{{Short description|American women's artistic gymnastics team}} {{good article}} {{Infobox gymnast | name = Fierce Five | fullname = Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber | image = Oval Office - members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team.jpg | caption = Fierce Five members at the White House. Left to right: Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber | country = {{USA}} | discipline = WAG | headcoach = | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = <!-- see Template:MedalRelatedTemplates --> {{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} center|60px {{MedalGold | 2012 London | Team}} {{MedalGold|2012 London|All-around}} {{MedalGold |2012 London| Floor exercise}} {{Medal|Silver|2012 London|Vault}} {{MedalBronze |2012 London| Balance beam}} }}
The '''Fierce Five''' was the artistic gymnastics team that won the second team gold medal for the United States in the women's team competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Originally referred to as the '''Fab Five''', the five members of the team were Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber. Later in the Olympic Games, Douglas won a gold medal in the individual all-around event, becoming the first African-American ever to do so; Maroney won silver on the vault; Raisman, the team captain, won bronze on the balance beam and gold on the floor exercise.
==Team background== Aly Raisman, the oldest team member, became age eligible for senior international competitions in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raisman selected for Tyson American Cup |url=https://usagym.org/raisman-selected-for-tyson-american-cup/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=March 2, 2010}}</ref> That year, she helped the American team win the silver medal behind Russia at the World Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. women win team silver medal at World Championships |url=https://usagym.org/u-s-women-win-team-silver-medal-at-world-championships/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=October 20, 2010}}</ref> Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, and Jordyn Wieber began competing in senior competitions in 2011 and competed at the 2011 World Championships alongside Raisman, Sabrina Vega, and Alicia Sacramone.<ref>{{cite web |title=Youngsters step up for U.S. gymnastics team |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/youngsters-step-up-for-u-s-gymnastics-team-2209451.php |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=October 8, 2011}}</ref> The team won the gold medal by over 4 points ahead of Russia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pucin |first1=Diane |title=U.S. women win world gymnastics title |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-oct-11-la-sp-world-gym-20111012-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> Wieber then won the individual all-around title while Raisman finished fourth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Blythe |title=Jordyn Wieber wins world all-around title |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/story/_/id/7096506/jordyn-wieber-wins-world-gymnastics-all-title |website=ESPN |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=October 13, 2011}}</ref> Maroney won the vault title,<ref>{{cite web |title=Another U.S. Gymnast Wins Gold Medal in Vault |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/sports/2011-world-gymnastics-championships-another-gold-medal-for-us-in-vault.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=October 15, 2011}}</ref> and Wieber and Raisman won bronze medals on the balance beam and floor exercise, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. wins three medals on last day of World Championships |url=https://usagym.org/u-s-wins-three-medals-on-last-day-of-world-championships/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=November 6, 2023 |date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> [[File:Kyla Ross 556.jpg|thumb|right|Ross competing at the 2012 U.S. Classic]] Kyla Ross, the youngest team member, began competing in senior competitions in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pucin |first1=Diane |title=Gymnast Kyla Ross has sights set on U.S. Olympic team |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-jun-02-la-sp-oly-gymnastics-kayla-ross-20120603-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=June 2, 2012}}</ref> She made her senior debut at the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships alongside Wieber, Douglas, and three junior athletes, and they won the team title by nearly 20 points over China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Americans claim six individual senior golds at Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/americans-claim-six-individual-senior-golds-at-pacific-rim-gymnastic-championships/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=March 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=USA, Wieber, Ohashi claim 2012 Kellogg’s Pac Rim titles |url=https://usagym.org/usa-wieber-ohashi-claim-2012-kelloggs-pac-rim-titles/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=March 17, 2012}}</ref> Later that month, Ross, Maroney, and Raisman won another team gold medal at the City of Jesolo Trophy.