Women’s Gymnastics Team Event Always Dramatic [Video]

In my Olympic preview for Tuesday, I am going to focus on the Team Event in Women's Gymnastics.  Tuesday night, the U.S. women's team will go for their first gold since the Atlanta games in 1996.  And everyone remembers that night, right?  That's the night Kerri Strug caused the lights to go out in Georgia with a clutch vault she nailed on just one foot!  Take a look . . .

Ah . . . memories!  And you can expect more to be made in London.  Tonight, the current U.S. team, arguably the most talented collection of gymnasts in American history, hopes for a much less dramatic finish to the team competition, but they fully expect the result to be the same . . . GOLD!

 But for the Fab Five there has already been high drama.  During qualifications, defending world champion Jordyn Wieber failed to qualify for the individual all-around because two of her teammates were better.  In fact, Aly Raisman was 2nd overall and Gabby Douglas was 3rd.  Wieber was 4th and nonsensical gymnastics rules prohibit more than two athletes from any nation to compete in the invididual all-around and apparatus event finals.  It's a really stupid rule . . . that remains a rule.  And, unfortunately, Jordyn Wieber is paying the price.  That's how strong and deep this U.S. squad is.  Make no mistakes!  They are heavy favorite to win gold.  But they're going to need Jordyn Wieber, who had high hopes for herself as an individual, to step up and help bring it home for the team. 

Also tonight in primetime .. . drama in the pool as Michael Phelps goes for gold in his signature event, the 200-meter butterfly.  He needs it.  So far, his Olympics hasn't had golden luster and his teammate and rival Ryan Lochte faltered last night dramatically in the men's 200 Free. 

And on the women's side, U.S. teen phenom Missy Franklin, who won gold last night in the backstroke, squares off with teammate Allison Schmitt in the women's 200 Free. 

Catch all the day's highlights on NBA primetime, which begins at 6.  And expect a big night of medals for Team USA!