Danell Leyva must be devastated right now. Instead of sticking his routine at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 8, he missed a connection on the uneven bars, which left the U.S. men’s gymnastics team in fifth place all-around. Click here for the full details on the team’s heartbreaking defeat.
“It’s obviously tough whenever you start from behind, but that’s kind of the Team USA motto to never give up, never quit, fight until the end,” gymnast Chris Brooks, 29, said. “So we just tried to rally together and get the ball rolling.” The team was able to do this, with strong performances on the rings, vault and parallel bars, and was so close to a medal at that point. Then it was 24-year-old Danell Leyva‘s turn to help his team out on the uneven bars, and that is when the gymnast fell and the team lost their chance at a medal.
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“We started it off a little rough but we were picking it up toward the end,” Danell said. “I was the one who messed it up at the end. I just slipped on the bar. I really tried grabbing on and holding on as much as I could but my grip was off, like it was not on the bar, and that’s why it slipped off.” How upsetting for the whole team, but especially for Danell, who clearly tried his best.
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Despite the fact they didn’t get the chance to medal together, the team was happy with their effort and hoping to do well in their individual events. “Even though we didn’t get the placement that we wanted it was fun. We had fun down there. We were supporting each other. We were competing with everything we had. It’s gymnastics — sometimes it doesn’t go your way, sometimes you need a little bit of luck. But I had a great time,” Chris said. What great team spirit, boys!
HollywoodLifers, how do you feel about how the U.S. men’s gymnastic team did in the all-around? Let us know below!
