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Romanian upstages American gym stars

American gymnast Nastia Liukin performs her routine in the Women's Floor Exercise Final, at the National Indoor Stadium, August 17, 2008, at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Romania's Sandra Izbasa won the gold medal as fellow American Shawn Johnson who won the silver and Liukin won the bronze. (UPI Photo/Mike Theiler)
1 of 4 | American gymnast Nastia Liukin performs her routine in the Women's Floor Exercise Final, at the National Indoor Stadium, August 17, 2008, at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Romania's Sandra Izbasa won the gold medal as fellow American Shawn Johnson who won the silver and Liukin won the bronze. (UPI Photo/Mike Theiler) | License Photo

BEIJING, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, stars of the Olympic all-around gymnastics competition, were upstaged Sunday by Romania's Sandra Izbasa.

Izbasa won the gold medal in the women's floor exercise on the first of three days of gymnastics apparatus finals.

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She received a score of 15.65, leaving Johnson (15.50) with the silver medal and Liukin (15.425) with the bronze. Liukin edged Johnson for the all-around title last week.

The other gold medals awarded Sunday went to Un Jong Hong of North Korea in the women's vault, Zou Kai of China in the men's floor exercise and Xiao Qin of China on the pommel horse.

American Alicia Sacramone, who struggled during the team competition, finished out of the medals on the vault -- where she has three world championship medals. She received a score of 15.537, which was .25 behind bronze medal winner Cheng Fei of China.

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