Olympic qualifying competition results
The 2011 world championships in October served as the first team qualifying competition for artistic gymnastics. The top eight teams from preliminaries, on both the men's and women's sides, received an automatic berth to the London Olympics.
Women's Artistic Gymnastics
Team Prelims Results, 2011 Worlds:
1. United
States 234.253
2. Russia 231.062
3. China 230.370
4. Romania 227.228
5. Japan 223.543
6. Australia 221.846
7. Germany 221.163
8. Great Britain 220.553
The next eight teams (those ranked 9-16 at the 2011 worlds; Italy, France, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Korea and Belgium)) had a chance to qualify to the Olympics at the London Test Event (also called the London Prepares Series and the very-confusing Visa International Gymnastics), held January 7-13, 2012. Of these eight teams, the top four qualified to the Olympics:
London Test Event Results:
1. Italy 224.621
2. Canada 221.913
3. France 220.744
4. Brazil 217.985
Get the full results from the London Test Event.
Of note:
- Ukraine, a former powerhouse country that produced 1996 Olympic all-around champion Lilia Podkopayeva, has missed the cut for any chance to qualify in London; the team placed 19th, with very low beam and floor scores, at the 2011 worlds.
- Mexico, the bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 Pan Ams, just barely missed out on a chance to qualify for London. The squad placed 17th overall, only one spot too low.
- Great Britain's women's team qualified in the final, eighth place spot for an automatic berth to its home country's Games.
- Countries qualify to compete at the London Olympics, but the individual gymnasts that comprise each team don't necessarily. For example, Jordyn Wieber led the United States to the top spot in qualifying to London, but is not individually guaranteed to compete for the US at the Games. Each country can name its Olympic team roster as it chooses. (Get the United States Olympic team Selection Procedures here.)
- Brazil, a team that has had past stand-outs like 2003 world floor champ Daiane dos Santos and 2007 world all-around bronze medalist Jade Barbosa, just made the cut, qualifying in the final spot at the Olympic Test Event. Check out the Brazilian media coverage of the event. Even if you don't know Portuguese, it's touching to watch. Longtime veteran Daniele Hypolito is completely overwhelmed with emotion after hitting her beam set, the final routine of the night for Brazil (at 2:20).
Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Team Prelims Results, 2011 Worlds:
1. Japan 364.291
2. United
States 361.583
3. China 359.126
4. Germany 354.132
5. Russia 353.725
6. Korea 351.331
7. Romania 350.900
8. Ukraine 350.434
As with the women, these men's team received an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games. The next eight teams (France, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Italy, and Belarus) competed for four spots to the Games, at the London Test Event:
London Test Event Results:
1. Great Britain 358.227
2. France 350.659
3. Spain 347.292
4. Italy 346.334
Get the full results from the London Test Event.
The home team just missed the first qualification, placing 10th at the 2011 worlds. But Great Britain did qualify to the Olympics at the London Test Event after their first place finish at the event.
More on the 2012 Olympics:
All About the London Games
Meet the US Olympic Team
Medal Predictions for London (Women's Gymnastics)
