Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson: Back or not

BEIJING -- Nastia Liukin, 18, the gymnastics all-around champion, said Wednesday morning that she might keep in competitive shape and try to add to her total of nine world championship medals. The 2009 worlds are in London and are only for individual events. There is no team championship.

Shawn Johnson, 16, who was favored to win the all-around gold but settled for balance beam gold instead, sounded less sure she would keep competing.

"Honestly, continuing after the Olympics, after you accomplish your greatest dreams and goals, it's going to be hard," Johnson said. "I don't know what other goals to set. The feelings and emotions I have, how proud I was, it was the best feeling ever. Whether I can get that feeling again for next worlds, it depends on how I feel, how my body holds up."

-- Diane Pucin

For the record: An earlier post said Johnson settled for the floor exercise gold. She won gold for the balance beam.

Comments

[Gregory Solman]

Over the hill at 20? Is that what gymnastics has come to? No wonder there is consternation over underaged Chinese.

Shawn reminded me of "Seabiscuit," especially trailing behind Nastia in that annoying little march style gymnasts do between events, but it seems early for the pasture.

Still, as much as it was gratifying to see Shawn win her gold, I honestly enjoyed Nastia's performance better. I know Shawn's degree of difficulty was higher, but it came off as thumpy and muscular, with only an unconvincing obligatory nod to graceful gesture; Nastia's routine reminds us that balance beam as an event is supposed to be a display of astounding athletic/balletic balance.

[BigFan]

Both of the performances were very enjoyable, it would be a shame if either of them wasn't there in 2012 to win a few more for the USA. Shawn's awesome.

[Lauren]

I hope Shawn retires and i hope Nastia keeps going shes amazing

and Nastia should def do worlds now that shes totally in the game again no injury's and such she can get her much deserved AA world champion title!!

[KIMBA]

Nastia peaked at the right time. Shahn has owned gymnastics for the past two years. Nastia just landed everything. Shahn is the real deal, as she put her sportsmanship on display on a daily basis. She is poised and a true treat to watch. Am I the only one who lost his mind over this captivating little girl? Of course not. Shahn has personality plus, Nastia is cold and aloof. Shahn welcomed and congratulated all of her competitors, Nastia looked like she wanted to disinfect after each hug. My prediction? Shahn has had enough. There are no new goals, and only four more years of brutal training, and for what? For a system that is publically being changed to favor dance over true gymnastic tricks? The beam is about power, floor is about ballet. If she goes on, she will own the Worlds next year, because she can add connecting elements to compliment her awesome athletic skills. Nastia plays it safe, Shahn goes for it, and that is what the big O's are all about!!

[hannah]

there is this misconception that shawn has more difficult gymnastics than nastia which is completely not true. in the AA, they had the exact same start values. so nastia performs the same level of difficulty as shawn, except she does it with grace and much better flexibility.

shawn has not "owned" gymnastics these past two years. nastia was injured last year and could not compete at her highest level.
she would place ahead of nastia in national meets because johnson was frequently overscored at meets. (It is obvious from the huge discrepancy in scores that shawn was receiving nationally compared to internationally.

nastia did not just "have a good day." she blew away the field in the AA comp and outscored johnson by more than half a point. In gymnastics, that is a huge margin. basically, she did not need to have as many stuck landings as she did in order to win

[Valentina]

The two gymnasts are tremendous in their own way, but I honestly think Nastia is better. Why? She is far more flexible and graceful and not so muscular as Shawn is. Shawn is tiny and has a charming smile and personality (kind of reminds me of Olga Korbut), and her demeanor in the sport is fearless and daring--that's a skill few gymnasts have. To me, I love them both for their unique style, but I just love Nastia a little more!