GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) – The U.S. women’s gymnastics team won its third straight world title on Tuesday night, going nearly mistake free to easily grab the gold and state a case as the heavy favorite to repeat next summer at the 2016 Olympics.
The Americans put together a total of 181.338, well clear of China and far ahead of surprising Great Britain during two hours that felt like little more than a two-hour exhibition of U.S. dominance.
Anchored by two-time world champion Simone Biles on vault, the Americans took an early lead then watched everyone else fall to the wayside.
The title is the fifth world crown for the U.S., all of them coming after Martha Karolyi took over as national team coordinator in late 2000. With 10 months to go until Rio, it appears the gap between the Americans and the rest of the world has become more of a canyon.
The Americans rolled easily last fall then added reigning Olympic champion Gabby Douglas and three-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman to an already deep roster. The team breezed through qualifying, posting the top score by more than five points. It was just as overwhelming in the finals. Led by Maggie Nichols, the only American to compete in all four events, the U.S. put up the top score on vault, beam and floor while the other eight teams were forced to settle for silver.