OLYMPICS NEWS
August 15, 2008
Go Team U.S.A.!
Top U.S. athletes splash and spin toward gold
American gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson stood side-by-side on the medal podium on August 15, just as they had hoped. Liukin won gold in the women's all-around competition, and Johnson scored silver. The one-two finish is a first for the U.S. in the event.
 |  MATT DUNHAM—AP U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin turns things upside down on the uneven bars during the women’s all-around competition. |
Liukin's score on the high bars helped her soar past teammate—and world champion Johnson —for the women's all-around gymnastics gold. The two have finished first and second in every competition they entered together in 2008, usually with Johnson coming out on top. But when she saw Liukin's score on the high bars, "I knew I couldn't (beat it)," Johnson said, her voice shaking with emotion.
Johnson wasn't sour about second place. In fact, she was genuinely happy for rival Liukin. "She is one of my best friends, and we just want the best for each other," said Johnson after the event. "I couldn't be any more proud of Nastia; she deserved the gold today."
Bouncing Back for BeijingLiukin, who broke her foot and needed surgery in 2006, has been nursing the injury ever since. She hasn't been able to compete in all four events of the competition until this year. But as soon as she planted her feet on a perfect landing off the vault, Liukin made it clear she was recovered, recharged and ready to win her first all-around title. "I know I had so many doubters over the last few years with my injuries, but I proved everyone wrong when I came out here, and I feel stronger than ever," she said after the U.S. team won the silver on Wednesday.
Liukin's father, who is also her coach, introduced the winning bar routine to her last September. Valeri Liukin is a former Olympic gymnast. The very difficult routine would help Nastia win the gold. "I knew at that moment that I was going to give it everything I had," she said Friday.
 JONATHAN FERREY–GETTY IMAGES U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps goes for the gold in the men’s 200-meter individual medley. | |
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps won his sixth gold medal of the Games in Friday's 200-meter individual medley. Now he is one stroke closer to the eight he hopes to bring home from Beijing. But the star swimmer isn't celebrating just yet. He still needs to win on Saturday and Sunday to reach his golden goal. "The next two races are pretty important," Phelps said. "I have to conserve as much physical and emotional energy as I can."
