GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 24, 2011 – The U.S. women’s team pulled together to clinch the team gold medal today at the 2011 Pan American Games at the Nissan Gymnastics Stadium in the Lopez Mateos Sports Complex.
The USA earned the title with 219.750 points, followed by Canada at 217.450, and Brazil was third with 209.825. The team finals also served as the qualification round for the all-around and individual event finals. This is the USA’s 12th women’s team title in Pan American Games history.
The members of the U.S. Women’s Pan Am Team are: Bridgette Caquatto of Naperville, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC; Jessie DeZiel of Rogers, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Brandie Jay of Ft. Collins, Colo./GK Gymnastics; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa/Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute; Grace McLaughlin of Allen, Texas/WOGA Gymnastics; and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s Gymnastics Academy.
“I know all these girls have worked so hard,” said Sloan, the team captain. “I am so proud of everybody. We are Team USA and we were able to bring it all together when it really counts and that’s what it comes down to – and that’s all I could really ask for.”
McLaughlin was first up on vault for the U.S. women, landing a one-and-a-half twisting Yurchenko with a score of 14.225. Three gymnasts performed a Yurchenko double full: Jay, 14.925; DeZiel, 15.125; and Johnson, 14.925. Caquatto finished off the event with a13.925, giving the U.S. the highest team total at 59.200.
On uneven bars, McLaughlin again led off for the USA, scoring a 13.350. Posting a 13.725, Jay finished her routine with a full pirouette to Shushanova and full twisting double tuck dismount. Caquatto had an impressive and clean routine that included a piked Tkatchev and a stuck double layout dismount and earned a 14.625. Sloan and Johnson followed on bars with a 13.850 and 14.400, respectively.
DeZiel lead the way onbalance beam with the highest U.S. score, 13.275. Jay and McLaughlin followed with scores of 13.125 and 13.250, respectively. Both Johnson and Caquatto struggled on beam finishing with a 12.875 and 12.975, respectively.
Jay led off on floor exercise, the USA’s final event. Her routine included a pike full-in and a two-and-a-half twist to punch front, scoring 12.375. Sloan posted a 13.025 for her floor routine, which was the second highest score for Team USA. DeZiel earned the Team USA’s highest score on the event, 13.150, for her routine that included a piked full twisting double back, a one-and-a-half through to a two-and-a-half twist, and a double pike dismount. Caquatto, last up for the Americans, executed a front double full to front layout and a pike full-in during her floor routine to score a 12.775.
“I was going through the lineup and getting all teary-eyed because I was so proud of them,” Johnson said. “We have gone through a lot in the last couple of weeks and I think we did a great job.”
The U.S. men compete in the men’s team finals tomorrow in the first of two subdivisions.
The finals schedule is: Oct. 25, men’s team; Oct. 26, women’s and men’s all-around; and Oct. 27-28, individual events.
The members of the U.S. men’s team are: Donothan Bailey of Lake Forest, Calif./University of California – Berkeley; C.J. Maestas of Corrales, N.M./University of Illinois; Sho Nakamori of Albany, Calif./Champions Academy; Tyler Mizoguchi of Houston, Texas/University of Illinois; Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y; and Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Team Hilton HHonors (Ohio State University). The team champions, as well as the finalists for the all-around and individual event finals, will be determined at the conclusion of the second subdivision.
Competition schedule
All times Eastern
Oct. 25 2:00-7:30 P.M. Men’s team finals; qualifications for all- around, individual event finals
(U.S., Sub 1, 2:00-4:30 p.m.)
Oct. 26 2:00-4:00 P.M. Women’s all-around finals
6:30-9:00 P.M. Men’s all-around finals
Oct. 27 2:00- 5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: floor exercise, pommel horse still rings
Women: vault, uneven bars
Oct. 28 2:00-5:00 P.M. Individual event finals
Men: vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar
Women: balance beam, floor exercise
Ways to follow the excitement of the Pan American Games in the U.S.
TV broadcast
ESPN Deportes, U.S. rights holder of the 2011 Pan American Games, is showing between 90-120 hours of live and exclusive footage on both Deportes and ESPN3. The network has been broadcasting a minimum of three hours of live coverage featuring the top events each day and will continue to do so throughout the Closing Ceremony. Coverage will feature a wide range of competitions including baseball, basketball, boxing, soccer, swimming, track & field, volleyball and several others.
Live events may not be seen in some areas and the schedule is subject to change. All listed times are Eastern. View the ESPN Deportes broadcast schedule here.
ESPN2 is also airing the Pan American Games with 20 hours of English-language coverage throughout the event. View the schedule here.
Live internet streaming – Fans can watch select events live at deportes.terra.com.
Results
To view daily schedules and get results from all Pan American Games competitions, visit info.guadalajara2011.org.mx.
ESPNDeportes.com/Panamericanos has the latest news and information surrounding the competitions, athletes and each country with exclusive content, video highlights, live chats with the experts on-site, and live scores.
Team information
USA Gymnastics’ Pan American events page, http://usagym.org/panam, and twitter feed @USAGym, will have results, photos and other information on the U.S. Team’s efforts in Guadalajara.
Follow @USOlympic on Twitter for breaking news updates on Team USA. Also, follow NGB Twitter feeds for additional coverage: Twitter.com/USOlympic/NGB.
Visit TeamUSA.org/events/6958 for the updated U.S. roster (by sport, state and Olympians), the USA Daily newsletter and photos from the Pan American Games.