BEIJING — All of them put in near-perfect performances, but the least flawed all-around girl on the day was Nastia Liukin of the United States.

United States' Shawn Johnson (R) and Nastia Liukin congratulate each other after the women's individual all-around final of the artistic gymnastics event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on August 15, 2008. United States' Nastia Liukin won the gold, her compatriot Shawn Johnson the silver and China's Yilin Yang the bronze. [Agencies]

Liukin won with 63.325 points. Her compatriot Johnson won silver, with 62.725. Yang Yilin of China was third, with 62.650.

As the contenders for the gold medal in the women's gymnastics individual all-around moved to their final event — the floor exercise — the crowd at National Indoor Stadium on Friday began competing cheers of "Go China!" and "U-S-A!"

Liukin, who clinched the gold, was almost flawless on the floor exercise, rousing the crowd with her tumbling passes and flexibility of a prima ballerina. In her hot-pink leotard with rhinestones glittering under the lights, she was simply graceful.

Silver medallist Shawn Johnson of the US (R) hugs bronze medallist Yang Yilin of China after the women's individual all-around artistic gymnastics final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. [Agencies]

Johnson, the little ball of power and spunk and the reigning world champion on the floor exercise, was the final woman to perform in the event. She scored the same as Liukin on the floor, 15.525. It was not enough.

In the finals, she had not made any big mistakes, either. But her competition was simply better.

Liukin had gone into first place after the balance beam, the third rotation. She scored the highest on that event, 16.125.

She finished that event with 47.800 points, with Yang just 0.15 behind. Johnson was in third, six-tenths behind.

The top contenders started on the vault. Liukin performed a Yurchenko with one and a half twists, sticking her landing. She scored 15.025.

Johnson was up next, performing a Yurchenko with two and a half twists, markedly harder than Liukin's vault. Her score was 15.875.

The two Chinese performers — Yang and Jiang Yuyuan — also started on the vault. Yang scored 15.175. Jiang was given a 14.825 after she landed short, squarely on her backside.

After the first rotation, Steliana Nistor of Romania was in first, with Johnson in second.

Anna Pavlova of Russia was third. And way back in ninth was Liukin, but that was expected. The vault is her weakest event.

Her second rotation — the uneven bars — was where she would sparkle. Liukin, whose long and lean body like that of a prima ballerina, is one of the best uneven bars performers in the world. As if gravity were not an issue, she spun and twisted and flew through the air, looking effortless. She scored a 16.650, more than a point more than Johnson.

Conversely, the uneven bars are Johnson's weakest event. Her score was 15.275.

Yang edged Liukin in the uneven bars, with a routine just as difficult. When her score of 16.725 appeared, the crowd roared.

Nastia Liukin of the U.S. competes on the uneven bars during the women's individual all-around artistic gymnastics final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 15, 2008. [Agencies]

That performance put Yang in first, with 31.90, ahead of Liukin, who was 0.25 back. Nistor was in third. Johnson was in fifth, four-tenths out of first.

The final two events would determine whether Liukin and Johnson would battle for the gold.

Their gymnastics could not be more different, said Bela Karolyi, the former coach of gymnastics legends Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

"Nastia has those long lines and grace, while Shawn is that little fireball constantly moving," he said. "They are so opposite, but their outcome and scores are just about the same."

Special Credit to New York Times