion, started on vault with a 15.900 for her Amanar. On the uneven bars, Wieber was solid, upgrading her dismount to a full-twisting double layout, scoring 15.300. Wieber showed precision and calmness on the balance beam to post a 15.050. In the final rotation, Wieber dazzled on the floor, sticking her double twisting, double back mount for a 15.400.

"Today went pretty well. My main goal was to go out there and do confident routines," Wieber said. "The crowd was awesome – I love seeing the stands full and hearing them cheer before I go up for a routine."

Douglas shook off an error on the uneven bars to score a 15.250 before moving to the balance beam, where she was solid through a standing full and back handspring, back handspring, double pike dismount (14.900). Douglas had the crowd clapping along to her energetic floor routine in rotation three, executing a one-and-a-half to triple full mount, good for a 15.450. Douglas finished tonight’s competition with an Amanar vault, earning a 15.800. Her coach, Liang Chow, caught her up in an embrace on the podium.

"I’m very happy, but I had a couple of mistakes that I’ll work on during tomorrow’s training," Douglas said. "I want to comeback and fight on Sunday."

Rounding out the top three was Raisman, who was solid throughout the entire competition. Raisman began her competition on the vault, performing an Amanar for a 15.550. In rotation two, she posted a 14.200 on the uneven bars. On the balance beam, her steady routine and nearly stuck Patterson dismount was rewarded with a 14.950. The final rotation moved Raisman to the floor where she performed to ‘Hava Nagila’ and dismounted with a double pike split jump for a 15.600.

"I’m really happy with how today went," said Raisman. "I didn’t know how I was going to feel competing at Olympic Trials, but I’m just proud that everyone went out and had a great competition."

Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes, posted the fourth best score in the all-around, 59.600, behind a huge 16.050 score in the first rotation for her Amanar vault. Price also scored 14.500, uneven bars; 14.150, balance beam; and 14.900, floor exercise.

In fifth place in the all-around after the first day of competition is Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max, with a 59.400. Ross recorded her highest score of the day, a 15.500, on the uneven bars, where she performed a Maloney to Pak salto and a stuck double layout dismount. Ross earned scores of 14.500, vault; 14.900, beam; and 14.500, floor.

The highest scores for each event were: McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./AOGC, vault, 16.100; Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics, and Ross, uneven bars, 15.500; Sarah Finnegan of St. Louis Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express, balance beam, 15.100; and Raisman, floor, 15.600.

Maroney also had the highest two vault average score of the meet, with a 15.750.

Single-session tickets range in price from $36-$102, including facility fees. The prices vary according to seat location and session. Four multi-session and all-session ticket packages are still available. Multi-session packages, ranging in price from $78 to $236, include a 3-day weekend package; a two-day women’s package; and a finals package featuring the final day of competition for both men and women.

All tickets may be purchased through ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets and the HP Pavilion Ticket Office. In recognition of Visa’s long-time support, USA Gymnastics is proud to accept only Visa at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, along with cash. For more information and details on the ticket packages, go to www.sanjose2012.com.

 

Television, webcast and YouTube coverage

NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus, will broadcast the first day of men’s competition live on June 28 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. ET. Then, NBC will broadcast live coverage on television and at NBCOlympics.com of the remaining three days of competition: women’s day one, June 29, 9-11 p.m. ET; men’s final day, June 30, 4-6 p.m. ET; and women’s final day, July 1, 9-11 p.m. ET.

Television coverage of the women’s competitions on June 29 and July 1 will be tape delayed in the Pacific and Mountain time zones but available live nationwide online. For a complete schedule of NBC’s coverage, click here.

USA Gymnastics will provide coverage of podium training prior to the event, as well as post-competition interviews and more on its official YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/usagymnaticsorg.

Ways to follow

  • Online. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics and its ancillary activities are easier than ever to follow online. Schedules and general information for both fan activities and the competition, including the official event program, start lists, live scoring and more are available at www.SanJose2012.com, which is easily viewable on smart phones and other digital devices.

  • Social Media. USA Gymnastics are connecting with fans on Facebook and Twitter, providing live updates and exclusive content including videos and photos from the Visa Championships. Gymnastics fans can follow the action easily on Twitter by using the official hashtag of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials – Gymnastics, #SanJose2012.

  • Fan Activities. From morning fitness at the Circle of the Palms to the Visa Fan Fest and the AT&T Block Party outside the HP Pavilion, fans will have plenty of opportunities for fun while they enjoy the exciting week of competition in San Jose. Click here for a complete schedule of fan activities.

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.