Gymnastics Challenge : Mar Takes Spill as U.S. Women Fall to China at Forum

The bronze medal won by the Chinese women at the Los Angeles Olympics was a sign that the nation would be a force to contend with in gymmastics.

Saturday night China continued its progress with a 193.05-191.725 victory over the United States in the McDonald’s Challenge at the Forum.

It was the first time ever that China has defeated the U.S. in a dual meet. China also won the men’s team title on Friday night.

Saturday night, China’s Wang Xiaoyan won the all-around title with a 9.80 in the floor exercise. Chinese national champion Xu Wenhong finished second in the all-around competition.

Sabrina Mar of the United States scored an 8.50 in the floor exercise to place third and prevent a 1-2-3 sweep by China.

Mar, the U.S. national champion, fell from the uneven bars and received a 9.15. She placed first in the balance beam, vault and floor exercise.

The Chinese held their first all-around competition in 1954 and sent their first team to the World Championships at Warsaw the following year. After spending time at the back of the pack in women’s gymnastics, China had Olympic rights restored in 1979.

The Chinese women placed second at the 1981 World Championships and continued their uprise with a bronze at the Summer Olympics.