Douglas' performances can be marked by nervous errors

Douglas, a 16-year-old from Virginia Beach, Va., has the dazzling personality and outstanding skills to make other gymnasts disappear into the background.

But just when it seems time to pronounce her the best or most talented gymnast, there will be a thud. Oops, that was Douglas falling off the balance beam at the U.S. national championships, a mistake that cost her a point and the title that went to Jordyn Wieber.

When it mattered here at the 2012 Olympics, though, on qualification day, Douglas avoided any big kabooms. And so she will be among the favorites Thursday when the Olympic gymnastics women's all-around is contested.

Instead of another head-to-head battle against Wieber, who is the world champion, Douglas, 16, will compete next to the surprise American qualifier, Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass. Eighteen-year-old Raisman's historic strength has been her calm team leadership rather than ability to be a star.

Wieber, who had been the gold-medal favorite, finished fourth among all the gymnasts in qualifications but only third-best on her team, and the Olympic rule since 2000 is that only two gymnasts per country are allowed into the all-around final.

At the Beijing Olympics, two Americans, Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, won the all-around gold and silver, and in 2004 American Carly Patterson was the all-around gold winner, so there is a streak that Douglas and Raisman will aim to defend.

"I don't want it to stop," said Douglas, who has been having the best 2012 of any gymnast in the world.