U.S. women train on podium at 2006 World Championships

AARHUS, Denmark, Oct. 12, 2006 - The U.S. Women's Team had its first crack at the competition equipment during podium training as part of their preparations for the 2006 World Championships, Oct. 14-21, in Aarhus, Denmark. The women compete in the preliminary round on Monday, Oct. 16.

The women were pleased with their training and routines in today's practice.

"We had an outstanding day on podium today," said Kathy Kelly, vice president of USA Gymnastics. "The team is bonding well and has adjusted to our training in Denmark. Each of the girls did a great job today."

The U.S. Women's Team is led by three defending world champions, Chellsie Memmel of West Allis, Wis., Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, and Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., and also includes 2005 World Team member Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek, Fla.; Jacquelyn Johnson of West Chester, Ohio; Natasha Kelley of Katy, Texas; and Ashley Priess of Hamilton, Ohio. Liukin, who is the 2006 U.S. all-around champion, is recovering from an ankle injury but expects to compete in the team competition.

"We are pleased with Nastia's progress," said Kelly. "She is being very smart and very careful, but she very much wants to help the team. After podium today, we are very confident that will happen in true Nastia form."

Liukin, who is the 2005 balance beam and uneven bars world champion, said, "(My ankle's) getting better, and today went really well. The whole team did a great job and it is great to see our team's spirit."

"Podium went really well," said Memmel, the 2005 all-around world champion. "It is always a little different to be on the podium (than in the training hall) because you have more adrenaline going. I liked the equipment, and I hit what I wanted to do."

"We all had a really good workout, and it is a good confidence booster for Monday," said Sacramone, the 2005 floor exercise world champion. "I am pretty pleased with my routines, but you always see something you want to clean up. Today was definitely a good stepping stone for the team."

"Everyone hit their routines today," said Bieger, who was a member of the 2005 World Championships Team. "We had a great day today and had a lot of fun cheering each other on."

Johnson said, "It went really well. It was very helpful to come and work out on the podium, and my routines came naturally.

"The podium helped with our confidence," said Kelley. "We all were confident and aggressive (on the equipment), and we went out and did our thing. I think we are ready for the team competition."

"We did an incredible job and showed everyone that we are prepared to go," said Priess. "It was easier and more exciting being on the competition floor. Everything feels really good, and we're ready for the competition."

The 2006 World Championships features men's and women's competition in the team, all-around and individual apparatus (men-floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar; women - vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise). The format for the team competitions is: preliminaries, five gymnasts on each apparatus and top four scores count; and finals, three gymnasts compete and all three scores count. The top eight countries after the prelims advance to the team finals. For the all-around, the top 24 gymnasts (maximum of two per country) in the prelims advance to the finals. For individual event finals, the top eight from the preliminary rounds (maximum of two per country) advance to the finals.

The women are competing in Subdivision 5 in the preliminary rounds on Oct. 16. The women's team finals are Oct. 18, with the women's all-around finals on Oct. 19. The U.S. Men's Team competes in the preliminaries on Oct. 14, with the men's team finals on Oct. 17 and the all-around on Oct. 19. The individual event finals for both men and women are Oct. 20-21.

WCSN is carrying the finals of the 2006 World Championships live on WCSN.com. For just $4.95, fans get a front row seat at gymnastics' premier international championships for the finals for the team, all-around and individual event competitions. In addition to seeing it live, fans can also watch the competition at a time most convenient for them through WCSN's on-demand archive. The live webcast schedule is (all times are Eastern): Oct. 17, 1-4:05 p.m., men's team finals; Oct. 18, 1-3:15 p.m., women's team finals; Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m.-3:35 p.m., men's and women's all-around finals; Oct. 20, 1-4:15 p.m., individual event finals (men-floor exercise, pommel horse and still rings; women--vault and uneven bars); and Oct. 21, 8:30-11:45 a.m., individual event finals (men-vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar; women-balance beam and floor exercise). For more information, go to wcsn.com.