The gymnasts from the United States overtook China to top the
qualification list on Sunday at the Stuttgart World Gymnastics
Championships.
The US team scored 245.025 points, 3.85 points higher than the
Chinese team, the defending champion.
The US girls overwhelmed China in three out of four events
except the uneven bars. They were also the most consistent team of
this qualification and hardly made any mistakes.
The team started on beam and current US all-around champion
Shawn Johonson clinched score of 16.250.
Another set of very good routines followed on floor where the
elegant Alicia Sacramone, the world champion in 2005, pleased the
crowd with her choreography and expression in her routine which
included a very good tucked Arabian.
Also on uneven bars the US team showed a set of powerful
routines with perfect technique. Unfortunately both Shayla Worley
and Johnson had problems with their dismount but it was followed by
Nastia Liukin with a perfect routine including a very high Gienger
who got 16.250.
Overall the US team reached 234.25 points and managed to get
ahead China on the first position.
In Aarhus world championships last year, the US team also took
the first place in the qualification round, but it is the Chinese
team who brought home with the gold medal.
(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2007)