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. sweeps team, all-around titles at City of Jesolo Trophy |url=https://usagym.org/u-s-sweeps-team-all-around-titles-at-city-of-josolo-trophy/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> Raisman won the all-around title ahead of Ross at the U.S. Classic while Douglas finished first on the uneven bars, Maroney finished first on the vault, and Wieber finished first on the balance beam.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Secret U.S. Classic Meet Results - Seniors |url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12classic_sr.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329004609/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12classic_sr.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |date=May 26, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Then at the U.S. Championships, Wieber won the all-around title ahead of Douglas, while Raisman and Ross finished third and fourth, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Visa Championships - Women Day 2 Meet Results - Seniors |url=https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12vc_sr_aa.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802210409/https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12vc_sr_aa.pdf |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |date=June 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During the warmups, Maroney she fell on a tumbling pass and landed on her back. She was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a minor concussion and nasal fracture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maroney suffers concussion, nasal fracture |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=8034724 |website=ESPN |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=June 10, 2012}}</ref> She was medically cleared to compete at the Olympic Trials less than three weeks later.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sierra |first1=Danny |title=Maroney Cleared to Compete at Trials |url=https://www.flogymnastics.com/articles/5027852-maroney-cleared-to-compete-at-trials |website=FloGymnastics |publisher=FloSports |access-date=December 23, 2024 |date=June 27, 2012}}</ref>
==Olympic Trials== {{main|2012 U.S. Olympic Trials (gymnastics)}} The Olympic Trials for women's artistic gymnastics took place on Friday, June 29, and Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. Both nights of the competition were broadcast by NBC.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chiari |first1=Mike |title=US Olympic Trials Gymnastics Schedule 2012: Dates, Events, Live Stream & TV Info |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1239434-us-olympic-trials-gymnastics-schedule-2012-dates-events-live-stream-tv-info |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=December 24, 2024 |date=June 28, 2012}}</ref> Heading into the Olympic Trials, Douglas, Wieber, and Raisman were considered locks for the team based on their all-around results that year.<ref name="nbcolympics1">{{cite news |url= http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/gymnastics/raismans-steadiness-wins-her-favor-with-karolyi.html|title = Raisman's steadiness wins her favor with Karolyi |last= Armour |first= Nancy |work= NBC Olympics |date= June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612201523/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/gymnastics/raismans-steadiness-wins-her-favor-with-karolyi.html |archive-date=June 12, 2012}}</ref>
Douglas, Wieber, and Raisman finished first, second, and third in the all-around competition. As the winner of the Olympic Trials, Douglas was the automatic qualifier for the team.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Macur |first1=Juliet |title=With Presumed No. 2 in Top Spot, U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team Is Named |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/sports/olympics/douglas-tops-wieber-at-trials-as-olympic-gymnastics-team-is-named.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 24, 2024 |date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> Maroney won the vault competition, Douglas and Ross tied for first on the uneven bars, while Raisman won the balance beam and floor exercise. Afterward, Douglas, Maroney, Raisman, Ross, and Wieber were the five gymnasts chosen to represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The team alternates were Sarah Finnegan, Anna Li, and Elizabeth Price.<ref name="team">{{cite web|url=http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10403&prog=h|title=USA Gymnastics announces women's gymnastics team for 2012 Olympic Games|date=July 1, 2012|work=USA Gymnastics|access-date=August 15, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704091609/https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10403&prog=h|archive-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%" |+Olympic Trials results for the Fierce Five<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 US Olympic Trials - Finals Meet Results - Multi |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12ot_aa.