China Bests USA in Women’s Gymnastics

Actually it was a combination of the Chinese women\\\’s strong performances and the American women\\\’s mistakes that earned China the women\\\’s team gymnastic Gold Medal and the defending Olympic champion US team the Silver Medal. It started off well enough for the US, with all three gymnasts–Alicia Sacramone, Shawn Johnson, and Bridget Sloan–nailed their vaults. Johnson, Nastia Liukin, and Chellsie Memmel (competing with a broken ankle) were outstanding on the uneven bars. However, on the final two aparatuses, the team faltered. Sacramone fell off of the balance beam (below) even before her routine began and she landed on her backside instead of her feet during one tumbling pass in the floor exercises. It was more than enough to give the Chinese women the Gold.

The American team has been plaqued with injuries during and leading up to the Beijing Games. Shayla Worley fractured her leg during the Olympic selection camp. Chellsie Memmel injured her ankle shortly after arriving in China (the extent of which was not revealed until after last night\\\’s competition); and Samantha Peszek injured her ankle just prior to Sunday\\\’s qualifying round and did not compete in the finals on Wednesday.

The Romanian Team earned the Bronze Medal.

Individual competitions begin on Friday (Thursday night on US television). Johnson and Liukin will compete in the all-around event.

(Image of Alicia Sacramone © Newscom)