Olympics-Gymnastics-Women's event-by-event analysis

(For a women's gymnastics preview, click on [ID:nPEK285606])

By Sonia Oxley

BEIJING, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Analysis of women's artistic gymnastics events for the Olympic Games.

Team competition (Aug. 13)

2004 Olympic champion: Romania

2007 world champion: United States

China's failure to retain their world title last year has set up an exciting re-match with the vibrant U.S. team that snatched it away. The Americans, led by the elegant Nastia Liukin and world all-round champion Shawn Johnson, are chasing their first Olympic team title since 1996. China qualified top after a series of U.S. errors. Athens champions Romania and former powerhouse Russia are likely to battle it out for the bronze.

All-round (Aug. 15)

2004 Olympic champion: Carly Patterson (United States)

2007 world champion: Shawn Johnson (United States)

The event promises to be a fascinating duel between Johnson and team mate Liukin, heralded as the next great thing before she was eclipsed by Johnson at last year's world championships where the then 15-year-old scooped three gold medals. Liukin had just returned from injury last year and now, fully fit, she is poised to get her own back. Romanian Steliana Nistor, Brazilian Jade Barbosa and Russian pair Ksenia Semenova and Anna Pavlova will be looking to throw a spanner in the works.

Floor (Aug. 17)

2004 Olympic champion: Catalina Ponor (Romania)

2007 world champion: Shawn Johnson (United States)

China's former world champion Cheng Fei was the top qualifier, while Johnson, Luikin and Romania's Sandra Izbasa were also impressive in qualifying. Brazilian former world champion Daiane dos Santos could upset them all after winning the crowd over with her stylish moves.

Vault (Aug. 17)