2012 Olympics | July 27 - August 12
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Jordyn Wieber

Jordyn WieberSport: 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

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