Aly Raisman wins gold medal in floor exercise

Alexandra Raisman, who had been more ignored than celebrated in U.S. gymnastics over the past year, won her third medal of the Olympics and her second of the day Tuesday when her perky performance to “Hava Nagila” earned her a gold medal on floor exercise with a score of 15.600. Earlier she had won bronze on the balance beam and also took home a gold as part of the U.S.-winning team.

There would be no redemption for American Jordyn Wieber, the defending all-around world champion who missed the Olympic all-around finals despite finishing fourth in qualifying, beaten by Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas, who won the all-around gold. Only two women per team are allowed in the 24-athlete all-around final.

Wieber stepped out of bounds on her floor exercise and after the early mistake, she seemed to lose the life in her performance and finished seventh.

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Raisman had won a bronze medal at the 2011 world championships on the floor exercise, but she had to pace nervously until defending Olympic floor champion Sandra Izbasa of Romania finished her final tumbling pass almost on her head and Raisman, an 18-year-old from Needham, Mass., rushed to kiss her coach, Mihai Brestyan.

Catalina Ponor of Romania won the silver with a 15.200 and Russia’s Aliya Mustafina took the bronze with 14.900.

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