GYMNASTICS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yeny Ibarra of Mexico performed on the balance beam during yesterday's competition at the Blaisdell Center.
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U.S. women sweep gold medals
The Americans take all four events on the last night of competition
There was never any doubt that the night would belong to them.
After their dominating performance in Thursday's team competition, it wasn't a surprise to any one of the 1,705 spectators in the Blaisdell Arena that the U.S. women would continue to take up most of the spaces on the podium at the Pacific Alliance Gymnastics Championships.
"No, not at all," said American Chellsie Memmel. "We really expect to hit all our routines."
The U.S. women swept the top spots in all four events, grabbing four golds and three silvers. Jana Bieger led the Americans with two golds, while all-around co-gold medalists Nastia Liukin and Memmel each won a gold and silver.
"We did great as a team," Bieger said. "We captured all four golds on each event, which is awesome. This team works really well together and we support each other."
Canada finished second in the medal count with three bronzes, while Mexico and Japan picked up one medal apiece.
Bieger got the ball rolling for the U.S. in the first women's event of the night, scoring a 14.912 on her two vaults. Her Yuchenko's 1 1/2 twist drew a huge ovation from the crowd as she kept good form and landed solidly on her first vault.
The 16-year-old from Coconut Creek, Fla., then capped the night by winning her second gold in the floor exercise. Performing a packed program that warranted a 6.30 difficulty mark, Bieger received a score of 15.500 to edge Memmel.
With her explosive opening passes that complemented her thunderous music, Memmel scored a 15.400 to take the silver.
"I didn't really think about what I was going to place. I just thought about hitting the best routine that I possibly can and just having fun," said Bieger, who finished in third place in the all-around competition.
"So that was a little disappointing," Bieger said. "I finished third, but I didn't get a medal. But I made up for it a little bit today."
Liukin nailed a beautiful routine on the uneven bars to add to the American medal count. She made her release and transitions seem easy as she posted a score of 15.975 to run away with first place. Teammate Shayla Worley had a slight bobble on her landing, but hung onto second with a 15.400. Japan's Mayu Kuroda took the bronze with a 15.375.
The biggest threat to a possible U.S. gold medal sweep would have come from Australia's Hollie Dykes, who had been the only non-American top qualifier with her 16.000 in the balance beam on Thursday. But in the event finals, Dykes fell off the beam on a half turn, keeping Memmel and Liukin in first and second.
After winning the uneven bars, Liukin kept her composure on the beam, posting a 15.625. Memmel performed next and battled through several bobbles in what was a difficult routine. But Memmel hung on and took the lead from Liukin with her score of 15.700.
American Tessa Pama captured one gold and two silver medals in the three event finals she participated in the junior women's division..
Pama, born in Kona, posted a 15.550 on the uneven bars, edging teammate Bianca Flohr for first place by one-tenth of a point. On the floor exercise and vault, Pama finished in second place behind teammate Shawn Johnson.
The medal count was not as bountiful for the U.S. men, who won just two bronze medals.
After going 0-3 in the first half of the competition, the U.S. men finally got a medal in the fourth event. American David Sender, the youngest competitor on the squad at 20 years old, averaged a 16.212 on his two vaults to take the bronze.
"There was a little pressure just to try to start getting some medals," said Sender.
Canada's Kyle Shewfelt took the gold in the event with a score of 16.375.
Shewfelt ended with two golds. The Canadian showed why he is the reigning Olympic gold medalist on the floor exercise, executing a nearly flawless routine to take the gold.
The U.S. men continued to struggle on the pommel horse, as American Brett McClure had a shaky routine, leaving him in a tie for sixth place. China's Feng Jeng, the top qualifier in the event, smashed the other competitors with a fast and error-free routine that garnered a 15.525, beating out runner-up Lin Hsiang-Wei of Chinese Taipei by more than half a point.