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 24, 2024 |date=July 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2012 US Olympic Trials - Finals Event Rankings |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12ot_events.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 24, 2024 |date=July 1, 2012}}</ref> |- !scope="col"| Gymnast !scope="col"| Day !scope="col"| {{Vault}} !scope="col"| {{Uneven bars}} !scope="col"| {{Balance beam}} !scope="col"| {{Floor (gymnastics)}} !scope="col"|Total |- | rowspan="3" align=left | Gabby Douglas | 1 || 15.800 || 15.250 || 14.900 || 15.450 || 61.400 |- | 2 || 16.000 || 15.900 || 14.850 || 15.300 || 62.050 |-style="background:#fffcaf;" | Total || '''31.800''' || '''31.150''' (=1) || '''29.750''' (6) || '''30.750''' (3) || '''123.450''' (1) |- | rowspan="3" align=left | McKayla Maroney | 1 || 16.100 || 13.350 || 13.650 || 15.200 || 58.300 |- | 2 || 16.150 || 13.700 || 15.000 || 14.500 || 59.350 |- | Total || '''32.250''' (1) || '''27.050''' (11) || '''28.650''' (10) || '''29.700''' (5) || '''117.650''' (7) |- | rowspan="3" align=left | Aly Raisman | 1 || 15.550 || 14.200 || 14.950 || 15.600 || 60.300 |- | 2 || 15.300 || 14.450 || 15.400 || 15.500 || 60.650 |-style="background:#ec9;" | Total || '''30.850''' || '''28.650''' (=8) || '''30.350''' (1) || '''31.100''' (1) || '''120.950''' (3) |- | rowspan="3" align=left | Kyla Ross | 1 || 14.500 || 15.500 || 14.900 || 14.500 || 59.400 |- | 2 || 15.150 || 15.650 || 15.050 || 14.750 || 60.600 |- | Total || '''29.650''' || '''31.150''' (=1) || '''29.950''' (=3) || '''29.250''' (9) || '''120.000''' (5) |- | rowspan="3" align=left | Jordyn Wieber | 1 || 15.900 || 15.350 || 15.050 || 15.400 || 61.700 |- | 2 || 15.800 || 15.350 || 14.900 || 15.600 || 61.650 |-style="background:#e5e5e5;" | Total || '''31.700''' || '''30.700''' (4) || '''29.950''' (=3) || '''31.000''' (2) || '''123.350''' (2) |}
==Nickname and captain== The U.S. media originally dubbed the team the "Fab Five" before the Olympic competition started.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/29/sport/olympics-day-wrap/|title=France rallies to beat United States in men's 4x100 swim relay|date=July 29, 2012|website=CNN|access-date=December 26, 2024|first1=Richard|last1=Allen Greene|first2=Steve|last2=Almasy}}</ref> However, the "Fab Five" was also a nickname given to the five members of the Michigan college basketball team recruited in 1991.<ref name=rexrode/> Jalen Rose, a former Michigan Fab Five member, complained about the gymnastics team being dubbed the Fab Five.<ref name=manzullo>{{cite news|last=Manzullo |first=Brian |title=Jalen Rose takes issue with U.S. gymnasts' nickname |date=August 7, 2012 |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-06/jalen-rose-fab-five-usa-gymnastics-gabby-douglas/56835146/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810022034/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-06/jalen-rose-fab-five-usa-gymnastics-gabby-douglas/56835146/1 |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Maroney and Wieber were credited for changing the team's nickname from the "Fab Five" to the "Fierce Five" a few days before their gold medal win at the Olympics while on the bus to a training session.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fab Five gymnasts become Fierce Five |url=http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/Olympics/Fab-Five-gymnasts-become-Fierce-Five/16029416 |website=Click on Detroit |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612213356/http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/Olympics/Fab-Five-gymnasts-become-Fierce-Five/16029416 |archive-date=June 12, 2015 |date=August 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> They reportedly searched on their phones for words that started with F describing the team. The top choices were feisty and fierce. Maroney and Wieber opted for "fierce", as they said it described their floor routines, and the rest of the team concurred.<ref name="rexrode">{{cite web |last1=Rexrode |first1=Joe |title=With Fab Five 'taken', U.S. gymnasts pick Fierce Five |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/gymnastics/story/2012-08-08/usa-womens-gymnastics-fab-five-fierce-five/56882544/1/ |website=USA Today |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809041434/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/gymnastics/story/2012-08-08/usa-womens-gymnastics-fab-five-fierce-five/56882544/1/ |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |date=August 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Maroney also stated, "There have been Fab Fives in the past but I like Fierce Five because we are definitely the fiercest team out there."<ref>Samuelsen, Jamie. [http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/08/06/jalen-rose-dont-call-the-olympic-gymnasts-the-fab-five/ "Jalen Rose: Don't Call The Olympic Gymnasts The 'Fab Five'"]. CBS News. August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref> Despite the name change, some news sources still used the term Fab Five during the Olympics.<ref>Almasy, Steve. [https://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/31/sport/olympics-day-wrap/index.html "'Fab Five' brings home gymnastics gold"]. CNN. August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/07/31/fab-5-us-women-claim-gymnastics-team-gold.html "Fab 5: U.S. women claim gymnastics team gold"]. Fox News. