LISBURN, N. Ireland, March 18, 2007 — The U.S. women dominated the individual event finals at the USA vs. Great Britain competition held today in Lisburn, N. Ireland, winning all four gold medals and claiming 11 of 12 available medals.  Samantha Peszek of McCordsville, Ind., won the vault and floor exercise, with Shayla Worley of Orlando claiming the uneven bars crown and Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, earning top honors on the balance beam.  Including the all-around and team events, which were held yesterday, the USA earned a total of 15 medals.

Peszek scored a 14.900 on both vault and floor to take the top spot for both. On vault, Johnson placed second with a 14.750 and Natasha Kelley of Katy, Texas, finished sixth with a 13.250. Following Peszek on floor in second and third, respectively, were Hilary Mauro of West Chester, Ohio, and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind.  Mauro earned a score of 14.850 and Sloan received a 14.650.

Johnson posted the day’s highest score of 16.050 to take the balance beam title. Peszek with a 15.350 and Ivana Hong of Blue Springs, Mo., with a 14.850 were second and third on beam, respectively.

Worley won the uneven bars with a 15.450.  Kelley was second at 15.200, with Bianca Flohr of Creston, Ohio, in third at 14.650.

The U.S. Women’s Team swept the medals on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.  Including the team title, both Peszek and Johnson won three gold medals.  Peszek led the U.S. team’s medal haul at five, with three gold, one silver and one bronze.  Johnson was a close second with four (three gold and one silver) to her credit.  Worley, who also competed in the team competition, garnered three total (two gold and one silver).  Every member of the U.S. delegation came home with a medal.

Great Britain’s Marissa King claimed the bronze medal in vault, the only non-U.S. individual event medal.

On the first day of competition, the USA won the team title, 238.50 points to Britain’s 218.10.  The United States also swept the all-around medals, with Johnson winning the title.  Worley was second, followed by Peszek.  In the all-around, the USA finished in the top seven spots.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics. For more information, log on to www.usa-gymnastics.org.

USA vs. Great Britain
Lisburn, N. Ireland
March 18, 2007
Individual event Finals

Vault
1. Samantha Peszek, USA, 14.900
2. Shawn Johnson, USA, 14.750
3. Marissa King, Great Britain, 14.650
4. Laura Jones, Great Britain, 13.950
4. Emma White, Great Britain, 13.950
6. Natasha Kelley, USA, 13.250

Uneven Bars
1. Shayla Worley, USA, 15.450
2. Natasha Kelley, USA, 15.200 
3. Bianca Flohr, USA, 14.650
4. Hannah Clowes, Great Britain, 13.500
5. Laura Jones, Great Britain, 11.550
6. Rebecca Wing, Great Britain, 10.650

Balance Beam
1. Shawn Johnson, USA, 16.050
2. Samantha Peszek, USA, 15.350
3. Ivana Hong, USA, 14.850
4. Laura Jones, Great Britain, 14.700
5. Rebecca Wing, Great Britain, 13.150
6. Marissa King, Great Britain, 13.050

Floor Exercise
1. Samantha Peszek, USA, 14.900
2. Hilary Mauro, USA, 14.850
3. Bridget Sloan , USA, 14.650
4. Hannah Clowes, Great Britain, 13.750
5. Marissa King, Great Britain, 13.150
6. Emma White, Great Britain, 11.800