GYMNASTICS / WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS : Miller Repeats in the All-Around

When Shannon Miller needed to perform, she performed brilliantly.

The 17-year-old from Edmond, Okla., completed two spectacular vaults Friday night to win the women’s all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championships for the second straight year.

Miller needed to score 9.775 with her two vaults to win--and she scored 9.812.

She totaled 39.274 points for the four disciplines in retaining the title she won last year at Birmingham, England.

It was a remarkable performance considering she was suffered a stomach muscle injury last month and missed two weeks of training.

“It meant a lot to win last year because it was my first time, but this means even more because I had to come back from injuries,” Miller said.

Lavinia Milosovici of Romania won the silver medal with a score of 39.236--only 0.038 behind. Dina Kochetkova of Russia was third with a total of 39.125.

Miller scored 9.850 on the uneven bars, 9.862 on the balance beam and 9.750 for her floor exercise.

The last woman to win consecutive all-around world titles was Ludmilla Tourischeva of the Soviet Union in 1970 and 1974, when the championships were held every four years. Only four women ever have achieved the feat.

Miller’s victory did not surprise Coach Steve Nunno, who was confident despite the gymnast’s inconsistent training form.

“I’ve seen this movie before,” Nunno said. “A lot of people counted Shannon out, but I know what makes her tick and I knew she was going to give 100% and a valiant effort, if not a gold medal. We look at pressure as a challenge.”

Miller said she was unaware of what she needed to score with her final vaults.

“I don’t look at the board,” she said. “I’m focused on my routines. I just knew I had to do the two best vaults I could and leave the rest to the judges.”

Gina Gogean of Romania finished fourth with 39.061 points, and Dominique Dawes, 17, of Silver Spring, Md., was fifth with 38.968. Dawes was the co-leader after three routines but stumbled on the first of her two vaults, scoring only 9.250. She improved with her second vault for an average of 9.506, but had lost her chance.