U.S. men, though far from perfect, qualify for team gymnastics final

RIO DE JANEIRO — The American men advanced to the gymnastics team finals on Monday, scoring 270.405 to rank second to China.

Russia, Japan, Britain, Brazil ranked behind the United States to make the team final, along with Ukraine and Germany.

The U.S. men led the competition through their subdivision, but was not a perfect day for them at Rio Olympic Arena on Saturday.

Captain and first-time Olympian Chris Brooks botched his vault, came off pommel horse and had a mistake on high bar. Jake Dalton landed short and low on vault. Sam Mikulak came off pommel horse. And Alex Naddour stepped out on floor.

But the Americans had some exceptional performances. Mikulak and Dalton scored 15.800 and 15.600 on floor exercise for the best two scores of the day.

Danell Leyva put up the team’s best parallel bar and high bar scores. And Naddour’s pommel horse routine was the best for the Americans.

Mikulak’s 89.041 in the all-around was good enough for seventh and a spot in the final on Wednesday.

Brooks scored an 88.631 to rank 19th in the all-around. The top 24 all-arounders make the final.

Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman in the all-around for USA

The American men will need to clean up their routines to have any chance at a team medal on Monday. China and Japan have dominated the sport for years, and Britain and Russia are likely to challenge for a spot on the podium as well.

In addition to the two who qualified to the all-around final, several Americans earned spots in event finals later next week.

Mikulak will compete in the floor and high bar finals, while Leyva will compete in the high bar and parallel bar finals. Dalton will compete on floor, and Naddour will compete on pommel horse.