The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 15) -- Not only did Nastia Liukin's victory today in the Women's All-Around event end the dominance of China's gymnasts at Beijing 2008, but it also fulfilled the gold medal dream of her father, who won a silver medal in the event at Seoul 1988.
To win gold today, Liukin needed to beat her teammate from the United States, the 16-year-old prodigy Shawn Johnson. The battle between the two American gymnasts continued all the way to the Floor Exercise, which was the last rotation for the pair. Evenly matched as ever, both scored 15.525 but the gold medal was awarded to Liukin on the back of her elegant performance and high score in The Beam.
Liukin is coached by her father, who won an Olympic All-Around silver medal at Seoul 1988 when competing for the former USSR. Valeri Liukin missed out on the gold medal by a tenth of a point, so his daughter's success must warm the heart of a man who came so close to being a gold medalist in gymnastics' blue riband event. Valeri won gold medals at Seoul 1988 in the Team and High Bar events.
"It's a feeling that I don't think any father can describe. Many years ago I was second at the Seoul Olympics, so it's nice to fix that mistake I made," said Valeri Liukin.
Liukin is the United States' third Olympic All-Around gold medal winner, following on from Mary Lou Retton at Los Angeles 1984 and Carly Patterson at Athens 2004.
"I can't believe it still. I worked so hard for so many years for this," Nastia Liukin excitedly said after securing the gold medal.
Liukin scored only 15.075 on Vault in the first of four rotations, but caught up in the following two rotations. All-Around gold medalist at the 2007 World Championships, Shawn Johnson did not make any major mistakes but a relatively low score of 15.275 in the Uneven Bars proved costly.
Despite losing against Liukin today, Johnson will probably have another chance to win gold at London 2012.
"I gave my heart and soul out there, and I couldn't be happier or prouder of myself. I'd give anything to feel that again. If I can in 2012, I'll be there no matter what," said Johnson.
