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GYMNASTICS: 2007 all-around world champion Shawn Johnson, who was edged by fellow American Nastia Liukin for the American Cup last weekend, leads a team of five senior gymnasts traveling to Jesolo, Italy, this week to compete in a Friendly Competition with athletes from Canada, the Netherlands and Italy.
Johnson's main goal will be improving on the most difficult skill in her repertoire: the Yurchenko vault with 261/27 rotations. She unveiled the vault, which only a handful of women in the world have attempted, in competition last Saturday in New York and stumbled on her landing. But Johnson, 16, intends to perform it in Beijing and is eyeing every competition between now and then as a chance to improve it.
Joining Johnson on the trip to Italy are two others from the squad that won the 2007 world team title -- Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis and Bridget Sloan of Pittsboro, Ind. Also on the team: 2006 all-around world silver medalist Jana Bieger of Coconut Creek , Fla.; and Chelsea Davis of Lakeway, Tex.
WEIGHTLIFTING: Natalie Woolfolk of Arnold, Md., finished second in the women's 63kg class at the U.S. championships this past weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Woolfolk and Carissa Gump of Vermont tied in total weight, but Gump won based on body weight percentage because she is slightly lighter than Woolfolk. The two will battle for the Olympic berth in their division at the team trials May 16-17 in Atlanta.
WRESTLING: The United States topped Cuba in the team competition at the Pan Am championships this past weekend in Colorado Springs as Henry Cejudo (121 pounds), Joe Williams (185) and Tommy Rowlands (264) won individual titles. The United States has now qualified 14 of 18 weight classes for Beijing.
-- Amy Shipley and Liz Clarke
