In the most dominant performance of a women’s team at a world championships in recent history, the U.S. Women’s Team steamrolled the competition, winning nine total medals (four gold, four silver and one bronze). Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., Nastia Liukin of Plano, Texas, and Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., won world titles, with Liukin picking up two. This is the USA women’s best performance ever at a World Championships, bettering the five medals collected in 1993 (three gold and two silver).

Liukin led the squad’s medal collection with two gold (uneven bars and balance beam) and two silver medals (all-around and floor exercise), followed by Memmel with one gold (all-around) and two silver (bars and beam). Sacramone claimed one gold (floor) and one bronze (vault).
“The accomplishment of our women’s team represents an historic moment for USA Gymnastics,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Having such a strong performance the year after the Olympic Games is very encouraging.”
This year’s women’s squad matched Romania’s medal total at the 1987 World Championships, where Romania claimed four gold, one silver and four bronze (includes one tie for first and one for third). Prior to limiting the number of athletes from one country in the final rounds, the Soviet Union garnered 13 medals in 1974, four gold, five silver and four bronze (includes one tie for first and two who tied for third).

A quick summary of the U.S. women’s achievements
  • Nine medals (four gold, four silver and one bronze)
  • Four 1-2 finishes (all-around, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise)
  • First U.S. all-around title since 1994 (Shannon Miller, 1993-94)
  • First U.S. 1-2 finish in the women’s world all-around vMemmel’s 0.001 margin of victory over Liukin is the closest finish since 1985 when two Soviets tied for the title
  • Sacramone’s bronze vault medal is the USA’s second world vault medal; Brandy Johnson was the silver medalist in 1989.
  • Ties most medals won by a country at a single World Championships at nine (Romania had nine in 1987 with four gold, one silver and four bronze) since countries are limited to two athletes in a final

For the men, both Todd Thornton of Pearland, Texas, and Jason Gatson of Mesa, Ariz., competed in final rounds for the all-around (20th) and parallel bars (7th), respectively.

“I am proud of our entire team Aca a