Johnson Nabs Gold on Beam

Wins in last women's gymnastics event
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 19, 2008 7:40 AM CDT
Johnson Nabs Gold on Beam
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)

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. (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)

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