Defeating teammate, friend tough on Liukin

She won the gymnastics all-around title over teammate Shawn Johnson.

BEIJING (AP) — Back and forth Nastia Liukin paced, anxiety radiating from her body, her eyes locked on Shawn Johnson on the podium above.

Liukin had done everything she could to win the gold medal. Johnson’s performance would determine if she would.

They are the best in the world, these two American gymnasts, sharing the spotlight and the glory — even a room at the athletes’ village. But an Olympic gold medal is not something to be shared, no matter how close the friends.

“Going into this, we knew there would be only one champion,” Liukin said. “And we both were going for it.”

Liukin got it.

The women’s all-around title came down to the teammates, just as everyone knew it would. Even better, it came down to not only the last event, but the last two competitors. Liukin up first, Johnson up last, the gold medal hanging in the balance.

“We have both wanted it so bad that we’ve pushed each other so much and I think that we became a better and a stronger gymnast because of each other,” Liukin said after she edged Johnson Friday for gymnastics’ biggest prize.

“I think if it had just been one of us, there wouldn’t be someone chasing your tail and wanting to make you work even harder,” Liukin said.

Too young in 2004, she was anointed as the favorite for Beijing as soon as the Athens Olympics ended. She certainly had the pedigree, the daughter of Valeri, a double gold medalist at the Seoul Games, and Anna, a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics. And with her blonde good looks and friendly personality, the 18-year-old had those intangibles that can turn an athlete into an icon.

But an ankle injury before the 2006 world championships nearly ruined everything, hobbling her for almost a year. Liukin continued competing, but there were only glimpses of her dazzling self. And as is so often the case in sports — life, really — someone new was right there to step into her place. Now it was Johnson winning everything, whose bubbly personality and explosive power were earning her raves as “the next Mary Lou.”

When Johnson won the 2007 world all-around title, the 16-year-old — not Liukin — became the favorite for Beijing.

A rivalry between teammates will either push them to excel or tear them apart. Liukin and Johnson chose the former.