Johnson balanced in claiming first gold

“I finished off the Olympic Games with, to me, the most perfect ending ever,” Johnson said. “To finally get the gold medal on my very last routine meant the world to me.”

Johnson already had three silvers, including one from the all-around, where Liukin won gold.

The women have won nine medals combined.

“It just shows how strong we are,” said Liukin, who won five medals. “We went out there and showed we are the best. Going 1-2 in the all-around, that’s never been done by the United States. The Americans have never had 1-2 on beam before, either. And 2-3 on floor isn’t too bad.”

Johnson came to Beijing with high expectations, as the reigning world champion who had lost only one event in the past two years. It wasn’t a question of if she’d win gold, but how many.

But an injury-riddled American team was beaten by the Chinese in the team final, and Johnson finished second in the all-around to Liukin, her roommate in the Olympic village.

It looked as if she’d finally win gold on floor, topping Liukin with a snappy, energetic routine. But the final competitor of the event, Romania’s Sandra Izbasa, bested her and left the 16-year-old for yet another silver.

“I would never trade one of my silvers for gold,” she insisted. “What I went through to get them is very special to me and really touched my heart.”

And the path to gold hasn’t been easy.

“It’s been a long battle,” said Liang Chow, Johnson’s coach. “She came in with the possibility of winning a few gold medals and that hasn’t happened. We were running out of chances.”

But Johnson made her last chance count, posting a 16.225 on the beam and easily topping Liukin’s score of 16.025.

“To finally have a gold and be an Olympic gold medalist, it’s what everyone dreams of,” Johnson said. “It’s so exciting. It’s the best feeling ever.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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