The New Nation - Internet Edition

Agencies, Beijing

Shawn Johnson finally stepped up to the top of the Olympic gymnastics medal platform after three near misses and helped the U.S. women edge China. Johnson, the all-around world champion and at 16 already the leader of the U.S. women's team, won the balance beam on the last night of competition.

She beat teammate Nastia Liukin, the world champion on the apparatus and the only other U.S. woman to take a gold in Beijing, with the all-around title last week.

``I remember saying, `Finally,''' Johnson told reporters. ``I'll probably sleep with it, I'm so excited.''

The U.S. won the women's gymnastics medal race over China 8-6 and tied at two golds each, with the Americans getting five runner-up finishes. China's men beat the U.S. 8-2 overall and 7- 0 in the gold-medal count, as the nation won the total medal race 14-10.

``I am very happy,'' said Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women's team coordinator. ``This is the right way to conclude the Olympic Games. It proved the supremacy of American gymnastics.''

Johnson finished eighth on the beam at the 2007 world championships in Stuttgart, Germany, where she won championships on the U.S. team and in the all-around and floor exercise.

The U.S. finished second to China in the Olympic team event, and Liukin nipped Johnson for the all-around title. Johnson also finished second to Romania's Sandra Izbasa in the floor exercise.

``She came in with a possibility of winning a few gold medals, but that didn't happen,'' U.S. coach Chow Liang said. ``We were running out of chances and she did a great job.''

Tonight, there was no question Johnson would get her first gold from the moment she hopped on the beam.

She finished with 16.225 points to 16.025 for Liukin, who lost the gold in uneven bars to China's He Kexin in a tiebreaker last night. They were the only two who scored above 16 on the beam in the new two-tiered judging. Cheng Fai of China was third at 15.950.

``I think this showed how strong we are,'' said Liukin, who now has five Olympic medals, one more than her father-coach, Valeri. ``After the silver in the team final, some people were saying, `What is all this talk?' This now shows we are the best.''

She beat teammate Nastia Liukin, the world champion on the apparatus and the only other U.S. woman to take a gold in Beijing, with the all-around title last week.

``I remember saying, `Finally,''' Johnson told reporters. ``I'll probably sleep with it, I'm so excited.''

The U.S. won the women's gymnastics medal race over China 8-6 and tied at two golds each, with the Americans getting five runner-up finishes. China's men beat the U.S. 8-2 overall and 7- 0 in the gold-medal count, as the nation won the total medal race 14-10.

``I am very happy,'' said Martha Karolyi, the U.S. women's team coordinator. ``This is the right way to conclude the Olympic Games. It proved the supremacy of American gymnastics.''

Johnson finished eighth on the beam at the 2007 world championships in Stuttgart, Germany, where she won championships on the U.S. team and in the all-around and floor exercise.

The U.S. finished second to China in the Olympic team event, and Liukin nipped Johnson for the all-around title. Johnson also finished second to Romania's Sandra Izbasa in the floor exercise.

``She came in with a possibility of winning a few gold medals, but that didn't happen,'' U.S. coach Chow Liang said. ``We were running out of chances and she did a great job.''

Tonight, there was no question Johnson would get her first gold from the moment she hopped on the beam.

She finished with 16.225 points to 16.025 for Liukin, who lost the gold in uneven bars to China's He Kexin in a tiebreaker last night. They were the only two who scored above 16 on the beam in the new two-tiered judging. Cheng Fai of China was third at 15.950.

``I think this showed how strong we are,'' said Liukin, who now has five Olympic medals, one more than her father-coach, Valeri. ``After the silver in the team final, some people were saying, `What is all this talk?' This now shows we are the best.''