NEEDHAM — As Aly Raisman took to the Olympic stage again Tuesday, winning a gold medal for her floor routine and a bronze in the balance beam competition, residents and family members in her hometown were crossing their fingers for their local hero.

Shop owners and town employees gathered in small groups to watch her two live performances on the beam and floor exercises Tuesday morning. Some gathered around high-definition televisions. Some looked up Raisman’s scores online. And still others tried to shield themselves from the news, hoping to wait to watch NBC’s taped broadcast later in the evening.