"Gossip Girl": New Role for US Gymnast Nastia Liukin

Olympic all-round gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin has landed a guest role on popular TV teen drama "Gossip Girl," describing it as one of her coolest thrills since winning five gold medals at the Beijing summer games.

Liukin, who turns 19 later this month and aspires to do some modeling and acting, said she was not sure if her role on the show would go beyond the one episode.

The "Gossip Girl" gig came totally by chance when she and some friends were chatting about the show, which depicts the lives of rich young teens in New York City.

"I was in Los Angeles having dinner with a bunch of my friends and the producers of 'Gossip Girl' were sitting at the table next to me," Liukin told reporters before being named Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation on Tuesday.

"So they sent over a note saying 'Congratulations. Keep watching "Gossip Girl'. Then the next day they contacted my management and the next thing I know I have a guest role on 'Gossip Girl.'

"I'm gonna get to film 'Gossip Girl' next time I'm here on October 21."

"I was going to play myself and then they thought it would be cool to give me a character," she said. "A bunch of my friends always watch, so to actually be on it, it's really cool."

News Courtsey: Larry Fine of Reuters

Nastia Liukin of USA Beats Her Father's Olympic Medal Haul

American gymnast Nastia Liukin finished the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday by taking home more medals than any other gymnastics competitor and surpassing the haul of her own father in the process.

Her silver medal on the beam was her fifth prize of the Games, after taking silvers in the asymmetric bars and the team event, a bronze in the floor exercise and the gold medal in the women's all-round.

"To leave here with five Olympic medals, it just, it's amazing and it's more than a dream come true. I would have never dreamed this. It's been the experience of a lifetime and nothing could top this," she told reporters.

Her haul tops that of her father and coach, Valery, who won two golds and the two silvers at the 1988 Seoul Olympics competing for the Soviet Union.

"The only thing he can say to me is 'I have two golds'," she said,

Asked if she was thinking about beating his medal count as she saw the results flash up on the board, Liukin said: "Obviously that's not something he was thinking about but I sure was thinking about it."


She came second to team mate Shawn Johnson, while China's Cheng Fei took the bronze.

"Nine Olympic medals in the family's not too bad," said the 18-year-old, who had hung one of her father's medals in her Texas bedroom as inspiration.

Valery Liukin's reaction to his daughter's feat was that of a proud coach and father, rather than a bested competitor.

Image and News Courtsey: Reuters.com

US Gymnast Paul Hamm Withdraws From Olympics

25-year-old American Gymnast Paul Hamm siad on Monday that he will not be able to participate at this year's Beijing Olympics and defend US men's all-round title.

Hamm broke his right hand two months ago at the National Championships, which he said that it did not heal enough to make him fit for the tournament. He notified his withdrwal from the Olympics to USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee on Monday.

He is still feeling pain in his right hand, but the bigger concern could be the strained rotator cuff in his left shoulder that made training last week "a disaster."


"For my comeback to be successful, I needed to make continuous progress and have no setbacks ...The time frame I was given was extremely short. ... This has been hardest decision I've ever had to make, but I have too much respect for the Olympics and my team to continue on when I know the best thing for everyone is for me to step aside." - Paul Hamm.

Raj Bhavsar, who also was an alternate in 2004, will take Hamm's spot.

Shawn Johnson Leads In US Women's Gymnastics

"SJ" was the initials one her left shoulder. The 4 feet 8 inches, Shawn Johnson proved why she is a favorite to win the all-around at the Beijing Olympics. Shawn Johnson led the 22 women competition at Boston University's Agganis Arena, finishing first in the vault and the floor exercise. She is in first over all, scoring 63.45 points.


Nastia Liukin was second with 62.30 points. Liukin was first in the uneven bars and the balance beam, but it was not enough to catch Shawn Johnson.