U.S. gymnasts Liukin, Johnson 1-2 in all-around

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BEIJING -- The United States had not merely one Mary Lou Friday in the women’s gymnastics all-around final but two.

Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas and Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Ia., finished 1-2, both after vifturally flawless floor exercises enabled them to hold off China’s Yang Yilin. She won the bronze medal.

Liukin and Johnson were dominant. They tied for the highest scores in the floor exercise. Liukin had the highest balance beam; Johnson had the highest on the vault.

It was only the third time a U.S. gymnast has won the women’s all-around. Liukin joins Mary Lou Retton from 1984 and Carly Patterson from 2004. It was the first time the United States has had two women on the podium in the event.

-- Randy Harvey