2008 Beijing Games Day 11

Johnson prepares the beam for her routine during the finals at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium. Johnson posted a score of 16.225, good enough for the gold medal.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Johnson performs the balance beam routine that earned her a gold medal.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chinese gymnast Li Shanshan loses her balance during the balance beam finals at the Beijing Olympics. Li finished fifth.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Nastia Liukin delivers a silver-medal winning performance during the balance beam final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Liukin leaps high off the balance beam at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. gymnast Shawn Johnson approaches the medals podium to accept her gold medal. Bronze medalist Cheng Fei of China is left and Nastia Liukin of the U.S. is the silver medalist.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Gold medal winner Shawn Johnson, right, and silver medalist Nastia Liukin embrace moments after the conclusion of the balance beam final.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S.’ Sanya Richards begins to fade to third after leading down the stretch in the women’s 400-meter race.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lolo Jones of the United States tips over a hurdle while leading in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Jones finished seventh in the race.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lolo Jones, second from right, stumbled to the finish line, but teammate Dawn Harper, second from left, won the women’s 100-meter hurdles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Runner Lolo Jones, on her knees, watched the replay of the 100-meter hurdles. Jones was in the lead before tripping over a hurdle.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S.’ Dawn Harper carries the American flag after winning the women’s 100-meter hurdles.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jeremy Wariner, for the U.S., prepares to head to the starting blocks in the men’s 400-meter semifinal.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Muzad Ramazanov, of Macedonia, in blue, and Zalimkhan Huseynov, of Azerbaijan, get tangled during the 60-kg weight-class freestyle wrestling competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The United States’ Henry Cejudo wrestles Japan’s Matsunaga Tomohiro to the mat to win the gold medal in the final of men’s 55-kg freestyle wrestling.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Wrestler Cejudo celebrates his gold medal.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s basketball players Lisa Leslie, left, and Kara Lawless, take the ball from Korea’s Kweryong Kim during a lopsided victory for the Americans in the quarterfinal match at Beijing’s Olympic Basketball Gymnasium. The U.S. won 104-60.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Players on the U.S. team express frustration after a foul by Korea’s Jongae Lee. The U.S. went on to dominate Korea, winning 104-60.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Brenda Villa scored three of the U.S.’ nine points, leading the team to a win over Australia in the women’s water polo semifinal at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. goalie Elizabeth Armstrong is the last line of defense for a shot from Australia’s Bronwen Knox, who scores in the second half of a semifinal women’s water polo match at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Australia’s Gemma Beadsworth’s follow-through slams into the head of U.S. defender Natalie Golda in the second half of a women’s water polo semifinal at the Yingdong Natatorium in Beijing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Brenda Villa creates a steep wave of water as she celebrates scoring a goal late in a women’s water polo semifinal match against Australia. The U.S. squad defeated Australia 9-8 and will play in the gold medal game at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Natalie Golda, left, and Alison Gregorka embrace in celebration of a 9-8 win over Australia in a women’s water polo semifinal at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatrorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA Olympic Women’s Water Polo head coach Guy Baker celebrates a semifinals victory over Australia at Beijing’s Yingdong Natatorium.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

USA’s Misty May-Treanor spikes a shot against Brazil’s Talita Antunes during a semifinal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USA’s Misty May-Treanor returns a serve during a semifinal match against Brazil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USA’s Misty May-Treanor, left, and Kerri Walsh celebrate after defeating Brazil and moving into the gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

China’s Wang Jie dives for a ball during a semifinal match against another China team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The team of Wang Jie and Jia Tian will play the USA’s MIsty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh for the gold medal.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)