2008 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team Review: How Did the Team Captain Affect Their Performance?

The U.S. women's gymnastics team won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Many teams would be thrilled to earn the silver medal, but it can be a tough pill to swallow for a team who was clearly able to win the gold and had it within reach.

It wasn't disappointing to me when they won the silver medal instead of the gold. Winning any medal, hell, even making it to the Olympics is such an accomplishment in itself. It didn't even bother me when they made mistakes on the events. They are human just like us; mistakes are bound to be made.

The only thing that disappointed me about the situation was how the team captain, Alicia Sacramone, handled the competition. Many people blamed her mistakes (falls) on the balance beam and floor exercise for the team's loss of the gold medal to China. She was not the only team member to make mistakes, however, so it is unfair to blame her athletic mistakes for the loss.

What disappointed me about Sacramone was not her mistakes on the floor, but her mistakes away from the routines. After the fall on the balance beam, she was clearly shaken up. Her lip quivered, she pouted, and she looked like she was about ready to break down into tears. Do I blame her for that reaction? Nope. I'm sure it was devastating. I understand how disappointed she was in herself, the situation, etc. Her reaction was expected. However, when you are the team captain and you not only have another event to compete in, but also have younger team members who still have routines to perform and are still looking up to you, you must quickly push aside your disappointment, fear, and shame to focus on pumping up your team, supporting them, encouraging them, and congratulating them. That is why you were chosen as the team captain.

Before the Olympics even started, I watched the pre-shows, when all of the U.S. gymnasts were interviewed. Sacramone said one of the things that stands out about the U.S. team is that they remain focused and positive even when the situation is bad. To hear her say that, then see how she reacted to the pressure, was disappointing. Just because she was older and more experienced did not mean she would make the best captain. Would the cool and calm demeanor of Nastia Liukin have served the team better? How about the constant smiles and positive attitude of Shawn Johnson?

I hate to admit it, but after Sacramone fell on the balance beam and continued to sulk well after the initial shock and disappointment, I knew what the outcome would be for the team. When you need someone to look up to and they're not there, it's tough to overcome. I remember being a captain on my gymnastics team. While I certainly cannot relate to Olympic pressure, I do remember that when I made mistakes, I was quick to move on from them so I could support and congratulate the rest of my team members throughout the competition. When the entire competition is done, you can go home and beat yourself up. While you're still immersed in the competition, you have to pull it together.

I still think Sacramone is a great gymnast; I think she just cracked when she screwed up. I hope that next time the Olympics roll around, the team captain is ready to handle that kind of pressure.