PHILADELPHIA -- The confetti was blinding and the applause deafening, an entire arena's worth of celebration just for them.
It was the moment of a lifetime for each of them, but Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin chose to share it together. With tears filling their eyes, the friendly rivals exchanged a heartfelt embrace and a simple message: They had done it.
They were officially on their way to the Beijing Olympics.
"We're such good friends and we've shared so many different experiences," Johnson said. "To finally know, as teammates, we're going to Beijing together and we're on the same path is a great feeling. Also overwhelming. Just tears of joy."
As expected, the world's two best gymnasts earned guaranteed spots on the U.S. team for the Beijing Games on Sunday night with a 1-2 finish at the Olympic trials -- the same places they had at the national championships two weeks ago. Johnson finished the two-day competition with 127.65 points, while Liukin had 125.85.
"We told each other we couldn't believe it was already here. She looked at me and was like, 'We made it," Liukin said. "I don't think it's hit us yet. I think we'll wake up tomorrow and it will sink in a little bit."
Now the fight is on for the remaining four spots on the team, and it will be fierce. Four gymnasts and three alternates will be chosen July 20 after a selection camp at the Karolyi ranch. The training squad for that camp is Chellsie Memmel, Samanta Peszek, Jana Bieger, Chelsea Davis, Ivana Hong, Mattie Larson, Corrie Lothrop, Alicia Sacramone, Bridget Sloan and Shayla Worley.
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It was the moment of a lifetime for each of them, but Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin chose to share it together. With tears filling their eyes, the friendly rivals exchanged a heartfelt embrace and a simple message: They had done it.
They were officially on their way to the Beijing Olympics.
"We're such good friends and we've shared so many different experiences," Johnson said. "To finally know, as teammates, we're going to Beijing together and we're on the same path is a great feeling. Also overwhelming. Just tears of joy."
As expected, the world's two best gymnasts earned guaranteed spots on the U.S. team for the Beijing Games on Sunday night with a 1-2 finish at the Olympic trials -- the same places they had at the national championships two weeks ago. Johnson finished the two-day competition with 127.65 points, while Liukin had 125.85.
"We told each other we couldn't believe it was already here. She looked at me and was like, 'We made it," Liukin said. "I don't think it's hit us yet. I think we'll wake up tomorrow and it will sink in a little bit."
Now the fight is on for the remaining four spots on the team, and it will be fierce. Four gymnasts and three alternates will be chosen July 20 after a selection camp at the Karolyi ranch. The training squad for that camp is Chellsie Memmel, Samanta Peszek, Jana Bieger, Chelsea Davis, Ivana Hong, Mattie Larson, Corrie Lothrop, Alicia Sacramone, Bridget Sloan and Shayla Worley.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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