The gymnasts from the United States overtook China to top the qualification list on Sunday at the Stuttgart World Gymnastics Championships.

 

The US team scored 245.025 points, 3.85 points higher than the Chinese team, the defending champion.

 

The US girls overwhelmed China in three out of four events except the uneven bars. They were also the most consistent team of this qualification and hardly made any mistakes.

 

The team started on beam and current US all-around champion Shawn Johonson clinched score of 16.250.

 

Another set of very good routines followed on floor where the elegant Alicia Sacramone, the world champion in 2005, pleased the crowd with her choreography and expression in her routine which included a very good tucked Arabian.

 

Also on uneven bars the US team showed a set of powerful routines with perfect technique. Unfortunately both Shayla Worley and Johnson had problems with their dismount but it was followed by Nastia Liukin with a perfect routine including a very high Gienger who got 16.250.

 

Overall the US team reached 234.25 points and managed to get ahead China on the first position.

 

In Aarhus world championships last year, the US team also took the first place in the qualification round, but it is the Chinese team who brought home with the gold medal.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2007)