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref> When the U.S. won the team competition, NBC announcer Al Trautwig proclaimed, "The Fab Five is going gold!"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hiestand |first1=Michael |title=USA TODAY's recap of NBC's Tuesday night Olympics coverage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-07-31/hiestand-tuesday-olympics-review/56625624/1/ |website=USA Today |access-date=September 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801140458/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-07-31/hiestand-tuesday-olympics-review/56625624/1/ |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Raisman, the oldest on the team at 18 years old, was elected team captain by the other members.<ref>{{cite news |last=Powers|first=John|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2012/07/27/olympic_notebook/|title=Raisman named team captain |publisher=The Boston Globe|date=July 27, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305034944/https://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2012/07/27/olympic_notebook/|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> The team was featured on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'''s Olympic Preview issue; it was the first time since 1996 that a gymnast had appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/needham/2012/07/needham_olympics_hopeful_aly_r.html|title=Needham Olympics hopeful Aly Raisman makes the cover of Sports Illustrated|publisher=The Boston Globe|date=July 18, 2012|access-date=August 14, 2012|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722010744/https://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/needham/2012/07/needham_olympics_hopeful_aly_r.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==2012 Summer Olympics== {{main|Gymnastics at the 2012 Summer Olympics}} [[File:London2012gym.jpg|right|thumb|The North Greenwich Arena, pictured during the 2012 Summer Olympics]] ===Qualifications=== The United States qualified for the team final in first place with an overall score of 181.863.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA women match the men - London 2012 - Gymnastics |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/usa-women-match-the-men-london-2012-gymnastics |website=International Olympic Committee |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> Wieber, Douglas, and Raisman competed on all four apparatus, Ross competed on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, and Maroney only competed on vault.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA women advance to Olympic team finals |url=https://usagym.org/usa-women-advance-to-olympic-team-finals/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> Raisman, Douglas, and Wieber qualified in second, third, and fourth place for the individual all-around competition. However, due to the rule allowing only the top two from each country to compete in an individual final, only Raisman and Douglas advanced.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Park |first1=Alice |title=Heartache at Gymnastics: U.S.’s Jordyn Wieber Misses Qualifying for All-Around Final |url=https://olympics.time.com/2012/07/29/heartache-at-gymnastics-uss-jordyn-wieber-misses-qualifying-for-all-around-final/ |website=Time Magazine |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" |+Qualification results for the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web |title=Gymnastics Artistic Women Qualification Results |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12olympics_qual.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=London 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2024 |date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> |- ! rowspan=2|Gymnast ! style="width:6em" colspan=2 | {{Vault}} ! style="width:6em" colspan=2 | {{Uneven bars}} ! style="width:6em" colspan=2 | {{Balance beam}} ! style="width:6em" colspan=2 | {{Floor (gymnastics)}} ! style="width:6em" colspan=2 | Total |- ! Score{{efn|name=vt|Gymnasts who wanted to qualify for the vault final performed a second vault, with the average of the two counting for event final qualification. Only the first vault counted for individual and team all-around qualification.}}!!Rank!!Score!!Rank!!Score!!Rank!!Score!!Rank!!Score!!Rank |- | align=left | Gabby Douglas | 15.900 || | bgcolor=lavender| 15.333 || bgcolor=lavender| 6 | bgcolor=lavender| 15.266 || bgcolor=lavender| 3 | 13.766 || 33 | bgcolor=lavender| 60.265 || bgcolor=lavender| 3 |- | align=left | McKayla Maroney | bgcolor=lavender| 15.900/15.700 <br> Avg: 15.800 || bgcolor=lavender| 1 | || | || | || | || |- | align=left | Aly Raisman | ''15.800'' || | ''14.166'' || 23 | bgcolor=lavender| 15.100 || bgcolor=lavender| 5 | bgcolor=lavender| 15.325 || bgcolor=lavender| 1 | bgcolor=lavender| 60.391 || bgcolor=lavender| 2 |- | align=left | Kyla Ross | || | 14.866 || 11 | 15.075 || 6 | ''13.733'' || 34 | || |- | align=left | Jordyn Wieber | 15.833 || | 14.833 || 12 | ''14.700'' || 12 | bgcolor=lavender| 14.666 || bgcolor=lavender| 6 | 60.032 || 4 |- | align=left | {{USA}} |'''47.633''' || '''1''' || '''45.032''' || '''4''' || '''45.441''' || '''1''' || '''43.757''' || '''2''' || bgcolor=lavender|'''181.863''' || bgcolor=lavender| '''1''' |} ===Team final=== [[File:JordynWiebergoldmedal.jpg|thumb|upright|Wieber at a parade after the 2012 Summer Olympics with her gold medal]] In the team final, Douglas competed in the all-around, Wieber competed on three events, Raisman and Ross competed on two events, and Maroney once again only competed on the vault. On the vault, Wieber, Douglas and Maroney all competed well-executed Amanar vaults, giving them a large lead after the first rotation that the team held onto for the rest of the competition.