London Olympics: Aly Raisman's parents steal the show [Video]

July 30, 2012|By Chuck Schilken

<p>Aly Raisman is like many teenagers in that she can drive her parents crazy.</p><p>Only Raisman is a U.S. gymnast who qualified for the all-around competition at the London Olympics. And her parents are really, really crazy.</p></div></div><div class="float" style="clear:both;height:1px;line-height:1px;"><img src="/images/pixel.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="" /></div><div id="mod-ctr-lt-in-top" class="mod-latarticlesadcpc mod-adcpc with-fourth-cpc"><script type="text/javascript"> var adSkipCounter = 0; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "parents team champion gymnastics team";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,8321278795,8261105409"; google_ad_type="text"; google_image_size="300x250"; google_safe="high"; google_feedback="on"; google_max_num_ads="2"; google_skip="" + adSkipCounter + ""; google_adtest="off"; google_page_url=document.URL; function google_ad_request_done(ads) { if (ads.length == 0) { return; } // If no ads are returned then dont build the ad block if (ads[0].bidtype == "CPC") { adSkipCounter += ads.length; } // Increment ad skip counter when cpc google_ad_request_done_internal(ads, "", "", "true", "medium_rectangle", "", "", "pgtp=article&pi=34&ci=32945652&cat=arts+%26+entertainment&pe_id=32945652&tv=ap-LA12-G02&rna=pub-0227802054925200&rn=g&rnrci=5212128158&rnrcn=CMI-A-002&rncci=6138855783&rnccn=CMI-A-009&rnpci=&rnpcn=&rntci=&rntcn=&rnlci=8261105409&rnlcn=8261105409&rnp=c&rt=cpc&paidClick=1&placement_id=ctr-lt-in-top", "", "", "", "", "", "ap-LA12-G02", "Los Angeles Times Articles"); } //]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/google_ad_request.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para" class="mod-latarticlesarticletextwithadcpc mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext"><p>Or so it seemed to the millions of people watching the qualifying round Sunday on NBC, which had a camera and microphone isolated on Ricky and Lynn Raisman as their daughter competed on the uneven bars Sunday night.</p><p>OK, so the Raismans really aren't crazy -- they were justifiably stressed out during a 40-second routine their daughter had been working toward for many years. But, boy, were they also amusing with all their squirming, shifting, leaning and gesturing. Not to mention all those awkward facial expressions.</p><p>And then there was all that, uh, vocal support coming mainly from Raisman's mother. For those of you keeping score at home, here's how I tallied it:</p><p>"Come on!" - 10 times;</p><p>"Let's go!" - 7 times;</p><p>"Catch (it)!" - 4 times;</p><p>"Go!" - 4 times;</p><p>"Stick it!" - 2 times;</p><p>"(Some unintelligible phrase)!" - 2 times;</p><p>"Nice!"- 1 time each.</p><p>There was also an emphatic "Yeah!" from both parents in unison after their daughter actually did stick it (her landing).</p><p>Mom and Dad looked exhausted but proud after that routine. With any luck, all three Raismans will be well-rested and on top of their games for Thursday's medal round.</p><p><strong>ALSO:</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-matt-grevers-20120730,0,3388388.story">Matt Grevers wins his first individual gold medal</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-london-olympics-teenager-missy-franklin-win-100meter-backstroke-20120730,0,5633584.story">Missy Franklin gets gold in 100-meter backstroke</a></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/olympicsnow/la-sp-on-china-wins-mens-gymnastics-20120730,0,7302954.story">China repeats as men's gymnastics team champion</a></p></div><div id="mod-a-body-after-first-para-ad-cpc" class="mod-adcpc"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var loc = window.location.href + ""; var float = ""; google_hints = "parents team champion gymnastics team";google_ad_client="pub-0227802054925200"; google_ad_output="js"; google_ad_channel="5212128158,6138855783,9488961041,8261105409"; 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