How could it end any other way?

Ever since they bounced onto the scene after the 2004 Athens Games, this was the moment gymnastics junkies have been waiting for.

Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin in the all-around, an Olympic gold medal on the line, on the day's final routine.

But there was one last twist to this story.

Liukin, overshadowed by Johnson during the pre-Olympic hypefest, came into her own at National Indoor Stadium, sticking routine after routine in a display of elegance and iron nerves that secured her place in the Olympic pantheon.

First, there was Olga Korbut, then, Nadia Comaneci, followed by Mary Lou Retton.

Now there's Liukin, the daughter of 1988 Russian double gold- medalist, winning the 2008 Beijing gold today (Thursday night, U.S. time) with a score of 63.325.

Johnson, the reigning world champion who beat Liukin at the U.S. championships and the Olympic trials, was second with 62.725, and Yilin Yang of China took the bronze at 62.65.

"I made a little board of pictures of things that have inspired me," Liukin said. "One day (her mother) brought (her father's) Olympic medal and hung it on the board. That made a little bit of a difference, just having it there in my room."

Only by producing a 15.525 on floor during the final routine did Johnson secure the silver.

"I'm so happy seeing (Liukin) up there with the Olympic gold," Johnson said. "It's inspiring. She deserved that medal, and she's been around a long time working for it."

Minutes earlier, Liukin, of Parker, Texas, had soared on the same floor where, only two days before, she stepped out of bounds during the team competition, helping China take gold.

But this day was different, especially on the uneven bars, where Liukin, 19, made her big move, outscoring Johnson 16.65-15.27.

"Bars have always been one of my best events," Liukin said. "It's definitely something I can excel because I have a weaker vault than other competitors."

Though roommates and teammates, Johnson and Liukin couldn't be more different.

Johnson's parents knew nothing about gymnastics when their daughter started jumping off furniture. She attends a public high school in West Des Moines, Iowa, where she's a ball girl for the football team and loves to shop at Target for deals.

Liukin comes from gymnastics blue blood, graduated from an academy and tools around Texas in a BMW.

The pair started on the vault, one of Johnson's strongest events and Liukin's most troublesome.

Knowing she had to jump to an early lead, Johnson was her typical unflappable self, scoring 15.875 compared with 15.025 for Liukin.

The drama then moved to the uneven bars, where Liukin scored 16.9 in Tuesday's team competition. But in her strongest event, she dipped to 16.65 and barely was able to conceal her concern as she walked away.

Next was Johnson, whose face was a mask of controlled tension as she prepared for her worst event. There was reason for concern. With a score of 15.275, Johnson dropped behind Yang.

In the beam, no one had scored higher in preliminaries and team competition than Johnson, who hoped to secure the lead going into the final event.

She had a 16:05, but Liukin topped her again with a 16.125.

With four years of hard work on the line, they went to the floor. Liukin was second to last and delivered a 15.525. Johnson was last, knowing she needed 16.125 to tie Liukin for the gold.

But she could only match her friend at 15.525, and Liukin was the champion.

"We worked our whole lives for this," Johnson said. "To feel all the emotions we are feeling, it's been a long road. I wouldn't take anything back today."

1. Nastia Liukin, Parker, Texas, 63.325. 2. Shawn Johnson, West Des Moines, Iowa, 62.725. 3. Yang Yilin, China, 62.650. 4. Ksenia Semenova, Russia, 61.925. 5. Steliana Nistor, Romania, 61.050. 6. Jiang Yuyuan, China, 60.900. 7. Anna Pavlova, Russia, 60.825. 8. Sandra Izbasa, Romania, 60.750.