<ref name="usagtf">{{cite web |title=Women win team gold at 2012 Olympic Games |url=https://usagym.org/women-win-team-gold-at-2012-olympic-games/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=July 31, 2012}}</ref> The team finished with a score of 183.596, 5.066 points higher than second-place Russia- an "unheard-of" margin of victory.<ref>Jenkins, Sally. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/us-women-are-simply-flawless-en-route-to-dominant-olympic-gold-in-team-competition/2012/07/31/gJQAzIHxNX_story.html "U.S. women are simply flawless en route to dominant Olympic gold in team competition"]. The Washington Post. July 31, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013.</ref> They became the second U.S. team, after the "Magnificent Seven" in 1996, to win the team competition.<ref>Keating, Steve. [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-gymn-gawtea-day4-usa-idUSBRE86U1RL20120731 "Fierce Five trump Magnificent Seven"]. Reuters. July 31, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref> Additionally, this was the sixth consecutive Olympic medal for the United States in the women's team competition.<ref name="usagtf" /> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%" |+Team final results for the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web |title=Gymnastics Artistic Women's Team Final Results |url=http://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12olympics_teamfinal.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=London 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907001937/http://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12olympics_teamfinal.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2012 |date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- !scope="col"| Gymnast !scope="col"| {{Vault}} !scope="col"| {{Uneven bars}} !scope="col"| {{Balance beam}} !scope="col"| {{Floor (gymnastics)}} !scope="col"| Total |- | align=left | Gabby Douglas | 15.966 || 15.200 || 15.233 || 15.066 || 61.465 |- | align=left | McKayla Maroney | 16.233 || || || || |- | align=left | Aly Raisman | || || 14.933 || 15.300 || |- | align=left | Kyla Ross | || 14.933 || 15.133 || || |- | align=left | Jordyn Wieber | 15.933 || 14.666 || || 15.000 || |- style="background:#fffcaf;" | align=left | {{USA}} | '''48.132''' (1) || '''44.799''' (3) || '''45.299''' (1) || '''45.366''' (1) || '''183.596''' (1) |}
===Individual all-around=== thumb|right|Douglas (center) on the Olympic all-around podium In the individual all-around final, Douglas won the gold medal, becoming the first Black woman to win the event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bresnahan |first1=Samatha |last2=Masters |first2=James |title=Golden Gabby: How a mother’s love drove Olympic champion Douglas |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/sport/gabby-douglas-olympics-racism/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=August 9, 2013}}</ref> She was also the first American gymnast to win the team and individual all-around gold medals at the same Olympics.<ref>Clarke, Liz. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/gymnast-gabby-douglas-soars-to-womens-all-around-gold/2012/08/02/gJQA7w6iSX_story.html "Gymnast Gabby Douglas soars to women's all-around gold"]. The Washington Post. August 2, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref> Raisman tied for the third-highest score with Russian Aliya Mustafina. However, a tiebreaker was used to determine the bronze medalist, in which the three highest apparatus scores were counted. This led to Mustafina winning the bronze medal while Raisman finished fourth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchins |first1=Andy |title=How Aly Raisman Lost The Women's All-Around Bronze Medal On A Tiebreaker |url=https://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012/2012/8/2/3215545/aly-raisman-bronze-medal-tiebreaker-womens-all-around-gymnastics |website=SB Nation |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=August 2, 2012}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%" |+{{nowrap|Individual all-around final for the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web |title=Gymnastics Artistic Women's Individual All-Around Final Results |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12olympics_aa.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=London 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2024 |date=August 2, 2012}}</ref>}} |- !scope="col"| Gymnast !scope="col"| {{Vault}} !scope="col"| {{Uneven bars}} !scope="col"| {{Balance beam}} !scope="col"| {{Floor (gymnastics)}} !scope="col"| Total |-style="background:#fffcaf;" | align=left | Gabby Douglas | 15.966 || 15.733 || 15.500 || 15.033 || '''62.232''' (1) |- | align=left | Aly Raisman | 15.900 || 14.333 || 14.200 || 15.133 || '''59.566''' (4) |}
