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TEAM FINAL
1. USA . . . . . . . .184.400
2. China . . . . . . .183.450
3. Romania . . . . .178.100
4. Italy . . . . . . . .175.450
5. Brazil . . . . . . .175.125
6. France . . . . . .173.600
7. Great Britain . .169.175
8. Russia . . . . . .164.525
BEIJING QUALIFIERS
1. USA . . . . . . . .245.025
2. China . . . . . . .241.175
3. Romania . . . . .239.875
4. Russia . . . . . .238.000
5. Italy . . . . . . . .234.425
6. Great Britain . .233.025
7. France . . . . . .232.700
8. Brazil . . . . . . .232.250
9. Ukraine . . . . . .231.425
10. Germany . . . . .231.125
11. Australia . . . . .230.850
12. Japan . . . . . . .228.175
is known as the capital of Baden-Württemberg, lead-
The U.S. women handily
dethroned China to set up the
ultimate showdown in Beijing
By John Crumlish
pleasant blend of Old World charm and modern
industry, the southwestern German city of Stuttgart
ing producer of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche sports
cars, and “Europe’s Capital of Sport 2007.”
While locals gathered in the heart of the city to enjoy wine,
Swabian specialties and music during the annual Stuttgarter Weindorf
(wine village), fans across town toasted the best gymnasts competing
at the 40th World Gymnastics Championships, Sept. 1-9. More than
THOMAS SCHREYER ( 2)
global honors were at stake
in this year’s competition, held in the Hanns-Martin-
Schleyer Halle, which also hosted the 1989 worlds.
The top 12 teams, plus selected individuals, would
earn berths to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The Chinese women entered Stuttgart as the
defending team champion, intent on a second con-
quest as part of their preparation for the Olympics
they will host in less than a year. While the week was
full of surprises, the women’s team final saw unique
twists of fate, ranging from a spirited American rally
to a Romanian resurgence, inadvertently prompted
by a Russian disaster. And when the final routines
were complete, a deep U.S. team had recaptured the
title it first won in 2003. China, meanwhile, dropped
The victorious Americans celebrate after floor
exercise (from left): Alicia Sacramone, Nastia
Liukin, Samantha Peszek, Shawn Johnson, Shayla
Worley (also above right on bars), Ivana Hong.
to second, no doubt wondering how it could return
to the top in Beijing, and Romania finished with the
