“We are all very proud of how this group stuck together as a team and fought until the very end,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “It is the result we were hoping for and have worked to achieve.”

The members of the U.S. Team are: Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo.; Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa; Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas; Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis, Ind.; Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass.; and Shayla Worley of Orlando, Fla. Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind., is the reserve athlete. In the team finals, three women competed on each apparatus and all scores counted. For complete results of today’s competition, visit www.usa-gymnastics.org.

The U.S. women dropped behind China after balance beam, the third event, when Liukin changed her dismount to a back tuck to land securely and Johnson missed landing a layout on her acro series. Sacramone was the first up on balance beam and had a basically clean routine to score a 15.600, the team’s highest.

“Our strategy after the not so successful beam was to go to the next event, think of that next event, think of the preparation that has been done and remember past successes on it,” said Martha Karolyi, U.S. women’s national team coordinator.

The U.S. squad came roaring back in the final rotation to execute three strong floor exercise routines to secure the team title, just the second ever in U.S. history and the first won outside of the United States.

“I am extremely proud of this tough team that was able to come back after the setback on beam,” said Karolyi. “They showed toughness and it was no less than I expected.”

The U.S. women were paired with the Chinese squad in the rotations because they were first and second, respectively, after the qualification round. Starting on vault, the USA earned a total of 45.950. Sacramone earned at 15.750 for her handspring Rudi (front with one-and-a-half twist). Both Johnson and Peszek did a Yurchenko double twist to claim a 15.150 and a 15.050, respectively. China’s total vault score was 44.375. Cheng Fei sat when landing her Yurchenko two-and-a-half twist to earn a 15.025.

On the uneven bars, Liukin’s routine, complete with an Ono turn with an extra half into a layout Geiger and her double-front half-out dismount, received a 16.375, the USA’s highest on the event. Worley scored a 15.575 for her routine that featured a Hindorf, toe-on Tkatchev and a double-front dismount. Johnson, who went first, nailed her double-twisting, double-layout dismount for a 15.375. Their total of 47.325 moved them into first place at 93.275 after the second rotation, followed by Russia at 92.625 and China at 91.025.

The U.S. team had challenges on the balance beam. Despite a few wobbles, Sacramone’s 15.600 was the team’s highest score. Liukin performed well but changed her dismount to a back tuck to land securely, earning a 15.175. Johnson missed her landing on her layout at the end of her acro series, but recovered well and landed her full-twisting double dismount to post a 15.025. China moved into first at 139.175, with the USA on their heels at 139.075.

“My foot kind of slipped,” said Liukin. “I was a little too early and got too excited and I knew I couldn’t land it (so I changed my dismount).”

Floor exercise was the final event for both the USA and China. While Li Shanshan of China had problems landing her dismount, the USA rose to the challenge. Worley led the United States off with a solid performance, which included a double Arabian and a front layout, front double full on her tumbling passes and a double pike dismount, to post a 14.625. Johnson was next and flashed her trademark smile during her entire routine, hitting every tumbling pass, including a double-double, for a score of 15.375. Sacramone concluded the USA’s round with her sassy and impressive floor routine that included a full-twisting double back, and a two-and-a-half front layout, finishing with a double pike. Her score of 15.325 secured the team gold medal for the United States.

“It was crazy,” said Worley. “We made some mistakes (before floor) but we knew it wasn’t too late. It was the most pressure I have ever had in my life, but it felt great to go out and do it. I am very excited for the team.”

Said Sacramone, “There was a lot of pressure because I knew the team was counting on me. I just went out and did the best I could do. It was almost a relief when it was over and I started crying because it was a great feeling to know that I did all of my routines without mistakes.”

“It was so much harder to watch than to compete (on floor),” said Liukin. “I was nervous for beam but when we were competing on floor, I was really nervous. I knew we could do it and I tried to keep positive thoughts.”

The U.S. women last won the world team title in 2003 in Anaheim, Calif., and were the silver medalists in 2006 in Aarhus, Denmark.

“To be part of a gold medal team is amazing,” said Johnson. “We have worked so hard to get here and wanted it so much. It was great to end up on a good note and I feel so proud.”

The men’s team finals are Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. Both all-around finals are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7, with the men at 2 p.m. and the women at 6:30 p.m. The individual event finals are split between Sept. 8 and 9. All times are local Stuttgart time.

Johnson and Liukin will compete in the women’s all-around. In the individual event finals, Johnson will compete in the balance beam and floor exercise finals; Liukin in both uneven bars and balance beam; and Sacramone in vault and floor exercise.

U.S. gymnastics fans have three ways to follow the action from the 2007 World Championships. “USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team presented by AT&T” will have video clips from Stuttgart, including athlete media interviews after competition, at www.attblueroom.com/teamusa. WCSN is offering a free, live and on-demand Web cast of the men’s and women’s team, all-around and individual event finals at www.wcsn.com. WCSN.com’s daily, live coverage of the medal rounds begins with the women’s team finals on Sept. 5 and concludes on the last day of the individual event finals on Sept. 9. The on-demand coverage will be posted approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live Web cast. For the first time since 2003, gymnastics fans can enjoy coverage of the 2007 World Championships on network TV. NBC Sports is broadcasting a two-hour broadcast on Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. ET. Sponsorship by AT&T has made these three avenues of coverage available to gymnastics enthusiasts.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encourages participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

2007 World Championships
Stuttgart, Germany
Sept. 5, 2007

Women’s team finals
1. USA, 184.400
2. China, 183.450
3. Romania, 178.100
4. Italy, 175.450
5. Brazil, 175.125
6. France, 173.600
7. Great Britain, 169.175
8. Russia, 164.525