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Romania overtook world champion the United States to top the women's qualifying of the Athens Olympic gymnastics competition Sunday (August 15, 2004).

Romania collected 152.436, while the United States was a close second with 151.848. China scored 151.085 for the third place.

"I think we did well. Our main goal is to get the team gold medal but we know it is not going to be easy," Catalina Ponor said.

The dual European champion, considered successor to the retired diminutive star Andreea Raducan, was awarded the best scores on beam (9.775) and floor (9.687).

Romania competed against the U.S. in the second session, and edged over the Americans on three of the four apparatuses. The beam, floor and vault remained Romanian territories although the U.S. has shortened the gap impressively, particularly on beam.

The Americans, however, did better on uneven bars. They are waiting eagerly for Tuesday's showdown.

"We made a couple of mistakes but we will make our comeback," said Courtney Kupets, American co-national champion with Carly Patterson.

"I think that it is a good thing that we haven't ranked first because it eases the pressure of trying to stay on top and gives you motivation to climb," she added.

China tumbled on beam, one of its favorite events, as world champion Fan Ye swayed a couple of times and Cheng Fei fell off. But the team was extremely good on uneven bars. Lin Li scored 9.700, second to Russian veteran Svetlana Khorkina.

Khorkina, 25, sparkled the declining Russia. She was Russia's top scorer on three of the four events.

On her specialty of uneven bars, the double Olympic champion had the highest score of 9.75. Her height, 5-5, which should havebeen a big obstacle, made her flips and twists more spectacular.

The reigning queen led Russia to an easy victory in the first session Sunday morning. However, Romania and the United States finished higher in the afternoon and so did China later on.

Russia ended in fourth place with 149.420.

Patterson took over the leadership from Khorkina on all-around.Khorkina was a distant fifth, but she still has chance in the final.

The world bronze medallist Australia, however, only ended in eighth place with 147.419. They did badly on beam and floor.

Top eight teams get the final berths. Australia barely qualified. Other finalists are Ukraine, France and Spain.

Editor: Lin Shujun