Balance Beam, Women

As in 1992, eight gymnasts advanced to the final round based on the qualifying scores in the team all-around, with a maximum of two per nation, but the final placements were determined only by the score posted in the final round. This event was considered open as no gymnast had been dominant in recent years. One medalist returned from 1992 and that was American Shannon Miller, who had also won the 1994 World Championships. Miller had won five medals in Barcelona and was the best gymnast in the world in 1993-94, winning the all-around world title both years, but injuries had made her less formidable. Still she won gold on the beam in Atlanta, the first individual gold medal by an American gymnast at a modern non-boycotted Olympics. She was trailed by the gold and silver medalists from the all-around, Ukrainian Liliya Podkopaieva and Romanian Gina Gogean.