Jul 31, 2012 04:06 PM EDT
Jordyn Wieber Helps Team USA Win Olympic Gold Medal in Women's Gymnastics

The U.S. Women's gymnastics team won its first Olympic team gold medal since 1996, according to reports.

Jordyn Wieber led the Americans onto the floor Tuesday for the Olympic women's gymnastics team final, and then she got right to winning that gold medal, according to The Times Herald.

On Sunday, Wieber finished fourth during qualifying, missing a shot at individual Olympic gold because international rules allow only two competitors per country in the finals, according to USA Today.

However, two days after Wieber was stunned by not qualifying for the individual all-around final, she went first on the first United States event, the vault, and nailed it - then broke into a smile that projected joy and relief to the 20,000 in North Greenwich Arena and beyond.

Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, said he believed Wieber, who finished third behind Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas (only the top two per team can advance), will come out fighting Tuesday, according to the Battle Creek Enquirer.com.

Team USA then went on to win gold.

"To have this gold medal around my neck is an indescribable feeling," Wieber said. "I'm the happiest person right now."

Weiber, 17, from DeWitt, played a huge role in the winning.

"I really was hoping that her strong will and character would kick in," said Martha Karolyi, Team USA coordinator, "and I was right."

She got a 15.933 on the vault, helping the Americans grab a lead they never relinquished - and eventually built to a final advantage of 183.596 to 178.530, with the rival Russians faltering badly on the balance beam and floor exercise.

Romania took the bronze with a score of 176.414.

Wieber was solid on the uneven bars with a 14.666, then sat out the balance beam. She has called it her favorite apparatus, but it has given her trouble lately.

Finally, with the Americans holding a sizable lead, Wieber put together a dazzling floor exercise to help with the clinch. She smiled through a near-flawless set and scored a 15.0, The Times Herald reported.

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