LONDON – American gymnast Aly Raisman won a bronze medal on the balance beam Tuesday afternoon after her fourth-place score of 14.966 was recalculated and determined to be 15.066 to elevate her to third.
But her teammate, all-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas, slipped on the beam to finish seventh. It came a day after Douglas was last on the uneven bars, making her second week at the Olympics a disaster.
China's Deng Linlin won the beam with a 15.600. Her teammate Lu Sui got a silver medal with a 15.500.
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A surprised murmur filled the North Greenwich Arena when Raisman's score was announced and it was certain she would not medal. But Raisman's personal coach, Mihai Brestyan, filed a protest to have her scores be reexamined. After Raisman's difficulty score was raised to 6.300, the 15.066 appeared on the giant scoreboard and a large roar filled the arena. Romania's Catalina Ponor, who had the same difficulty in posting her 15.066, was bumped down to fourth because Raisman's execution score (8.766) was higher than Ponor's (8.466).
Still, in may ways, the story was Douglas, who just days ago was the star of the Olympics – a 16-year-old instant sensation who is the first American to win both team and all-around gold. On Tuesday, she wobbled as she tried to perform a turn, her right foot slipped, and she tumbled off the beam.
Douglas was able to catch herself, wrapping a leg around the beam while holding on. By then, the damage was done and there would be no more medals for Douglas.
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