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Johnson Nabs Gold on Beam

Wins in last women's gymnastics event

By the Associated Press

Posted Aug 19, 2008 7:40 AM CDT

(AP) – Shawn Johnson finally got her Olympic gold medal in the last event of the women's gymnastics competition today on the balance beam. When her routine, chock-full of difficult tricks, earned a 16.225, Johnson's grin was a thousand times wider than the 4-inch-wide beam she had just conquered. 

The world champ, who already had a silver behind fellow American Nastia Liukin in the all-around and a silver on the floor in the team event, edged Liukin, who finished with a gold, three silvers, and a bronze. Cheng Fei of China took the bronze, giving China six women's medals, two behind the US.

U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson wins gold on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics today.
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson wins gold on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics today.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson performs on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics  in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008. Johnson won the gold medal.
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson performs on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008. Johnson won the gold medal.   (Matt Dunham)
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson poses with her gold medal on the podium for the balance beam apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics today.
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson poses with her gold medal on the podium for the balance beam apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics today.   (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson, left, and Nastia Liukin hug after performing on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing Olympics.
U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson, left, and Nastia Liukin hug after performing on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing Olympics.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson performs on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson performs on the balance beam during the gymnastics apparatus finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
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Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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