=== Event finals === [[File:Barack Obama with artistic gymnastic McKayla Maroney 2.jpg|right|thumb|U.S. president Barack Obama mimics Maroney's "not impressed" look in the Oval Office]] Maroney was the only American to qualify for the vault final. As the defending world champion in this event, she scored 15.866 on her first vault but fell on her second, scored 14.300, and won the silver medal.<ref>[http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10570&prog= "Maroney Wins Vault Silver Medal at 2012 Olympic Games"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130416023756/http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10570&prog= |date=April 16, 2013 }}. USA Gymnastics. August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref> Her facial expression while standing on the podium became an internet meme known as "McKayla is not impressed".<ref>Netburn, Deborah. [https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-mckayla-maroney-not-imrpessed-20120809,0,6080896.story "First meme of Olympics 2012: Gymnast McKayla Maroney is not impressed"]. Los Angeles Times. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=McKayla Is Not Impressed By This Meme |last=Cohen |first=Ben |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2012/08/08/mckayla-is-not-impressed-by-this-meme/?mod=wsj_streaming_stream |access-date=August 15, 2012 |date=August 8, 2012 |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232518/https://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2012/08/08/mckayla-is-not-impressed-by-this-meme/?mod=wsj_streaming_stream |url-status=live}}</ref>
As the only American in the uneven bars final, Douglas, finished in eighth after making a timing mistake on a full pirouette.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabby Douglas fails to repeat magic on bars but remains the darling of Olympic gymnastics |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--gabby-douglas-fails-repeat-magic-on-bars-but-remains-the-darling-of-olympic-gymnastics.html |website=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> In the balance beam, Douglas finished in seventh after falling.<ref name="bbfinal">{{cite web |title=Olympics: Gabby Douglas falls in balance beam; Aly Raisman wins bronze |url=https://www.twincities.com/2012/08/06/olympics-gabby-douglas-falls-in-balance-beam-aly-raisman-wins-bronze/ |website=St. Paul Pioneer Press |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=August 6, 2012}}</ref> Raisman initially received a score of 14.966, which would have left her in fourth place. However, her coach inquired about the difficulty being too low, and the judges accepted and raised her difficulty score by one-tenth of a point. Her 15.066 matched Romanian Cătălina Ponor for third place, and this time, Raisman won the execution-score tie-breaker to earn the bronze medal.<ref name="bbfinal"/><ref name="usagym">[http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10574&prog= "Raisman earns two medals at 2012 Olympics: Team USA's first ever gold medal on floor, bronze medal on beam"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913044043/http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10574&prog= |date=September 13, 2012 }}. USA Gymnastics. August 7, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2012.</ref>
In the floor final, Raisman won the gold medal with a score of 15.600, four-tenths ahead of the second-place Ponor. Raisman became the first American woman to win the gold medal on the floor, and with her third medal overall, she was the most decorated member of the Fierce Five during the Olympics. Wieber finished seventh in the event.<ref name="usagym"/> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:100%" |+ {{nowrap|Event finals for the Fierce Five at the 2012 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web |title=Gymnastics Artistic Women's Apparatus Finals |url=https://static.usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12olympics_events.pdf |website=USA Gymnastics |publisher=London 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2024 |date=August 5, 2012}}</ref>}} |- !scope="col"| Gymnast !scope="col"| {{Vault}} !scope="col"| {{Uneven bars}} !scope="col"| {{Balance beam}} !scope="col"| {{Floor (gymnastics)}} |- | align=left | Gabby Douglas | || 14.900 (8) || 13.633 (7) || |- | align=left | McKayla Maroney | style="background:#e5e5e5;" |15.083 (2) || || || |- | align=left | Aly Raisman | || || style="background:#ec9;" |15.066 (3) || style="background:#fffcaf;" |15.600 (1) |- | align=left | Jordyn Wieber | || || || 14.500 (7) |}
