NEW: Massachusetts Gymnast Takes Home Three Olympic Medals
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Raisman (second from left) during the team medal ceremony. Photo via facebook.com/AlyRaisman
Raisman was at her best on Tuesday as she competed in the finals of the beam and floor exercise. After securing a bronze on the beam, she delivered a gold-medal winning performance on the floor, scoring a 15.600.
It was originally announced that Raisman placed fourth on the beam. However, after the judges reviewed her performance, Raisman was awarded an extra tenth of a point in her difficulty score, leaving her in a tie for third with Romania’s Catalina Ponor. According to tiebreaking rules, the execution score decides the winner. In this case, Raisman came out on top and made her first individual appearance on the podium.
The results on the beam came just days after tiebreaking rules left Raisman off the podium in the individual all around. Luckily for Raisman, the controversial rules leaned in her favor the second time around.
Shortly after her beam final Raisman competed in the floor exercise. A favorite going into the apparatus with the highest qualifying score (15.325), Raisman had her best chance for an individual Olympic gold. At the end of the competition Raisman’s strong performance remained untouched and the 18-year old U.S. women’s gymnastics team captain took the top spot.
Raisman will leave London with three medals in total, including the gold won in team competition. Those three medals make Raisman the most decorated American gymnast at the 2012 Games.
The Sarifices the Come With Raising an Olympian
A recent graduate from Needham High School, Raisman has her family here with her in London. Her parents made headlines during team competition, as a video of their reaction to her bar routine went viral.
The Massachusetts family has made many sacrifices over the years in order to give Aly every opportunity to achieve her Olympic dreams.
Lynn Raisman told GoLocal’s Brittany Devane, “It was definitely a lot driving her back and forth [from training]…The last four years it was more than once a day bringing her back and fourth. It was kind of hard, but she was so into it and so dedicated that we just did it.”
In addition to the time commitment, this trip to London has presented a large financial expense for the Raismans as well. Although Aly’s trip is paid for, Lynn and Rick Raisman pay everything else out of pocket—including airfare and hotel stays for themselves and their three other children. The International Olympic Committee provided two tickets to each event Aly competed in, but the Raismans had to purchase any additional tickets on their own.
“It’ll be expensive,” said Lynn before the games. “It is what it is. It’s a once in a lifetime thing, so of course we’re excited. Everyone’s going.”
For the Raismans, every sacrifice proved to be worth it. “[The Olympics] are a dream come true for her,” said Rick. “She’s worked so hard for long. To be here and be the captain and win team gold, it’s so great.” “We’re really proud of her and really happy for her,” added her mother.
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