[Developer]

Gold for US gymnast, finally



(L-R) Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin and Yang Yilin. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
(BEIJING, August) -- The US gymnastics team finished the first six days gold-less. It could only watch as China won gold in the Men and Women's Team event.
However, today was another day. Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson starred in the Women's All-Around final to win the gold and silver medals. The bronze medal went to China's Yang Yilin.
In the first rotation of four, Johnson was ranked first after a difficult move gave her 15.875 in the Vault. China's best gymnast, Jiang Yuyuan, was unable to land cleanly after dismounting from the Vault and scored a low 14.825. Once a gymnast's score dips below 15.000 on a single apparatus, their medal chances skydive. Liukin and Yang Yilin earned 15.025 and 15.175 in the Vault respectively.

Nastia Liukin competes on the beam. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Uneven Bars specialist Yang, who is the best-ranked qualifier in the Uneven Bars final, caught up to Johnson after she scored an outstanding 16.725 on the Uneven Bars in the second rotation. Liukin was the second-highest scorer on the apparatus with 16.650. Johnson, whose specialty lies with the Floor Exercise and the Vault, finished with 15.275.
Johnson competed first on the Beam in the third rotation. She scored 16.050, her first Beam score above 16.000 at Beijing 2008. Yang finished with a Beam score of 15.750. Liukin, who competed last in this rotation, needed 15.975 to replace Yang in first place, which she did with an outstanding 16.125.
Liukin held onto her lead with 15.525 in the Floor Exercise, taking her total score to 63.325. Johnson finished with a total score of 62.725 and Yang finished with a total score of 62.650.