China's much celebrated gymnastic arena had seen three competition's and three Chinese golds.
That was until Friday morning, when Americans Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson took the stage.
In the Women's Individual All-around, countries send their best two gymnast to compete for individual medals. Four years ago, in Athens, the United States won behind Carly Patterson from Plano, Texas.
This year the Nastia and Shawn would compete for the medals in the lion's den, Beijing, China.
China sent Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan to compete for gold, other gymnast of interest were Russia's Anna Pavlova and Ksenia Semenova and Romania's Steliana Nistor.
Group One, the main group of contenders, consisted of both gymnast from the United States, China, and Russia.
The first rotation was the vault, because this event was first it would seem the other competors had early leads on these six, but group one all finished in the top seven.
After the vault, Shawn Johnson lead the group with a 15.875. She was followed by Pavlova - 15.275(-0.600), Yilin - 15.175(-0.700), Liukin - 15.025(-0.850), Yuyuan - 14.825(-1.050), and Semenova - 14.750(-1.125). Yuyuan incurred a fall on her dismount.
The second rotation led the gymnast to the uneven bars, a strength for the Chinese.
Uneven bar scores: Yilin - 16.725, Liukin - 16.650, Semenova - 16.475, Yuyuan - 15.875, Johnson - 15.275, and Pavlova - 14.525.
Half was through the competition and after the uneven bars, Yilin took over the lead with a total score of 31.900. Trailing her was Liukin - 31.675(-0.225), Semenova - 31.225(-0.675), Johnson - 31.150(-0.750), Yuyuan - 30.700(-1.200), and Pavlova - 29.800(-2.100).
The next rotation took the gymnast to the beam, easily the most scariest of all the events in women's gymnastics. The beam is very well known for making or breaking gymnast and/or team competition (Alicia Sacramone during the Team Competition).
The beam has been the weakest event for the Chinese, the Russians historically have been very good on the beam, and the Americans have been dominate on the beam.
During the competition, everything seemed to slow down dramatically, while scores and deductions were not consist from gymnast to gymnast.
Shawn Johnson flew threw her routine with easy, while the Chinese (especially Yuyuan) looked unease and had many balance checks. However Johnson's performance score was a 9.050, Yuyuan 9.025 and Yilin 9.050. Not trying to stir the pot of controversy, just making an observation, shared by NBC analyst.
Balance Beam scores: Liukin - 16.125, Johnson - 16.050, Pavlova - 15.975, Semenova - 15.925, Yilin - 15.750, Yuyuan - 15.425.
Scores after three rotations had put American Nastia Liukin in the lead with a 47.800. Behind her Yilin - 47.650(-0.150), Johnson - 47.200(-0.600), Semenova - 47.150(-0.650), Yuyuan - 46.125(-1.675), and Pavlova - 45.775(-2.025).
With only the floor exercise remaining, the Americans had the chance to complete the dream that both Liukin and Johnson said they had been having for months, finishing 1-2.
The order on the floor had Yuyuan going first, followed by Pavlova and Semenova, and then the Big Three, Yilin, Liukin, and Johnson.
Yuyuan scored a 14.775 giving her 60.900 total points, a sixth place finish.
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3 months ago
AMEN to that my brother.
In the words of several male US gymnasts, "That's how the USA rolls."
We come into YOUR house, eat YOUR cookies, and wash it down with YOUR milk. Of course, that's probably why just about every other country roots for whomever the US is competing against. But hey, until WW3 starts, i'm fine with that...
from 3 months ago
I could go for some chocolate-chip cookies right now.
3 months ago
Yea, this was freaking sweet! I was getting all worried with some of those scores. I was sitting there it complete disbelief after Nastia's vault score.
Great Article =)
from 3 months ago
Yeah the whole scoring thing has been bothering me the entire gymnastic events, but now its over and we out-medalled the Chinese.
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