Gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman earns spot on US Olympic team
Jewish athlete to head to Rio this summer as member of American women’s gymnastics team
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Jewish-American Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman has been named again to the US women’s Olympics gymnastics team.
Raisman finished third in the Olympic Trials that finished Sunday night in San Jose, California, to capture a spot on the squad that will compete this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 2012, she earned two gold medals at the London Olympics: for floor exercise and as part of the team competition.
This year’s team is being touted as the most racially diverse in US history. It includes two African-American gymnasts, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles; a Latina, Laurie Hernandez; Raisman and Madison Kocian.
Raisman posted a photo of the team on her Twitter feed.
Your 2016 Olympic team baby!!!! pic.twitter.com/GHiXOm5MHf
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) July 11, 2016
At 22, Raisman is the oldest member of the team, which reportedly has earned her the nickname “Grandma.” Raisman and Douglas were both members of the team that won gold in London.
Following the London Olympics, Raisman took time off from competitive gymnastics to take advantage of her newfound fame, performing on tour with her teammates, competing on “Dancing With The Stars” and being a special guest at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel, the global Jewish sporting event.
The Times of Israel Community.