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U.S. women short in size but long on humor

Besides being really, really good at gymnastics, the U.S. women have a good sense of humor.

U.S. gymnasts, from left, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles(Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)

Besides being really, really good at gymnastics, the U.S. women have a good sense of humor.

Gymnasts are short, that’s just a fact. And in an Olympic Village where most athletes have at least a foot and 100 pounds on them, yeah, they’re going to stand out. There’s not much they can do about that, so they may as well get a laugh out of it.

The U.S. women have been entertaining themselves by taking photos with really tall athletes. The best is the 4-8 Simone Biles standing back-to-back with U.S. volleyball player David Lee to show their 2-foot height difference. (If you haven’t seen it yet, Google. It will make your day.)

“I feel like Simone is just so much shorter that it just looks even more ridiculous,” team captain Aly Raisman said, laughing. “When Simone gets up for a photo they’re like, `Oh my God, you’re so tiny!’ ”

Added Gabby Douglas, the “tallest” of the group at a little over 5-2, added, “It’s just funny. I think everyone recognizes us when we walk by, like, `Yeah, those are the gymnasts,’ because yeah, there’s a big height difference.”

While the photos make for great souvenirs – the Americans already have ones with Michael Phelps, Conor Dwyer and the Cuban men’s volleyball team — being so much smaller than everyone else does have its drawbacks.

“Everyone in the village is so tall,” Biles said. “I just feel like I’m going to get stepped on or something.”

Follow Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

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