US upstages China to book Olympic favoritism

China Daily | Updated: 2007-09-04 07:10

Chinese Cheng Fei performs on the floor during the women's qualifications of the 40th World Gymnastics Championships on Saturday. AFP

STUTTGART, Germany: The United States women's team booked its Olympic berth in style on Sunday, upstaging 2008 Games hosts China to earn its ticket to Beijing during qualifying at the world gymnastics championships here.

Powered by Anastasia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and Alicia Sacramone the seven-member US team served notice of its intention to reclaim the world title it lost to China at Aarhus, Denmark, last year.

The US achieved 245.025 points after the four apparatus - the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor - to finish 3.850 points ahead of China (241.175) in the qualifiers which were spread over two days.

It outperformed China on three of the apparatus, finishing marginally behind on the uneven bars.

"Everyone will be disappointed if we don't taste that gold," said 19-year-old Sacramone.

"We're going to give it everything we have to get that first (place), but we don't want to put too much pressure on ourselves, we were disappointed last year.

"We just have little things to work on now like landings and hand stands."

The US, who won the title for the first time at home in Anaheim in 2003, did not win any gold last year, finishing second behind China in the team event.

But it will have also to contend with a resurgent Romania with the two-time Olympic champions, who finished off the podium last year, placing third (239.875) ahead of Russia (238.000).

China had taken the overnight lead despite falls from the beam by its star Cheng Fei, a triple gold medalist from last year's worlds, and Xiao Sha.

But the Chinese are on top on three of the apparatus with Cheng favorite to defend her vault and floor titles, and Li Shanshan leading the way on the beam.

Russia's Ksenia Semenova scored highest on uneven bars ahead of 2005 world champion Liukin and defending champion Beth Tweddle of Britain.

Vanessa Ferrari's all-around title is also up for grabs, with 2005 runner-up Liukin coming back from an ankle injury that hampered her last year, and national champion Johnson showing nerves of steel on her world debut.

Italy's Ferrari qualified fifth (60.550) behind Romania's Steliana Nistor (61.600), Liukin (61.525), Johnson (61.200) and Tweddle (60.775).

China's top qualifiers for the all-around are Yang Yilin, who placed ninth, and Xiao, who finished in 12th.

Ferrari's Bulgarian mother Galina said that the teenager found it hard to cope with being in the spotlight since her dramatic gold last year.

The 17-year-old fell from the beam and had an error on her floor routine.

"Vanessa suddenly saw herself surrounded with enormous attention, which, by nature, she is not very keen on.

"It hit her like a blow. It is not easy for a 16-year old girl to suddenly have to grow up so quickly," her mother added.

Italy, Britain, France and Brazil complete the line-up for Wednesday's eight-team final, with the all-around finale taking place on Friday.

The Ukraine, Germany, Australia and Japan respectively complete the 12-team lineup for the 2008 Beijing Games.

The teams ranked 13 to 15 - DPR Korea, Canada and Spain - can send two athletes, while those ranked 16 to 18 - Czech Republic, Netherlands and Switzerland - can send one.

Top all-rounders and apparatus winners whose countries or regions do not qualify through the team standings will be given a wild card to Beijing.

AFP

(China Daily 09/04/2007 page24)