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The Americans need Jordyn Wieber to regain her swagger in ahurry if they're going to hold off Russia for Olympic gold.
The two gymnastic powers have been trading places in teamcompetition for two years and will face off again on the biggeststage for an Olympic title Tuesday night.
The Russians won the world championship in 2010, then finishedsecond to the U.S. last year.
Defending world champ Wieber failed to qualify for theall-around competition at the London Olympics, but the U.S. womenwill be depending on her for a comeback if they're going to wintheir first team gold medal since the ''Magnificent Seven'' of the1996 Atlanta Olympics.
''We're going to have to cheer her up and hype her up,''teammate Gabby Douglas said.
After failing to qualify for the all-around, the 17-year-oldWieber sobbed and was consoled by teammates. She didn't speak toreporters afterward.
Later, she posted on Twitter: ''I am so proud of our team todayand I can't wait for team finals!!''
O2 Arena has rocked so far, and with host nation Britain in themix after missing the team final at the 2008 Beijing Games, thescene should be even more festive - especially after the Britishcaptured their first Olympic team gymnastics medal in more than 80years with a bronze in Monday's men's competition.
Now, it's Wieber and Douglas' turn to chase that elusiveAmerican team gold and try to accomplish something the NastiaLiukin-Shawn Johnson show of 2008 couldn't in Beijing, where Chinacaptured gold on its home turf.
Former world champion Aliya Mustafina and the focused Russianswere the only squad to come close to challenging the U.S. teamafter Sunday's qualifying.
And they're so determined to beat the Americans, Russia'sathletes blew through the mixed zone without even speaking to theirown reporters. The word is they won't be heard from until the jobis done.
In other action Tuesday, Michael Phelps is back for a busy nightin the pool as he seeks a third straight gold in the 200-meterbutterfly. Then Phelps, Ryan Lochte & Co. will try to bounceback in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay after settling for asurprising silver behind the winning Frenchmen in the 4x100-meterfreestyle relay Sunday.
In gymnastics, the U.S. women's team will look to reach the topspot on the podium a day after the American men's team finished adisappointed fifth. The Romanians also are expected to challengefor a medal.
''I think we've definitely set the bar higher,'' Douglas said.''It's just an amazing feeling to know that Team USA is definitelystrong. Even myself, we've come a long way.''
While the U.S. dominated team qualifying Sunday with a score of181.863, the Russians are determined to keep closing the gap withthe world watching. Mustafina didn't compete in the 2011 worldsbecause she injured her left knee at the European Championshipsthat April - and now she's back but still trying to regain topform. Her vault, for example, is a less difficult one than what sheperformed when she got hurt.
The U.S. gymnasts consider the gold theirs for the taking afterall the strides their program has made in recent years.
''I guarantee one thing: The truth is going to come out on theOlympic Games,'' said the renowned coach Bela Karolyi. ''The truthis that we are solidly in the first place on the team, no questionabout that.''
The Americans aren't ready to celebrate anything yet. Everythingchanged in a matter of minutes Monday night, when Japan jumped fromfourth to a silver medal after a protest and bumped the Ukraineright off the podium.
''The Olympics are always a dog fight,'' USA Gymnasticspresident Steve Penny said. ''There is something that always popsup and changes the perceived outcome. Something happens and itchanges it.''
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NBC Tuesday Olympic Prime Time Schedule:
8 p.m.-midnight (EDT/PDT)
Women's gymnastics: team gold medal final; Swimming: gold medalfinals in men's 200m butterfly, men's 4x200m freestyle relay,women's 200m freestyle, women's 200m individual medley; Women'sdiving: synchronized platform gold medal final.
