Every four years, five gymnasts are given the opportunity to represent their country in the Olympics games for the United States. This year, 14 athletes are competing for a spot on the Olympic team from the United States that will travel to Rio in August. The youngest athlete competing is 15 and the oldest is 23-years-old.
For these young gymnasts, the Olympics have been their dream for their entire lives. They have dedicated all of their time to training for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent team USA in the biggest competition of their lives. They have sacrificed so much to try and reach their goal.
With the Olympic Trials happening on June 8 and 10 in San Jose, California, here is a list of eight potential gymnasts you could see on the 2016 United States Olympic gymnastics team.
1. Simone Biles
After the 2012 Olympics, 19-year-old Simone Biles made her splash into the gymnastics spotlight. She is currently a three-time world all-around champion, 14-time world medalist and four-time national all-around champion. Simone Biles is definitely a top contender to make the Olympic team. Her incredibly difficult routines blow her competition out of the water. In Rio, she could potentially come away with five gold medals in the team, all around, floor exercise, vault and balance beam competitions. Simone is a force to be dealt with in gymnastics.
2. Gabby Douglas
Gabby Douglas, 20, is the reining 2012 Olympic all-around champion. Her goal is to be the first woman to successfully defend her all-around title in Rio since Vera Caslavska. Winning silver in the all-around at last year's world competition, Douglas proved that she is still a force to be reckoned with on all four events.
3. Aly Raisman
Aly Raisman, 22, is the reining 2012 Olympic floor exercise champion. Her comeback is definitely something to watch. Just two weeks ago, she placed second to Simone Biles in the all-around competition. She also finished second in three out of four apparatuses at the championships, behind Biles in each event.
4. Laurie Hernandez
Laurie Hernandez, 16, is a gymnast that rose to the senior division in 2016. When competing at nationals two weeks ago, she placed third in the all-around competition. Hernandez is overall a dominant athlete and gymnast who brings amazing spunky energy to all of her routines.
5. Ashton Locklear
Ashton Locklear, 18, is an uneven bars and beam specialist. Where Locklear shines is on the uneven bars. In St. Louis, she beat out her closest competition, Kocian, by .15 over two nights.
6. Madison Kocian
Madison Kocian, 19, is the reigning uneven bars champion at the 2015 Worlds competition. She also placed fifth in the all-around competition at nationals two weeks ago. Kocian would contribute to the team the most on uneven bars, the event where she shines.
7. MyKayla Skinner
MyKayla Skinner, 19, is a gymnast that has a lot of difficulty in her routines. Skinner could help the U.S. team mainly on vault and on floor.
8. Ragan Smith
Ragan Smith, 15, is the youngest gymnast competing at Olympic trials. This is her first year competing in the senior level and she can definitely contribute to Team USA on the balance beam.
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