Jordyn Wieber
Sport: Gymnastics
Nation: United States of America
DOB: July 12, 1995
Hometown: DeWitt, MI
Career Highlights: The defending all-around world champion enters these Olympics with perhaps more attention and expectations surrounding her
than any other gymnast. Though Gabby Douglas' victory at the U.S. trials may have established her as the favorite in the eyes
of some, anything less than the all-around title for Wieber in London will almost certainly be seen as a disappointment. The
U.S. champion in 2011 and '12 and three-time American Cup winner is perhaps the most accomplished gymnast headed to London,
and she could be competing with a chip on her shoulder after being edged out by Douglas at the trials - only the second time
Wieber had lost an all-around competition since 2008. Unlike most elite gymnasts, Wieber is not considered to have a weak
event among the four that could dash her hopes for all-around gold. Although not exceptional on the uneven bars, she has worked
hard to solidify her performance on that apparatus to complement her dominance in the other three competitions. Wieber translates
her intense and powerful style of gymnastics, coupled with precision, across all four events. Her aggressive approach and
confidence allow her to perform high-difficulty, high-value moves that lead to big scores and can put opponents at an immediate
disadvantage. Wieber began doing the Amanar vault, so hard that few women even try it, at age 13. Highly experienced in international
competition and having made the rounds on the national talk-show circuit leading up to the Games, Wieber seems unlikely to
be fazed by the huge expectations often attached to top U.S. women gymnasts at the Olympics. She helped carry the United States
to all-around gold at the 2011 world championships and will be looking to do the same with a powerful and heavily favored
squad in London.
Olympic History: None