Uneven Bars, Women

The format was the same as it had been from 1984-2000, with eight gymnasts advancing from the team all-around, but no more than two per nation. Americans had won the 2002 and 2003 World Championships, with Courtney Kupets winning in 2002, and she qualified for the final. The favorite, however, was Russian Svetlana Khorkina, the World Champion on uneven bars in 1995-97, 1999, and 2001, and the Olympic Champion in 1996 and 2000. France’s Émilie Le Pennec performed just before Khorkina and posted a 9.687 after a difficult routine. Khorkina missed a grip in mid-routine and fell off the bars, posting only a 8.925 and finishing eighth and last in the final. Le Pennec, France’s first Olympic gymnast in 80 years, won the gold medal, followed by two USA gymnasts – silver going to Terin Humphrey, while Kupets won the bronze.