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Team China holds its nerve - and poise

By Lei Lei (China Daily Staff Writer)
Updated: 2008-08-14 10:04

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games became a milestone for Chinese gymnastics when the women's national team won its first gold Wednesday, just 24 hours after the host's men stood atop the podium.

At the women's team finals at the National Indoor Stadium, six young Chinese gymnasts won the clash with reigning world champion the US to clinch gold with a score of 188.900 points.

The US had to settle for silver with 186.525, while defending champion Romania took the bronze with 181.525 points.

"Claiming the gold in Beijing is very exciting," said Lu Shanzhen, head coach of the Chinese women's team. "It showed that the Chinese women's team is the best in the world.

Cheng Fei of China celebrates after her routine in the floor exercise during the women's team artistic gymnastics final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 13, 2008. [Agencies]

"The great support from the spectators allowed everyone to be filled with passion. All the team members performed very well and it also showed team spirit."

The battle of the final began with the vault, upon which China's team leader Cheng Fei is a three-time world champion. Steady performances from American all-around world champion Shawn Johnson and World Championships vault bronze medalist Alicia Sacramone saw team US lead early by 0.525 points."

But the host team kept its nerve when all three Chinese performed strong routines on the uneven bars to take the lead after the second rotation.

But former uneven bars world champion Nastia Liukin of the US earned the highest score of 16.900.

China's specialist on the apparatus, He Kexin, didn't repeat the fault she made in the qualifications, when she surprisingly fell from the bars, and nailed a clean routine to confirm herself as one of the world's best.

"The mistake in the qualification made me realize that I need to have more confidence on bars at the finals," said He. "It didn't affect me, but made me more confident."

Cheng's unexpected fall from the beam drew a collective sigh from home fans, but young teammates Deng Linlin and Li Shanshan stayed composed during the psychological test and managed solid routines.

"After falling, I told myself I need to focus on the rest of the routine and perform my best to make up the gap," said Cheng. "So, I picked myself quickly."

Team China (from left) Jiang Yuyuan, Li Shanshan, Yang Yilin, He Kexin, Cheng Fei and Deng Linlin in gold-winning action. [Xinhua & CFP]

A fall from Sacramone during her opening movement on the beam drew the two teams back level again, before Johnson pulled back 0.1 points for her team with the highest score of 16.175.

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