Romania's Sandra Izbasa Upsets Johnson, Liukin in Women's Floor

BEIJING — Romania's Sandra Izbasa grabbed the gold medal on floor away from world champion Shawn Johnson at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday night.

All-around champ Nastia Liukin took bronze, giving the United States two medals in the event and its women's team five total medals.

Johnson, who also won silver in the all-around, had the unwanted chore of going first. Her performance lacked the usual flair, but a series of somersaults and twists at the end drew a roar from the crowd _ and the mark she seemed to need to hold on: 15.50.

But Izbasa, the final competitor, wowed the judges, who gave her a 15.65. Izbasa also helped her country get bronze in the team finals.

Comments

[VivaGelato]

The floor exercises were great to watch. I felt that the competition was fairly judged, unlike the vault or the uneven bars. Personally, I think Chinese gymnast in the vault that won the bronze should have been 4th or lower due to her poor performance. In the uneven bars, I believe Nastia Lukin was screwed by the judges. Also, why does gymnastics have a tie breaker for medals when other sports do not? If a performance is worthy of a gold medal, why award a silver to one of the competitors? The IOC should get rid of the tie breaker for the London Olympics.

[macracan]

What's up with you guys being pissed off because the results were mentioned here before NBC aired them? Shame on NBC not airing the competition live, as it should have. The world is much smaller these days: information travels instantly. What kind of sheep are those that don't revolt on NBC, but on those that are up to speed?

[allrelative]

Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic USA team gymnastics champion performed her Olympic medal winning floor routine to music from Well-Tempered Productions, a record label specializing in innovative classical music. The selection entitled 'Variations on Dark Eyes,' was arranged and performed by the Israeli virtuoso pianist Ilan Rechtman and features the violin playing of Lara St. John. The selection is currently only available on a CD recording entitled 'Gypsy.' Ilan Rechtman is the featured artist on two releases on Well-Tempered that will be available in early 2009, "Beethoven in Brazil," and "Rechtman Plays Beethoven, Chopin & Rechtman." The 'Gypsy' CD is available directly from Well-Tempered or Amazon.com. www.welltempered.com
"It is especially interesting to me personally that an athlete with such incredible artistry as Nastia would somehow gravitate to choose this particular recording of the 'Dark Eyes' work, which had so much skill, training, logistics, artistry, and intensity poured into it on every level. I think she must have somehow sensed the energy in it and related to it. I can't imagine it otherwise. For me it is a great compliment."
—Kathy Geisler, producer, Well-Tempered Productions

[GhiaccioPronto]

To each his own, It gets my vote for most annoying, cheesy, clichéd, music in the competition bar non. Ochi chyornye !! give me a break.

[chinationreport]

Shawn and Nastia are just beautiful. All of the girls are!! Their smile itself is worth gold. When they lose, their tears are just heartbreaking. They give their life for this moment.
When I watch them (even opponents) hug each other, kiss each other, i can't stop admiring them, feeling inspired by such true moments of beauty and pure passion.

No other event can bring people from different race and religion together the way Olympic Games do.

I am grateful for these athletes and the organizers to make this possible.

From:
http://www.chinationreport.com/#EditorsChoice

[jmo007]

File a complaint about HP revealing results of the Olympics before the American Public gets to view the competitions. What a shame to take enthusiasm out of the viewers like that.

[CintiBlue]

Oops. I shouldn't have scrolled down.

Once again, I'll do something other than the Olympics tonight.

[jmo007]

Why was this result POSTED in view hours before we get to watch it on NBC? Shame on you HP for stooping to that level. Could you have waited?

[aOsO]

Find out what the results are live on NBC tonight!