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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:36 p.m., Friday, June 20, 2008

Gymnastics: No surprise here, Johnson and Liukin 1-2

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Start looking for the passports and the big suitcases, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin have their trips to the Beijing Olympics all but locked up.

The best Americans showed why they're also the best in the world tonight, all but sealing spots on a team that will be favored to win the gold medal in Beijing.

Johnson edged Liukin again, just as she did at the national championships two weeks ago, but the margin is so small, it could be erased with a stuck landing from one or a bobble by the other.

Johnson finished with 64 points and Liukin was right behind at 63.5. The finals are Sunday night, with the top two earning spots on the Beijing squad. But, barring injury, there's little doubt of who that will be, so the intrigue turns to who will get the remaining four spots.

The rest of the team, along with three alternates, will be chosen after a July 20 selection camp at the Karolyi ranch.

Comeback kid Chellsie Memmel had another strong night. Memmel became only the third U.S. woman to win the world all-around title in 2005 (Johnson has since joined the exclusive club) but she was all but forgotten after a blown-out shoulder cost her most of the last two years.