McKayla Maroney’s ‘Pretty Sick’ Silver; Gluckstein Falls on Trampoline (VIDEO)
McKayla Maroney in women's vault finals
McKayla Maroney, the #1 women’s vaulter in the world, received silver medal at London 2012 Summer Olympics; American Steven Gluckstein fails to qualify for men’s trampoline finals, talks to genConnect about his sport
McKayla Maroney – the presumed shoe-in for a gold medal in women’s vault Sunday night – received a silver medal after falling on her second vault.
Maroney, 16, who is by far the best vaulter in the field of women’s gymnastics in the world, did a stellar first vault, particularly as her other opponents made major mistake after major mistake. But she shocked everyone on her second vault when she failed to stick the landing, thereby taking a silver medal to Sandra Raluca Izbasa of Romania, who took home the gold medal.
WATCH: Gabby Douglas Wins Gold Medal in Gymnastics (VIDEO)
Although Maroney said it’s not the silver that’s disappointing, rather, her performance, it’s not keeping this fine lady down, and the U.S. couldn’t be more proud of her.
“Disappointed on how today turned out, but everything happens for a reason!! #noregrets. Plus, the silver medal is actually pretty sick!!” she wrote on Twitter after the event.
Meanwhile, fellow American gymnast Steve Gluckstein also was disappointed Friday when he failed to qualify for the men’s trampoline finals. The seven-time U.S. National Trampoline champion from New Jersey hoped to become the first American to ever qualify for the finals in the trampoline event at the Olympics, but he fell trying to execute the second of 10 skills.
Still, America couldn’t be more proud of its fantastic gymnasts! It takes such incredible strength, skill and poise to compete in such Olympic events, our athletes have more than proven their mettle in the fact of both victory and less-than-hoped for results.
Watch Steven and his brother Jeffrey, also a trampoline gymnast, talk to genConnect about staying focused & competing in the same sport:
Jeffrey (left) and Steven (right) Gluckstein
Related: U.S. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Takes Gold
The Glucksteins, from Atlantic Highlands, N.J., say that being brothers and competitors makes them better athletes, but “emotionally, it’s a roller coaster,” since both want to win yet both want the best for each other. They experienced that emotional roller coaster in late June, when Steven won the U.S. Gymnastic Trampoline trials, but Jeffrey came in third, meaning only Steve will be competing in the London Olympic Games, which begin later this month.
“It usually stays in the gym but sometimes it comes up at home – and we just talk about it,” Jeffrey said of the competition on the tramp, but it’s usually “pretty laid back.”
Click here for more of genConnect’s coverage of the 2012 Road to the Olympics
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Category: Lifestyle, Sports, Views on the News
