GLASGOW, Scotland — The U.S. men finished fifth, their second-worst showing at a world championships or an Olympics since 2006. Their final score was 10 points lower than it had been last year, and put them closer to the Netherlands than front-runner Japan.
They were in the top five in just two of the six events and, also for only the second time since 2006, will have only one gymnast in the all-around.
And absolutely none of it matters.
By finishing in the top eight at the world gymnastics championships Monday, the Americans earned a spot at next summer’s Rio Olympics.