SAN JOSE, CA - JULY 10: Alexandra Raisman competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California.
Gymnastics star Aly Raisman seemed perfectly calm during Team USA’s Olympic qualifying round in Rio di Janeiro on Sunday.
Her parents, however, instantly became an internet sensation when they were caught on camera, and evidently appeared to be a total nervous wreck when watching the 22-year-old Olympian compete in the uneven bars event.
Lynn and Rick Raisman had also looked very worried at the London 2012 Games. In an interview with People magazine, Lynn Raisman said she “always cries” at her daughter’s meets.
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“I get nervous because I know what goes into it and how many hours she’s prepared and how hard she is on herself, and I want her to be happy and go out there and do the best performance she can do,” she said. “So when it’s over, she is happy no matter the results, so I do get nervous. But whatever she was doing I want her to have the best outcome.”
People online even began drawing pop-culture comparisons, like this one to a scene from the movie “Friday” starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker:
If parents’ reactions to their children competing were an Olympic sport, the Raismans would surely win a medal.
Today show anchor Matt Lauer even commented on their incessant squirming in their seats.
“That is such a hard event, but it was her parents who seemed to feel the most uneasy,” said Lauer. “They were shifting their weight, they were moving back and forth in their seats, the agony written all over their faces.”
Aly Raisman nailed the routine on Sunday, and qualified for the all-around final in the Olympics, which is set for Tuesday. She previously won two individual medals in 2012 and a third medal with her team.
Madison Kocian, 19, also qualified on Sunday, earning the highest uneven bars score (15.866) in the qualification round, making her the favorite to win gold in the bars final.
SAN JOSE, CA – JULY 10: Alexandra Raisman competes on the balance beam during Day 2 of the 2016 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Trials at SAP Center on July 10, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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