TOKYO, Oct. 13, 2011 – In a thrilling, down-to-the wire finish, Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts’ Twistars USA, won the women’s world all-around title at the 2011 World Championships at the Tokyo (Japan) Metropolitan Gymnasium. Wieber, who is just the sixth U.S. woman to win this prestigious title, edged out Russia’s Victoria Komova, who dropped into second place following her floor routine. John Orozco, Bronx, N.Y., U.S. Olympic Training Center, and Danell Leyva of Homestead, Fla./Team Hilton HHonors (Universal Gymnastics), are competing in the men’s all-around on Oct. 14 (Start List | Live Results | Watch Live).

"I feel amazing," said Wieber. "I was so surprised. I wasn’t expecting to come out on top but I am really happy and glad that I did enough on that floor routine to make it. To come in here and achieve one of my goals that I have had since I was a little kid is so exciting. I am very happy to have this gold medal around my neck."

Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass., finished fourth, making a remarkable jump in the all-around rankings after a mistake on the uneven bars.

"I am happy that I was able to come back strong and still place fourth in the world," said Raisman. "I wish I would have made my bar routine because I was so close to medaling."

On vault, Wieber earned a 15.716 for her Amanar, which is a Yurchenko two-and-a-half twist. Raisman, the last to go on vault posted a 15.233 for her Yurchenko double full. Wieber and Raisman had the top two scores for the first rotation.

Wieber was up first on the uneven bars and fought through a small mistake to finish strong with her Tkatchev and a stuck double layout dismount for a 13.600. Raisman also found trouble on the uneven bars but finished with a stuck double-front dismount, earning a 12.900.

On the balance beam, Raisman came back strong, earning a 14.525 for her routine that included a double Arabian dismount. Wieber was last up and performed a solid routine with a standing full to back handspring and her back handspring, back handspring two-and-a-half twist dismount. She earned a 15.266 and moved into second in the all-around rankings at 44.582, behind Komova at 45.016.

Raisman finished with a great performance on floor, executing a one-and-a-half to double Arabian, punch front for her first pass, followed by a pike double Arabian (with great amplitude), triple full and double pike. She earned a 14.900 and finished with an all-around total of 57.588. Competing next to last in the rotation, Wieber’s passes included a double-twisting double back; a one-and-a-half to triple full; two-and-a-half to layout; and finished up with a double pike. She received a 14.800, for a 59.382 total. Komova was the last gymnast up, earning a 14.333 and the all-around silver.

"I have no words," said John Geddert, Wieber’s coach. "There are no words to describe this (her winning the title). She should have been out of the meet (after bars) and out of the medals. She’s not a quitter. I thought she would be in the hunt because she did such a decent job. I actually thought Victoria had enough to beat us, but (she lost by) less than a tenth. That’s this sport, that’s life."

The remaining finals schedule is: Oct. 14, men’s all-around; and Oct. 15-16, individual events.

The U.S. gymnasts competing in the individual event finals are: women’s vault — McKayla Maroney of Laguna Niguel, Calif./All Olympia AOGC; uneven bars — Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, and Wieber; balance beam and women’s floor exercise – Wieber and Raisman; men’s floor exercise – Steven Legendre of Port Jefferson, N.Y./Team Hilton Honors (University of Oklahoma); still rings – Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Academy); parallel bars –Leyva; and horizontal bar – Orozco.

Fans can follow the action at the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships via the web, cable TV and network television. Universal Sports will carry a live webcast of the finals, as well as same-day coverage on its cable network. In addition, usagym.org will have photos and updates from Tokyo, with expanded coverage of "USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team presented by AT&T." NBC Sports will broadcast coverage of the World Championships on Oct. 15-16.

Here’s a quick overview of the various ways to watch and follow the U.S. Team’s performances at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo.

  • Live webcast. UniversalSports.com will have a live webcast of the team, all-around and individual event finals from Tokyo for $19.99. For U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings time, the live webcasts are scheduled for: Oct. 14 – men’s all-around final, 6 a.m.; Oct. 15 – individual event finals, 12:30 a.m.; and Oct. 16 – individual event finals, 1 a.m. (NOTE: Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of New York City; when it is midnight in Tokyo, it is 11 a.m. in New York.)

  • Cable TV. Universal Sports will show all of the finals on its cable network during prime time. At 8 p.m. ET each day, Universal Sports will show the men’s all-around finals on Oct. 14; and individual event finals on Oct. 15-16. The women’s team final will air at 11 p.m. on Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final, with men’s highlights, will air at 11 p.m. on Oct. 16.

  • NBC. NBC Sports’ coverage of the World Championships will broadcast the women’s team final at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, and the women’s all-around final at 2 p.m. on Oct. 16.

  • "Behind the Team." "USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team presented by AT&T" will provide expanded coverage from the World Championships, including John Macready’s take on the championships and Tokyo, interviews, and more. To enjoy this added coverage, you can go to att.net/teamusa or access it from usagym.org.

  • Usagym.org will provide enhanced coverage from Tokyo that will include results and exclusive photos from the competition, as well as daily video interviews. USA Gymnastics will also post event updates on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Women’s All-Around Final Results
1. Jordyn Wieber – USA – 59.382
2. Victoria Komova – RUS – 59.349
3. Yao Jinnan – CHN – 58.598
4. Alexandra Raisman – USA – 57.558
5. Huang Qiushuang – CHN – 57.432
6. Ana Porgras – ROU – 57.299
7. Kseniia Afanaseva – RUS – 56.732
8. Lauren Mitchell – AUS – 56.699

U.S. Individual Scores

Vault
Jordyn Wieber – 15.716
Alexandra Raisman – 15.233

Uneven Bars
Jordyn Wieber – 13.600
Alexandra Raisman – 12.900

Balance Beam
Jordyn Wieber – 15.266
Alexandra Raisman – 14.525

Floor Exercise
Alexandra Raisman – 14.900
Jordyn Wieber – 14.800