Wide-eyed and wearing bubble gum pink

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BEIJING -- The U.S. women’s gymnastics team just marched into the National Indoor Stadium wearing sparkling bubble gum pink leotards. Valeri Liukin, Nasia Liukin’s father and coach was so taken with staring into all the corners that he walked straight into the back of Shawn Johnson’s coach Liang Chow. Liukin, an Olympic veteran himself, giggled.

The U.S. began their podium training on the floor and Chellsie Memmel stayed on the sidelines in her warmups. Memmel has been struggling with a sprained ankle.

Samantha Peszek went first and did have one stumble. Bridget Sloan went second and showed great height on her tumbling passes and her leaps. Alicia Sacramone made a mistake that has plagued her all season, going out of bounds on her second tumbling pass. Nastia Liukin did well but Shawn Johnson also flew out of bounds and looked stunned. So stunned she went back and worked out two passes again.

-- Diane Pucin