American Jordyn Wieber won the all-around title Thursday at the world gymnastics championships in Japan, just edging Russian star Viktoria Komova.
Wieber topped Komova, 59.382-59.349. China's Yao Jinnan won the bronze with 58.598.
Wieber had the high score of the day on vault in the first rotation (15.716), but struggled on uneven bars (13.600). She came back strong on balance beam (15.266) and floor exercise (14.800).
Komova, the top qualifier, hit four events, but had small mistakes throughout the day. Her final score of 14.333 on floor exercise wasn't enough to put her past Wieber, leaving her in second by .033.
Wieber, who led the U.S. to the gold in Tuesday's team final, is the sixth American to win the world all-around title.
"I feel amazing," Wieber said. "I was so surprised. I wasn't expecting to come out on top but I am really happy and glad that I did enough on that floor routine to make it. To come in here and achieve one of my goals that I have had since I was a little kid is so exciting. I am very happy to have this gold medal around my neck."
Russian coach Andrei Rodionenko called the judging a fiasco, but Komova said she was unhappy with her performance. Komova, who had ankle surgery in May, was unable to show her full difficulty on vault.
"My vault was not as fully ready as it should have been," she said. "On beam I had mistakes and my bars were not very well done. My floor routine was mediocre. Today, on a beam I did not make some connections, therefore, that's why the lower score. So [this ranking is] deserved. But the Olympics are ahead."
Yao had a chance to become China's first world all-around champion, but dropped off balance beam in the third rotation (13.933).
"Wieber and Komova are both stronger than me," Yao said. "They have more difficulty and good attitudes so I won't think about that gold."
Competition continues Friday with the men's all-around final. Japan's Kohei Uchimura is favored to win his third consecutive title.
Follow IG Publisher Paul Ziert's live commentary from Yoyogi Stadium, broadcast simultaneously on IG's official Facebook Page and Twitter account.
Look for complete coverage of the world championships in the December issue of International Gymnast.
2011 World Gymnastics Championships Oct. 13, 2011, Tokyo
Women's All-Around Final | VT | UB | BB | FX | Total |
1. |
Jordyn Wieber |
 |
15.716 |
13.600 |
15.266 |
14.800 |
59.382 |
2. |
Viktoria Komova |
 |
14.933 |
15.400 |
14.683 |
14.333 |
59.349 |
3. |
Yao Jinnan |
 |
14.966 |
14.933 |
13.933 |
14.766 |
58.598 |
4. |
Alexandra Raisman |
 |
15.233 |
12.900 |
14.525 |
14.900 |
57.558 |
5. |
Huang Quishuang |
 |
14.733 |
14.966 |
13.633 |
14.100 |
57.432 |
6. |
Ana Porgras |
 |
14.100 |
14.133 |
15.100 |
13.966 |
57.299 |
7. |
Ksenia Afanasyeva |
 |
14.466 |
14.200 |
13.400 |
14.666 |
56.732 |
8. |
Lauren Mitchell |
 |
14.600 |
13.133 |
13.933 |
15.033 |
56.699 |
9. |
Hannah Whelan |
 |
14.400 |
13.258 |
14.333 |
14.133 |
56.124 |
10. |
Nadine Jarosch |
 |
14.300 |
13.733 |
14.000 |
14.000 |
56.033 |
11. |
Elisabeth Seitz |
 |
14.758 |
13.933 |
13.366 |
13.766 |
55.823 |
12. |
Vanessa Ferrari |
 |
12.733 |
13.833 |
14.466 |
14.500 |
55.532 |
13. |
Daniele Hypolito |
 |
14.300 |
12.866 |
14.333 |
13.866 |
55.365 |
14. |
Carlotta Ferlito |
 |
14.200 |
12.866 |
14.616 |
13.400 |
55.082 |
15. |
Koko Tsurumi |
 |
13.800 |
12.533 |
14.700 |
13.966 |
54.999 |
16. |
Giulia Steingruber |
 |
14.866 |
13.433 |
13.400 |
13.233 |
54.932 |
17. |
Celine van Gerner |
 |
13.700 |
13.766 |
13.766 |
13.633 |
54.865 |
18. |
Raluca Haidu |
 |
13.466 |
13.366 |
14.416 |
13.566 |
54.814 |
19. |
Peng-Peng Lee |
 |
13.933 |
13.900 |
12.933 |
13.966 |
54.732 |
20. |
Rie Tanaka |
 |
14.233 |
13.833 |
13.933 |
12.700 |
54.699 |
21. |
Aurelie Malaussena |
 |
14.133 |
13.266 |
13.933 |
13.166 |
54.498 |
22. |
Ana Maria Izurieta |
 |
13.966 |
13.466 |
12.933 |
13.366 |
53.731 |
23. |
Emily Little |
 |
13.633 |
13.300 |
13.566 |
13.100 |
53.599 |
24. |
Jessica Lopez |
 |
14.000 |
10.300 |
14.266 |
13.733 |
52.299 |
 |