The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 14) -- US duo Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin might end China's domination in Gymnastics in the Women's All-Around Final at the National Indoor Stadium Friday.
Johnson and Liukin are the top two qualifiers for the final with total scores of 62.725 and 62.375 from four events – Vault, Uneven Bar, Beam and Floor. They are followed closely by China's Yang Yilin with a score of 62.350.
China has taken in all the Gymnastics gold medals so far, winning two Team finals, and the Men's All-Around title. Shawn Johnson, the 2007 All-Around World Champion, competed in all four events (scoring 62.625) in the Women's Team final, in which the U.S. finished with a disappointing second after team leader Alicia Sacramone's misplay on Floor and Beam.
Both Johnson and Liukin are qualified for the Beam and Floor finals. Liukin, silver medalist in the 2005 World Championships, will also be competing for an Uneven Bar medal.,
The United States' major challenge will come from China, Russia and Romania. China's Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan were both crucial members in China's Team gold and are strong competitors on the Bars and Beam.
Romanian Sandra Izbasa and Steliana Nistor have won All-Around bronze and silver medals in the 2006 and 2007 World Championship respectively. And Russia's Ksenia Semenova and Anna Pavlova, were in fourth and fifth place leading up to the All-Around final, and might also make trouble for the American favorites.
