How U.S. Women Became the World's Best Gymnasts

Aug 10, 2016, 11:35 AM

The U.S. women's gymnastics team enters today's team final at the Rio Olympics as the overwhelming favorite to defend the gold medal they won four years ago in London. No surprise given that Team USA gymnasts earned the top three scores in qualifying round, and all five members have a chance to medal. What accounts for this outright dominance? Much of it boils down to one thing: Martha Karolyi. As the national team coordinator, the 73-year-old oversees all aspects of the sport in the U.S.