At 22, Aly Raisman is the oldest member of the women’s gymnastics team and considered fairly old for the sport. But her age did not keep Raisman from having tremendous success at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Raisman won the silver in the floor exercise on Tuesday, giving her three medals for the Olympics. She also took home silver in the all-around and gold in the team competition.
After her successful run in Rio, Raisman is considering a return for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, by which time she would be 26.
During NBC’s broadcast of the floor exercise, Andrea Joyce reported that Raisman’s coach, Mihai Brestyan, told Aly that she was stronger than ever and should consider sticking around for 2020. Raisman told Joyce she would consider it.
Then, sitting beside teammate Simone Biles for an interview with Bob Costas, Raisman said again she would consider continuing her career.
“If you had asked me a few months ago I would have definitely said I was done and I think Mihai (Brestyan) would have said the same thing. But (Monday) we were talking and I’m going to take a break and then … never say never,” Raisman told Costas.
“I thought I was in the best shape of my life in 2012 and it’s even better here, so maybe I just get better with age,” said Raisman.
Raisman needs one more Olympic medal to tie Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American woman. The only problem is she could be surpassed at the Games by Biles, who won five at Rio and could snag just as many in Tokyo. Raisman should do it, if only so we could get one more opportunity to see this.
