NEW WAVERLY, Texas – USA Gymnastics on Saturday announced the six women and three replacement athletes it will nominate to the U.S. Olympic Committee to comprise the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics.

Shawn Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, were named to the team at the conclusion of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, June 19-22 in Philadelphia, and the balance of the team was named Saturday night following the final selection camp at the Women’s National Team Training Center outside New Waverly, near Huntsville.

Joining Johnson and Liukin on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics, pending USOC approval, are:

Chellsie Memmel, West Allis, Wis./M&M Gymnastics
Samantha Peszek, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s
Alicia Sacramone, Winchester, Mass./Brestyan’s
Bridget Sloan, Pittsboro, Ind./Sharp’s

The three replacement athletes are:

Jana Bieger, Coconut Creek, Fla./Bieger International Gymnastics
Ivana Hong, Blue Springs, Mo./GAGE
Corrie Lothrop, Gaithersburg, Md./Hill’s

Memmel, who was left off the 2004 team, overcame an injury from Friday. On her second tumbling pass on floor exercise, Memmel landed hard out of bounds and started to slip backward. As she tried to regain her balance, Memmel snapped her neck and stopped her routine immediately and the gym fell silent. But she recovered moments later.

Liang Chow of Chow’s Gymnastics was named head coach for the U.S. Olympic Team for women’s gymnastics.

“The U.S. Team has been assembled to give us our best chance for success in Beijing,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “This group of athletes has worked hard to position USA Gymnastics as a strong contender for medals.”

The U.S. Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics was named in June following the men’s competition at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics.

The U.S. Men’s Team includes Joseph Hagerty of Rio Rancho, N.M./Team Chevron; Morgan Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron; Paul Hamm of Waukesha, Wis./Team Chevron; Jonathan Horton of Houston/Team Chevron; Justin Spring of Burke, Va./Team Chevron; and Kevin Tan of Fremont, Calif./Team Chevron.

The three replacement athletes are Alexander Artemev of Morrison, Colo./Team Chevron; Raj Bhavsar of Houston/Team Chevron; and David Durante of Garwood, N.J./Team Chevron.

Chris Estrada of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Erin Blanchard of Lafayette, La., both of whom train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, will represent the USA in trampoline in Beijing. They were named to the team in early July based on an Olympic selection ranking system.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport. Its disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, and acrobatic gymnastics.

The Associated Press contributed details and photos for this report.

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