Completed Event: Men's Gymnastics versus Ohio State on April 17, 2026 , Win , 322.825, to, 320.294
Final
Men's Gymnastics
322.825
vs Ohio State
320.294
University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Gymnasts Help Lead Team USA to Bronze
October 12, 2011 | Men's Gymnastics
October 12, 2011
 photo courtesy of John Cheng/USA Gymnastics |
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TOKYO – The U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team, which features four current and former OU gymnasts in its six-man lineup, claimed third place in the team finals of the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. China won the team title with a total of 275.161 and Japan took silver with a 273.093, a mere 0.010 points ahead of Team USA's 273.083.
The United States' bronze medal showing guaranteed it a berth in the team portion of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It also marked the first time in eight years and fourth time overall that the U.S. squad won a team medal at the World Championships. The USA's previous team medals came in 1979 (bronze), 2001 (silver) and 2003 (silver).
Oklahoma juniors Jake Dalton and Alex Naddour and OU letterwinners Steven Legendre and Jonathan Horton were featured in the United States' six-man World Championship lineup. OU letterwinner Chris Brooks was the team's one alternate.
"I'm really proud of the guys effort and performance on their way to claiming the bronze medal tonight,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams, who is serving as an assistant coach for the United States. “The spirit and fight they displayed exemplifies the pride they have competing for the USA. I'm honored to have been on the floor with this special group of young men. With five of the seven team members from the Sooner family, I'm bursting with pride for what they have accomplished."
The four Sooners in the U.S. lineup strongly contributed to the team's success, with the top American scores in four of the six events at the World Championships coming from Sooners. Gymnasts will compete for spots on the Olympic Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in San Jose, Calif., June 28-July 1.
The United States posted a 46.032 on the floor exercise, the best of any country in the eight-team finals, with all three individual scores coming from Sooners. 2011 OU graduate Legendre scored a 15.566, the second-highest score of the field. Dalton recorded a 15.500, the third highest in the team finals, and Horton scored a 14.966.
The three Sooners also competed on the vault to combine for a 47.765 in the event. Dalton posted a 16.333, the third-highest score in the field. Legendre scored a 16.166 and Horton scored a 15.266.
Horton's 15.066 on the still rings was the top score for the U.S. squad and fourth highest in the competition. Dalton scored the team's second best score on rings with a 14.333.
Horton also competed for the U.S. on parallel bars (15.000) and high bar (15.366).
OU junior Naddour boasted the highest American score and second highest score in the field on pommel horse with a 15.058.
The OU gymnasts on Team USA continue to compete at the World Championships this week as the event shifts to the individual event finals. Legendre will compete in the floor exercise and Horton will compete on the still rings on Oct. 15 at 11:30 p.m. CT.
Sooner fans can follow the action at the 2011 World Championships via the web, cable TV and network television. UniversalSports.com will have a live webcast of the team, all-around and individual event finals from Tokyo for $19.99. Universal Sports will show all of the finals on its cable network during prime time. Check local listings and contact your cable provider for more details.
NBC Sports will also include highlights from the men's competition during its broadcast of the women's all-around final at 1 p.m. on Oct. 16.
Information to the this article was contributed by USA Gymnastics.
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