Jana Bieger added two more gold medals to top an American sweep
over women's events at the conclusion of the 2006 Gymnastics
Pacific Alliance Championships at Honolulu on Saturday.
After their dominating performance in Thursday's team and
all-around competition, it was not a surprise to see the U.S. women
continue to win all four apparatus on Saturday.
Bieger led the Americans with two golds on vault and floor while
her compatriots Nastia Liukin and Chellsie Memmel, all-around
co-champions, split the titles of uneven bars and balance beam.
The Americans therefore topped the medal count with six gold
medals although their men finished empty-handed.
Through dazzling twist and solid landing, Bieger scored a
highest 14.912 on her two vaults. The 16-year-old then capped the
night by winning her second gold on floor. She received a score of
15.500 to edge Memmel.
Memmel, 2005 all-around world champion, added her second title
on balance beam. She scored 15.700 to outperform Liukin.
But Liukin nailed a beautiful routine on the uneven bars to run
away with first place in 15.975. Her teammate Shayla Worley hung
onto second with a 15.400 despite a slight bobble on landing.
Men's apparatus finals saw a two-way battle between Chinese and
Canada with each winning three titles.
Chinese Feng Jing showed why he was the all-around winner at the
2001 world championships. The 21-year-old scored 15.525 points for
the pommel horse title and then won the parallel bars in
15.675.
Lu Bo added a third title on rings to complete China's gold
rush.
Chinese finished second on the medal tally with a total of four
golds, including men's all-around by Lu on Friday.
Canada struck third thanks to veteran Kyle Shewfelt's two gold
medals on floor and vault and Nathan Gafuik title on horizontal
bar.
Powerhouse Japanese ended with a sole team title as they
harvested no gold medals on Saturday.
(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2006)