This year's Olympics will be the first under the new Code that eliminated the perfect 10.0 as the top score in the sport. Now 15s and 16s are the norm, and gymnasts with the highest difficulty (A score) usually win big. These are the athletes who may come home from Beijing with a big medal haul.
Shawn Johnson (USA)
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Johnson is the reigning World All-Around Champion and the two-time US National Champion. She also does tricks that few others ever have. A favorite in the all-around, beam, and floor, she may need a new trophy case after Beijing.
Nastia Liukin (USA)
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At 18, Liukin has already tied Shannon Miller's record for the most World medals won by an American. What's missing? Some Olympic hardware. Liukin has one of the toughest bar routines in the world, and has a family history of winning gold.
Cheng Fei (China)
© 2008 Steve Lange
The leader of the Chinese women's team, Cheng has long dominated on vault and is one of the best in the world on floor as well. She was shut out of the Olympic medals in 2004, and is eyeing three golds this year: vault, floor and team.
Steliana Nistor (Romania)
© Tomas Tyrpekl
Nistor came back from a series of injuries to place 4th all-around at the 2006 Worlds. One year later, she captured the silver behind Shawn Johnson. Can she move up one more spot at the Olympics?
Yang Wei (China)
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Yang won the last two World All-Around titles, but has only won silver in the Olympic all-around. He's gunning for gold in Beijing, and leading the Chinese men towards team gold as well.
Jonathan Horton (USA)
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Horton became the de facto leader of Team USA after Paul Hamm's withdrawal. His mission: to lead the team onto the podium, and pick up an all-around medal for himself as well.
Paul Hamm (USA) (Withdrew from the Competition)
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If Hamm had one wish, it would be for everyone to forget the controversy around his 2004 Olympic All-Around win. After a two year sabbatical he came back in 2008, hoping to win another without any scandal -- but an injury derailed his Olympic dreams.
