I went out and watched the replay on ESPN and it was a three way battle. Going into the last rotation LSU, the top seed in this group, was in first and had been in first the entire time. Mizzou was second place 3 tenths back. Iowa was third just one tenth behind Mizzou.
Only the top 2 teams advance. So there was no margin for error.
Iowa was doing the vault which gets done first. All of their vaulters posted strong scores.
That put the pressure on both Mizzou and LSU big time. Yes, they both knew what they had to do but they could not afford a low score. Just a note on team gymnastics....six gymnasts perform and top five scores are kept.
Mizzou was on floor and LSU on the beam. LSU immediately squandered their security blanked as their lead-off fell off the beam and got a low score. LSU's next 3 gymnasts posted strong scores to keep their hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Mizzou's response to the pressure was phenomenal. Their first four put up strong scores on the floor exercise to put them in very good position but still needed one more strong number to pass Iowa to lock in a top two spot
LSU's fifth fell off the beam and ended up with another lower score. Mizzou's fifth nailed her routine. When the scores came back, it was all over. LSU had to hope the score wasn't too low to give their 6th a chance...but it was too low. And they were done. Mizzou's score clinched first place.
Give the gymnasts credit for stepping up in the moment when everything was on the line.
Only the top 2 teams advance. So there was no margin for error.
Iowa was doing the vault which gets done first. All of their vaulters posted strong scores.
That put the pressure on both Mizzou and LSU big time. Yes, they both knew what they had to do but they could not afford a low score. Just a note on team gymnastics....six gymnasts perform and top five scores are kept.
Mizzou was on floor and LSU on the beam. LSU immediately squandered their security blanked as their lead-off fell off the beam and got a low score. LSU's next 3 gymnasts posted strong scores to keep their hopes alive.
Meanwhile, Mizzou's response to the pressure was phenomenal. Their first four put up strong scores on the floor exercise to put them in very good position but still needed one more strong number to pass Iowa to lock in a top two spot
LSU's fifth fell off the beam and ended up with another lower score. Mizzou's fifth nailed her routine. When the scores came back, it was all over. LSU had to hope the score wasn't too low to give their 6th a chance...but it was too low. And they were done. Mizzou's score clinched first place.
Give the gymnasts credit for stepping up in the moment when everything was on the line.