==Post-Olympics== In the week after the Olympic Games, the Fierce Five appeared on ''The Today Show'' and ''Late Show with David Letterman''. They also rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.<ref>Moraski, Lauren. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gymnastics-fierce-five-take-on-new-york-and-tv/ "Gymnastics' 'Fierce Five' take on New York and TV"]. CBS News. August 15, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.</ref> In September, they appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards.<ref>Johnson, Zach. [http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/gabby-douglas-does-gymnastics-during-alicia-keys-performance-at-mtv-vmas-201269 "Gabby Douglas Does Gymnastics During Alicia Keys Performance at MTV VMAs"]. US Magazine. September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.</ref> The Fierce Five members were among those who performed in the 40-city Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions, which started in September.<ref>Whiteside, Kelly. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2012/11/18/us-olympic-gymnasts-say-goodbye-last-stop-tour/1712517/ "Olympic gymnasts say goodbye on last stop of tour"]. USA Today. November 18, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.</ref> In November, they met U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House and performed on ''Dancing with the Stars'' in support of former gymnast Shawn Johnson.<ref>Alexander, Bryan. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2012/11/27/fierce-five-dancing-with-the-stars/1728849/ "Fierce Five: Gold medals to disco ball on 'DWTS'"]. USA Today. November 27, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.</ref> In December, Gabby Douglas was named the Associated Press female athlete of the year. Aly Raisman was a contestant on season 16 of ''Dancing with the Stars'' and finished in fourth place.<ref name="dwts">Oldenburg, Ann. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/05/21/dancing-with-the-stars-winner-is-finale-crowned/2349085/ "And the 'Dancing With the Stars' winner is ..."]. USA Today. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.</ref> The group was nominated for Best Team at the 2013 ESPY Awards, and Douglas and Raisman were also nominated for individual awards.<ref>[https://usagym.org/fierce-five-douglas-raisman-are-nominees-for-espy-awards/ "The Fierce Five, Douglas, Raisman are nominees for ESPY awards"]. USA Gymnastics. June 28, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.</ref> In August 2013, the team was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.<ref>Jacobs, Jeff. [http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-gymnastics-column-0816-20130817,0,86197.column "Celebrating The 'Fierce Five'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006205142/http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-gymnastics-column-0816-20130817,0,86197.column |date=October 6, 2013 }}. Hartford Courant. August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.</ref> [[File:Final Five Gymnastics Olympics Team Final Medal Ceremony.jpeg|thumb|right|Raisman (left) and Douglas (right) at the 2016 Summer Olympics]] Jordyn Wieber did not return to competition after the 2012 Olympics and announced her retirement in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=Jordyn Wieber announces gymnastics retirement |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/jordyn-wieber-retires-gymnastics-olympics |website=NBC Sports |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=March 7, 2015}}</ref> She began her gymnastics coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach for UCLA and became the head coach for Arkansas in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jordyn Wieber |url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/coache/jordyn-wieber/ |website=Arkansas Razorbacks |access-date=December 27, 2024}}</ref>
Maroney and Ross both returned to competition in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Teitell |first1=Jennifer |title=Fierce Five Will Reunite In Hartford |url=https://www.flogymnastics.com/articles/5034636-fierce-five-will-reunite-in-hartford |website=FloGymnastics |publisher=FloSports |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=July 19, 2013}}</ref> At the 2013 World Championships, Maroney successfully defended her World vault title while Ross won silver medals in the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam.<ref>{{cite web |title=McKayla Maroney wins worlds vault |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/gymnastics/story/_/id/9772704/mckayla-maroney-edges-simone-biles-vault-world-championships |website=ESPN |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=October 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="dailybruin">{{cite web |last1=Bribach |first1=Winston |title=Kyla Ross brings gold talent to UCLA after quitting elite gymnastics |url=https://dailybruin.com/2017/01/26/kyla-ross-brings-gold-talent-to-ucla-after-quitting-elite-gymnastics |website=Daily Bruin |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=January 26, 2017}}</ref> While this would be Maroney's last competition due to injuries and burnout, Ross later competed at the 2014 World Championships and won a gold medal with the team and a bronze medal in the all-around.