GLASGOW, Scotland — It usually takes years, decades even, for dynasties to crumble.
For the Romanian women, it took less than 90 minutes.
The Romanians, medalists at every Olympics since 1976, are unlikely to even make team finals at the world gymnastics championships after a horrible, no good, very bad day of qualifying Friday. With a total of 217.220, they are in third place halfway through the first day of qualifying.
And the Americans, Russians, Chinese, British and Italians are still to come.
“This was not very lucky for them today. They only can pray to be there in the first eight,” Romanian legend Nadia Comaneci said.