Alexandra Rose Raisman Bio

Alexandra Rose Raisman (born May 25 24th, 1994) is an ex-retired American artistic gymnast and two-time Olympian. She was the American women's Olympic gymnastics team captain for both the 2012 and 2016 "Fierce Five" U.S. teams. She was awarded gold in the team competitions at the 2016 Olympics. Gabby Douglas as her teammate also took home gold. Raisman was awarded silver medals in the all-around individual and floor exercise. Raisman has silver medals from the all-around individual, as well as for the floor exercise. She is also two times a national champion in floor exercises (2012 and 2015), and the 2012 champion of the national championship in balance beam. She's also the reigning national champion for five consecutive years in all-around at national championships (silver and bronze in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2012 and). In 2013 she was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Raisman was born on 25 May 1994 in Needham, Massachusetts to Lynn Faber (nee Faber), who was a former high school gymnast, as well as Rick Raisman. She has three younger sisters: Madison, Chloe, and Brett. Raisman is Jewish and states that "I take a lot off having the opportunity to not only represent the U.S.A but also the Jewish Community all over the world." Raisman started gymnastics when she was 18 months. She attributes her initial enthusiasm for the sport to the "Magnificent Seven", the gold medalists of the U.S. women's team at the 1996 Summer Olympics, whose performances she observed on VHS.She was a student at Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing through Level 8, after which she moved to Brestyan's American Gymnastics Club under coaches Mihai and Silvia Brestyan. Raisman graduated Needham High School in 2012. She finished her senior year online and was working towards the Olympics.