Meet the USA Women's Gymnastics Team: 5 Things to Know

New "Fierce Five" has been announced and they're headed to Rio

By Francesca Bacardi Jul 11, 2016 1:23 PMTags
Gabby DouglasAP Photo/Jae C. Hong

We officially have a Team USA for women's gymnastics!

Five women have been selected to travel to Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games to represent Team USA in gymnastics. After incredibly difficult Olympic trials, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian were announced as the team headed to Brazil. The three replacement athletes traveling with the team are Mykayla Skinner, Ragan Smith and Ashton Locklear.

While some of the names might sound familiar—they've been to the Olympics before—others are brand new to the intensive games. Before the 2016 Olympic games kick off in August, here are five things to know about the USA's women's gymnastics team:

1. Douglas, 20 won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the individual all-around, becoming the first African-American woman, as well as the first woman of color of any nationality, to win the event. That same year her team also won the gold medal in the team all-around.

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The Olympics in Pop Culture
Cal Sport Media via AP Images

2. Although this will be Biles', 19, first time participating in the Olympic Games, she's hardly a newcomer to gymnastics. Biles' many accolades include being the three-time world all-around champion, four-time U.S. national all-around champion, three-time world floor champion, two-time world balance beam champion and a member of the gold medal-winning American team at the 2014 and the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Not too shabby.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

3. Raisman and Douglas were teammates on the 2012 gold medal-winning Olympic team, aka the "Fierce Five." At 22, Raisman is the oldest competitor on the team.

Cal Sport Media via AP Images

4. Hernandez, 16, is the first Latina gymnast to participate in the Olympics since Annia Hatch in 2004. She has become an instant sensation in recent months, growing in fame and popularity as a result of her jaw-dropping beam routine.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

5. Kocian, 19, became the 2015 world champion on uneven bars and will serve as the team's "specialist" when she gets to Rio.

Now that we have a new Fierce Five, what do you think Team USA's nickname should be? Sound off in the comments with your ideas!

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