China, U.S. battle for gymnastics gold

BEIJING, July 25 (UPI) -- Gymnastics

Gold medals to be awarded: 18

Dates of competition: Aug. 9-24

One of the featured duels of the Beijing Olympics is expected to be the showdown between the United States and China for the women's team gymnastics gold medal.

Shawn Johnson, the 2007 all-around world champion, and Nastia Liukin will lead the American squad in a sport that became a must-see show in 1976. At the Montreal Olympics, the world took note of the athletic skills of Nadia Comaneci.

Since then, gymnastics has become a glamour portion of the Olympics. The team finals and the all-around finals will be televised live in prime time in the United States, meaning the athletes will have to compete in the morning in Beijing.

American Paul Hamm, who broke a bone in his right hand on May 22, had hoped to have recovered enough to defend the all-around gold medal he won in Athens. But on July 28, he resigned from the team because of injury.

Women will also compete in rhythmic gymnastics and both men and women will vie for gold on the trampoline, which became a part of the Olympics in 2000.