By NANCY ARMOUR
AP National Writer… Johnson won the U.S. gymnastics championships so handily Saturday night, the rest of the field might as well have gotten its own division. Her score of 123.650 was 3.450 points ahead of runner-up Shayla Worley …
And after the show she put on Saturday, she is sure to be a favorite for the world title.
“I remember watching these last year and thinking, `Oh my gosh, I could be a senior next year,'” she said. “To be here and win, it’s a dream come true.”
Just 4-foot-9, Johnson packs the power of someone twice her size yet somehow manages to still look dainty. She tumbles without fear, whether it’s on the floor or up on the balance beam, and makes the toughest tricks look easy. She’s the type of gymnast who you can’t help but watch, an automatic eye catcher.
When she finished uneven bars, her last event, coach Liang Chow threw up his arms in triumph and swept her into a hug. She grinned, then waved happily to the cheering crowd. In addition to the all-around title, she won gold on balance beam and floor exercise.
Two-time U.S. champion Nastia Liukin, long considered one of the world’s best, finished third after another rough night. Liukin is nursing a nagging ankle injury, and she took an ugly tumble on floor and had another bumble on vault.
But she finished strong, doing routines on uneven bars and beam that were among the best of the meet. She was named to the world team along with 2005 world floor champ Alicia Sacramone; Worley; Samantha Peszek; Ivana Hong; and Bridget Sloan.
Six of the women will compete at worlds, with one going as the alternate.
read more … Gatorsports.com
Johnson proof that good things come in small packages
Backseat coaching in the audience, that’s the same team Dana Brass (talent scout for Cirque du Soleil) and myself called.
From what I saw tonight, I’d say this team looks unbeatable at Worlds in Germany in a couple of weeks.
It has everything. Consistency, artistry, high level of difficulty, power. Everything.
Liukin’s bar routine tonight (7.1 difficulty) was the best routine I’ve ever seen on the apparatus.
Full RESULTS linked from the USA Gymnastics Championships page.
Another 6 or 8 gymnasts might have been named to this team, if they had had a stronger competition. Make no mistake, many others will be in the running for the Olympic Team next year.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 