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 8, 2014 |title=U.S. women win second straight World team title at 2014 World Championships |url=https://usagym.org/u-s-women-win-second-straight-world-team-title-at-2014-world-championships/ |access-date=May 2, 2024 |website=USA Gymnastics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 10, 2014 |title=Simone Biles takes consecutive gold medals at world championship |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2014/10/10/gymnastics-simone-biles-takes-consecutive/23714059007/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}</ref> She struggled in domestic competitions throughout the 2015 season and withdrew from the 2015 Worlds Selection Camp.<ref name="dailybruin" /> Ross announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in the beginning of 2016, opting to focus on competing at the collegiate level for UCLA; Maroney retired days later.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2016 |title=Ross announces retirement from U.S. Women’s National Team |url=https://usagym.org/ross-announces-retirement-from-u-s-womens-national-team/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=USA Gymnastics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=McKayla Maroney: ‘I’m not competing anymore’ |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/mckayla-maroney-retires-gymnastics-olympics |website=NBC Sports |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>
Raisman and Douglas returned to training in 2014 and were re-added to the national team in November.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final national team camp for 2014 wraps up today |url=https://usagym.org/final-national-team-camp-for-2014-wraps-up-today/ |website=USA Gymnastics |access-date=May 28, 2023 |date=November 25, 2014}}</ref> They were both part of the gold medal-winning teams at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=David |title=U.S. women gymnasts win world championship |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2015/10/27/us-women-gymnasts-win-world-championship/74656982/ |website=The Indianapolis Star |access-date=May 2, 2024 |date=October 27, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. women's gymnastics team wins gold at Rio Olympics |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-womens-gymnastics-team-wins-gold-at-rio-olympics/ |website=CBS News |access-date=May 3, 2024 |date=August 9, 2016}}</ref> The 2016 Olympics were Raisman's final competition, and she confirmed her retirement in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bregman |first1=Scott |title=Aly Raisman announces retirement: "The power of dreams is too big to put into words" |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/gymnast-aly-raisman-announces-retirement |website=Olympic Channel |access-date=November 18, 2023 |date=January 14, 2020}}</ref> Douglas returned to competition after an eight-year hiatus in 2024, but she withdrew from the 2024 U.S. Championships due to ankle injury. She has stated she will continue training for the 2028 Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roenigk |first1=Alyssa |title=Gabby Douglas pulls out of U.S. championships, ends 2024 Olympic bid |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40240116/gabby-douglas-gymnastics-ends-2024-olympics-bid |website=ESPN |access-date=May 29, 2024 |date=May 29, 2024}}</ref>
All five women later came forward as survivors of Larry Nassar's systematic sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ross and Kocian add names to Nassar victims list |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/ross-and-kocian-add-names-to-nassar-victims-list-idUSKBN1L1213/ |website=Reuters |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=August 16, 2018}}</ref> During Nassar's 2018 sentencing hearing, Raisman and Wieber delivered victim impact statements while Maroney provided a written statement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Connor |first1=Tracy |title=Gymnasts Aly Raisman, Jordyn Wieber testify against Larry Nassar |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/olympic-gymnast-jordyn-wieber-says-she-was-molested-larry-nassar-n839096 |website=NBC News |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> Maroney and Raisman testified to the U.S. Senate in 2021 on the FBI's handling of the Nassar case.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Buckner |first1=Cadence |title=At a quiet Senate hearing, four U.S. gymnasts made sure the truth was loud and uncomfortable |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/09/15/simone-biles-aly-raisman-mckayla-maroney-hearing/ |website=The Washington Post |access-date=December 27, 2024 |date=September 16, 2021}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Olympics}} * Women's artistic gymnastics events at the 2012 Summer Olympics * Magnificent Seven, the U.S. 1996 Summer Olympics women's artistic gymnastics team, who won the first team all-around gold medal * Final Five, the U.S. 2016 Summer Olympics women's artistic gymnastics team, who won the third team all-around gold medal * Golden Girls, the U.S. 2024 Summer Olympics women's artistic gymnastics team, who won the fourth team all-around gold medal
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 2012 Summer Olympics}} {{Gymnastics in the United States}}
+ Category:Nicknamed groups of Olympic competitors + Category:Women's gymnastics Category:Women's gymnastics teams in the United States Category:Women's sports in the United States