Injury slows American gymnastics effort

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Americans Shawn Johnson and Nastia Luikin led the Olympic gymnastics qualifying Sunday while an injury slowed down the overall U.S. effort.

China emerged as the top team on qualifying day with 248.275 points and the Americans were second with 246.800.

Those point totals will be erased, however, when the women's team gold medal is determined on Wednesday.

Samantha Peszek sprained her left ankle while the American team was warming up for its qualifying session Sunday and for most of the day the U.S. squad had only four competitors on the floor.

Johnson and Luikin, however, were able to put the distraction behind them and move to the top of the individual list.

Johnson finished with 62.625 points and Liukin had 62.375. China's Yang Yilin was third with 62.350.

The individual gold medal will be decided next Friday.