Team USA gymnasts make their first appearance in Rio as they compete in qualifying

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USA's women's gymnastics team came first in all four events at today's qualification at Rio Olympics 2016
Simone Biles, 19, was the stand out athlete coming first in the all-round competition with a total of 62.366
Gold medalist and defending champion Gabby Douglas was pushed out of the all-round by Aly Raisman
Raisman, 22, will now compete in the all-round competition as well as in the floor exercise event
Gold medal winner and defending champion Douglas, 20, and Madison Kocian will compete in the uneven bars

Published: 15:59 EST, 7 August 2016 | Updated: 09:08 EST, 8 August 2016

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Simon Biles is on course to take home gold in Rio after dominating the gymnastics qualifiers today as Team USA took the lead.

The United States women's team took home a final team score of 185.238 putting them nearly 10 points ahead of second-place China through four subdivisions, a massive gap in a sport where the margins are often measured in fractions. Russia came in at third place.

But Biles, 19, was the star of today's events, coming first in the all-round competition with a total of 62.366 and leading the qualifiers in exercise, vault and balance beam. She will now compete in every event except for the uneven bars.

The teen was almost two points ahead of teammate Aly Raisman, 22, who narrowly edged out Gabby Douglas to earn the other spot on the all-around competition, and will also compete in the floor exercise event.

Gold medal winner and defending champion Douglas, 20, and Madison Kocian will compete in the uneven bars and Laurie Hernandez will represent the team on the balance beam.

Scroll down for video

Team USA celebrate coming first in the gymnastics qualifiers today: Alexandra Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles (left) , Laurie Hernandez (center, front) and Madison Kocian

Stunning performance: Simone Biles, one fifth of the Fierce Five, competes on the floor during the women's qualifications

Biles was almost two points ahead of teammate Aly Raisman (pictured), 22, who narrowly edged out Gabby Douglas to earn the other spot on the all-around competition

Simon Biles is on course to take home gold in Rio after dominating the gymnastics qualifiers today as Team USA took the lead

United States' Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification

Biles - the star of Sunday's qualififiers - performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification

Marta Karolyi, U.S. gymnastics team coordinator, looks at the scoreboard, with Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas

United States' Simone Biles performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Biles was flying high during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Laurie Hernandez, 16, takes to the floor at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. At the end of the first rotation, Team USA was on top

Hernandez, wearing her diamante studded Team USA costume, in red, white and blue, celebrates after her floor routine

US gymnast Hernandez gave an impressive performance during the qualifying for the women's floor event of the Artistic Gymnastics

Alexandra Raisman, of the US, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Aly Raisman, 22, (pictured) narrowly edged out Gabby Douglas to earn the other spot on the all-around competition, and will also compete in the floor exercise event

Impressive: Gabby Douglas, 20, one fifth of the Fierce Five, was the first athlete to compete in Qualification Four

US gymnast Gabrielle Douglas competes in the qualifying for the women's floor event of the artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Arena

Many praised Biles' outstanding performance online with even the celebrity crowd weighing in to pass on their congratulations.

Kim Kardashian posted a video of herself online with a special message to the gymnast.

'Hey Simone, it's Kim Kardashian West,' she said in the video, tweeted by USA Olympics. 'I just wanted to wish you the best of luck in the Olympics, we're all rooting for you back at home.'

Experts say it's not a question of if the women will win gold - but just how many medals they will take home for Team USA.

Although the athletes - Biles, Douglas, Hernandez, Raisman and Madison Kocian, 19 - are heavily favored to repeat as gold medalists, the real drama will be which of the three Americans in the all-around gymnastics competition will miss out on the final.

That's because each country can enter just two competitors in the final, leaving Biles, Douglas and Raisman to battle for those two places.

Just hours before taking to the mat to compete at 4.30pm ET, the women paid tribute to their coaches and new friends on social media.

Flavia Saraiva, of Brazil, competes on the uneven bars during women's qualification for the artistic gymnatics on day 2 of the Rio 2016 Games

Kim Bui of Germany competes on the uneven bars during Women's qualification for artistic gymnatics on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

India's Dipa Karmakar performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Slovakia's Barbora Mokosova performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Vietnam's Thi Ha Thanh Phan performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Brazil's Lorrane Oliveira waves to the audience after her routine on the beam balance during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Britain's Elissa Downie performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio

Britain's Rebecca Downie is embraced by a coach after her routine on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification

Britain's Claudia Fragapane performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's qualification at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Biles uploaded a picture of Team USA with gymnasts from the Netherlands, while Douglas paid tribute to coach Christian Gallardo, writing: 'For the last 2 years he has encouraged and believed in me‼️'

On Instagram, Biles posted a hilarious photo of her and her teammates meeting the Cuban men's volleyball team - all of whom were more than a foot and a half taller than most of the girls.

In one of the Olympics dining halls, the girls also posed for a snap with the Japanese men's gymnastics team.

'Yaaaaaaaas. We love the men's Japanese gymnastics team... Who doesn't? They're AMAZING!! I also traded a pin with Kohei Uchimura,' Raisman wrote on Instagram.

Uchimura is a five-time Olympic medalist and the first gymnast - male or female - to win every major all-around single title in a single Olympic circuit.

Rhonda Faehn, Sr. Vice President USA Gymnastics and 3 time NCAA Champion, tweeted out her support for the team

Kim Kardashian recorded a special message for gymnast Simone Biles after her performance

Lauren Hernandez, Gabrielle Douglas and Simone Biles stand together after their floor routine during the women's qualification

Team shot: Madison Kocian posted this photo on Instagram with the caption 'podium training'

Making friends: Simone Biles uploaded this picture of Team USA with gymnasts from the Netherlands

Gratitude: Gabby posted this picture with Christian Gallardo, writing: 'For the last 2 years he has encouraged and believed in me‼️'

Stylish leotard: Simone Biles shows off her outfit in this selfie posted on Twitter on Saturday

Having fun: 'We weren't terrible but we'll stick with gymnastics,' Simone wrote next to this shot

Biles is itching to join those ranks, having won gold in the All-Around at the 2013, 2014, and 2015 World Championships.

Also in Rio are the three alternates, who are on standby to replace any of the top five teammates should they be injured.

McKayla Skinner, Ragan Smith and Ashton Locklear are training separately from the other girls, and have also been sporting unique leotards from the main team.

WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS SCHEDULE - 2016 OLYMPICS

August 7 - Team qualifications (4:30-6pm ET, airs at 8pm ET*)

August 9 - Team all-around (3-5:15pm ET, airs at 8pm ET)

August 11 - Individual all-around (3-5:10pm ET, airs at 8pm ET)

August 14 - Individual events: vault and uneven bars (1-4mp ET, airs at 7pm ET)

August 15: Individual event: balance beam (1-3:15pm ET, airs at 8pm ET)

August 16: Individual event: floor exercise (1-3pm ET, airs at 8pm ET)

August 17: Gymnastics gala (10-11:30am ET and 2-3:30pm ET, airs live)

August 21: Closing ceremony

*All broadcasts air on NBC

The U.S. women's gymnastics team is currently training in Rio. Pictured left to right: Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles

The new-and-improved Fierce Five took time out of their rigorous training to snap a pic with the Olympic rings. From left to right: Douglas, Raisman, Biles, Hernandez and Kocian

Experts say it's not a question of if the women will win gold, but just how many they will take home for Team USA. Douglas, Raisman, Kocian, Hernandez, and Biles pictured left to right by Hernandez's coach Maggie Haney