Raisman's grandma knew she'd be an Olympian

NEEDHAM, Mass. (WHDH) -- Aly Raisman’s family is filled with pride. They know firsthand how much work the athlete has put in to get to the Olympic games.

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Years before the world watched Aly become an Olympic champion her family believed their young gymnast would make it to the top.

“I always wanted to say to her go for the gold,” said Sue Faber, Aly’s grandmother. “But I couldn’t say that because that would put too much pressure.”

Faber’s granddaughter became world famous overnight, but Aly’s family knows it was no easy leap from New England to London.

“I remember going to watch her in Lowell when she was probably about 6 years old. At that time we didn’t think, she was a kid, she was very good, but she was a kid,” said Larry Devore, Aly’s great uncle.

Aly’s gymnastics career started in a mommy and me class with her mother Lynn, who was also a gymnast as a child. By the time Aly was a teenager she was training 40 hours a week and sacrificing family vacations.

Her dedication ultimately won the 18-year-old Olympic team captain the only trip she wanted to take.

“I watched the last Olympics at Lynn’s house with a whole bunch of kids from the gym. I could see their ups and downs as various things happened with the United States and they were so into it and so focused,” said Faber.

Faber can read about her granddaughter in the pages of magazines and see her face on the covers. She said the family never talked much about Aly’s Olympic ambitions. The gymnast just did the work. Now they can all live the dream.

“I had tears in my eyes when they got the Olympic gold,” said Faber.

Aly goes for gold again on Thursday. The Needham town hall will be showing the live stream of her events on the big screen. Everyone is invited to the celebration that they’ve dubbed “Rally for Aly.”