Obliterated Opposition

At the 2006 Worlds, China obliterated the opposition to pick up a record eight gold medals, including both the team crowns. Twelve months later, China left Stuttgart with just five and promised to make amends in Beijing.

As at every Olympics in recent memory, a dainty prodigy will try to add her footprints to the gymnastics walk of fame alongside those of Olga Korbut, Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug.

Every four years, women gymnastics unveils a new lineup in the same way a Formula One factory rolls out its cars - both aiming for immediate supremacy but with a very short shelf life.

One highly rated newcomer is 16-year-old American Shawn Johnson, the surprise all-around champion at last year's Worlds. Nastia Liukin, tipped as the golden girl of gymnastics until Johnson blew away her rivals to land three titles in Stuttgart, feels the American team will set the pace.

"Being able to win the team gold (at last year's Worlds) is like everyone is out to get us this year," Liukin, daughter of double Olympic gold medalist Valeri Liukin, told Reuters.

"The Chinese are our top competitors and it being in China it could help them tremendously or it could hurt them."

Strug believes the Americans are poised to seal their first Olympic team title since 1996, especially since reigning champion Romania and Russia are in disarray.

"The gold is theirs to lose. They are phenomenal. The Chinese are strong technically, but mentally the US own the competition. I don't want to jinx them, but they are stronger than ever," Strug told Reuters.

In a sport dominated by teenagers, Oxana Chusovitina, 33, continues to defy the age barrier. She became the oldest woman to win a major title when she captured the European vault gold in April and will be one of the contenders on the apparatus.

Like the Uzbek-born German, Jordan Jovtchev will also be competing at a fifth Games and will be hoping to get his hands on an Olympic gold after three bronzes and a silver.