U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team: Everything You Didn't Know
The 'Fab Five' worked their way into the hearts of millions of Americans.
Aug. 2, 2012 — -- While the U.S. women's gymnastics team worked its way toward the gold at the London summer Olympics, the five teens who are known simply as the "Fab Five" worked their way into the hearts of millions of Americans.
The "Fab Five" consists of a hard-working and talented group of young women. There's Gabby Douglas, flying on the uneven bars, Kyla Ross and her perfect lines on the beam, McKayla Maroney's perfect vault, and Jordyn Wieber and Ally Raisman's flawless floor routines.
"This team has heart," 1996 gold medalist and member of the "Magnificent Seven" Shannon Miller told ABC News. "I cried when they won the gold."
FULL COVERAGE: London 2012 Olympics
Douglas' nickname has become "the flying squirrel" as she has moved up in her gymnastics career. Douglas moved out of her Virginia Beach home at age 14 in order to train with the best gymnastics instructors in the country.
"Life is not easy," she said. "You have to fight, and just refuse to quit."
Douglas is now on the world's stage, with millions across the globe watching her every move. It seems, not even she can believe it, tweeting the other day: "Just talked to the President of the United States!!! WOW such an honor and a amazing feeling!!"
Miller has high hopes for the 16-year-old.
"[Gabby] will certainly be a super star coming out of these games," she said.
Another superstar is team captain Raisman, who trains seven hours per day, and has a surprising ritual after every workout. She says that she drinks chocolate milk to replenish her muscles.
That tactic seems to be working for her. After their big win this week, Raisman tweeted, "Can't believe we did it."
"The majority of the things that I do, I'm actually afraid to do, but you just have to have a positive attitude and block out any fears that you have," Raisman said.
Wieber is a high school senior with nerves of steel and a razor-sharp focus. When she's not dreaming of winning the gold, she's dreaming of something else, pop star Justin Bieber.
From London, she tweeted that her team was having sweet dreams, with their new medals placed under their pillows.
"I'm kind of a perfectionist," Wieber said. "I want to go to the gym, I want to practice hard every single day, it's always been a part of my personality."
As champion U.S. gymnast Dominique Dawes knows, it takes more than personality to win it all.
"You don't have to have personality to win a gold medal. You just have to have talent, work ethic and the right people surrounding you," she said.
There's also Ross, the baby of the group at 15 years old. She started gymnastics when she was 3. Now she trains up to 35 hours each week.
Ross' best friend, teammate Maroney, said that in her elementary school yearbook, Ross said one of her goals was to be in the Olympics. She can now check that off the list.
Said Dawes: "I think I've seen a number of gymnastics teams in my day. These girls are just special in their own way."
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