me and refuses to rule out winning the title The statement is not welcome because we have to believe, no matter if it just one c

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The nerves were there. Unmistakable. Unavoidable. Standing in the darkened tunnel before entering Rio Olympic Arena on Sunday night, the U.S. womens gymnastics team felt the pressure that comes not from outside expectations but those held within.Then the lights came on.And just like that, the young women in the glittery red-and-blue leotards national team coordinator Martha Karolyi has molded into a global force relaxed.And dominated.On bars. On beam. On vault and floor too. Their not-a-typo score of 185.238 was nearly 10 points better than second-place China through four of the five subdivisions, a preposterous gap in a sport where the difference between first and second is measured in fractions.Its never 100 percent perfect but I think we showed that our gymnastics is of the highest level, Karolyi said.One no opponent is close to reaching. If the U.S. had swapped out its highest score on each event with its lowest, it would still be up by six points.Three-time world champion Simone Biles led the way. Her score of 62.366 was well clear of teammate Aly Raisman. So much for the butterflies in her stomach.I do a very good job at hiding it, Biles said. The team, we just calm it down.Consider it a luxury of being so far beyond the rest of the planet. All five women earned a spot in either the all-around or event finals, or in the case of Biles and Raisman, both.Raisman, a three-time Olympic medalist four years ago, grabbed the second spot in the individual all-around for the Americans by edging reigning Olympic champion Gabby Douglas thanks in part to what Raisman called the best bar routine of my life.Rules limit each country to two gymnasts per event in the all-around and event finals, meaning even though Douglas was third overall, shell miss out on a chance to defend the crown she won in London. Not that she was moping. When Raisman drilled her dismount on beam, Douglas rose from her chair and gave her a hug.A controversial selection to the five-woman team after a so-so performance at Olympic trials, Douglas validated Karolyis choice with steady performances all over, including a bars set that earned her a spot in the individual finals.She said `I believe in you, and you can go out and do it, Douglas said. At the end of the day that means so much ... because shes very precise. It feels good.The top eight teams in qualifying move on to Tuesdays team final, where the U.S. is expected to repeat the gold it won easily in London and give it to Karolyi as a retirement present. Karolyi is stepping away after the games, though shes hardly in a hurry to get there. There are still a few more lessons to teach.My expectations are higher for you than anyone elses, she said. What Im trying to do is get the most out of every single person.No wonder Russian gymnastics star Aliya Mustafina figures everybody is playing for silver.Its going to be really difficult to compete against the American team, Mustafina said through a translator after the Russians survived a sometimes shaky qualifying session. They are unbeatable at the moment.China and Russia both struggled at times on Sunday, beset by mistakes they cant afford to make if they want to make the team finals anything more than a coronation. While each have their strengths, the truth is the U.S. has few weaknesses. The margin for error will be thinner in the three-up, three-count final. Yet after the U.S. went 16 for 16 during an occasionally showstopping 90 minutes, they hardly seem overburdened by the stakes.I think all of our hard work was just to show the world, said Madison Kocian, who put up the top score on uneven bars. I mean were 10 points ahead.Something thats not supposed to happen.Good luck world. Its up to China, Russia, Great Britain, Brazil, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands to knock the Americans off their throne. How difficult will it be? Consider this: the margin between the U.S. and the Chinese on Sunday was greater than the margin between China and 12th-place Belgium.Romania failed to qualify for the Olympics as a team for the first time in more than 40 years but will have an event finalist after Catalina Ponor finished in the top eight on beam. Uzbekistans Oksana Chusovitina, competing in her record seventh Olympics, reached the vault final after finishing fifth in qualifying.The 41-year-old played coy when asked by her 17-year-old son Alisher if this is her last go-around.Wait and see honey, Chusovitina said with a laugh. Asics Schweiz Schuhe China . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Asics Schweiz Outlet . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. http://www.asicsschweiz.ch/ . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Asics Schweiz Schuhe Discount . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Asics Schweiz Schuhe Sale . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night.Arsene Wenger insists he is confident that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will sign new contracts this summer, no matter where the Gunners finish this season. Ahead of their clash with Watford at the Emirates on Saturday, Arsenal are 11 points shy of Premier League leaders Leicester with eight games to go, and clear of sixth place by just three points.Ozil signed a five-year deal when he joined from Real Madrid in 2013 while Sanchez signed a four-year deal from Barcelona in 2014. And Wenger said: That will be done in the break, in the summer. There is nothing [at the moment].I am confident they are happy and would want to stay. They have two years left on their contracts. They look happy. When I talk to them they are happy and they want to extend their contracts so I dont think it is a problem. Arsene Wenger is confident Sanchez will sign a new contract this summer Wenger did confirm, however, that he will speak privately to Ozil after the midfielder appeared to concede defeat in their push for the Premier League title in an interview on international duty this week.Speaking to German sports website Spox.com, Ozil said: We have to be honest and admit that we mucked it up ourselves.Wenger insists his squad must not give up their belief in the title until it is mathematically impossible and said: We will talk about that yes, of course. Wenger is only focusing on the next game and refuses to rule out winning the title The statement is not welcome because we have to believe, no matter if it just one chance in 100.dddddddddddd We only have a real chance if we believe.You want to be fair and honest, but you want to look forward as well. The worst thing for us would be not to believe and then, if we had a good run, it was available or possible. Wenger will speak to Ozil over his comments to a German website The worst thing in life is to have the wrong beliefs. You have to make sure that you give your best and, at the end, accept that if somebody is better than you that you have given your best.I believe that we have to make sure that we play with passion until the end. That is the best way to get the supporters behind us. I will make sure they dont feel [like they have given up on the title]. Also See: Arsenal video Arsenal fixtures Get a ￡10 free bet! Arsenal stats ' ' '