February 29, 2008 NEW YORK -- Now that Paul Hamm knows how he compares to his fellow Americans, it's time to get a look at the rest of the world. For Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, the competition is a little closer to home.

　　The Beijing Olympics are still five months away, but gymnasts will begin jockeying for status at the American Cup on Saturday. The meet is traditionally a preview of the gold-medal contenders and, with a tough men's field and Johnson and Liukin renewing their rivalry in the women's competition, this year is no different.

　　"We're all starting from the start line again and we all have a blank slate," Johnson said Friday. "And we're all fighting for that finish line again."

　　Johnson brings an amazing winning streak to the American Cup. The 16-year-old won every event she entered last year -- her first as a senior -- including the American Cup and the U.S. and world championships. It was a rare sweep, and it means everyone will be watching to see what she does this year.

　　That might be daunting for some gymnasts, but not for Johnson, who has as much personality as she does talent.

　　"Last year went by so fast. It feels like yesterday I was at American Cup last year," she said. "It's crazy to think everything that's happened. It's such an inspiration and motivation to beat what I did last year, and set the bar even higher."

　　Of course, Liukin could have something to say about that.

　　Almost three years older than Johnson, it was Liukin who was considered the golden girl early on. Her father was a double gold medalist for the Soviet machine at the 1988 Olympics and her mother was a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics, and she combined the best of both of them with a beautiful blend of power and grace.

　　She won two straight U.S. titles -- four if you count her two junior crowns -- and piled up medals of all colors from the world championships.

　　"I always wanted, in my dreams, to have that beauty, those lines, that elegance," Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton said.

　　But she was hobbled most of last year by an ankle injury. When she finished third at the U.S. championships behind Johnson and Shayla Worley, another up-and-comer, some wondered if the 18-year-old's time had passed, if she'd gotten "too old."

　　"Honestly, it hurt," Liukin said. "I knew I wasn't in prime shape and I knew I still had a few weeks before the world championships. I proved to everyone that if I'm healthy and I had enough time to train, I'm still an all-around competitor."

　　She helped the American women win a gold medal at the world championships, and also claimed the individual title on the balance beam. She added a silver medal on the uneven bars, giving her nine world championship medals just since 2005.

　　Healthy again, she knows exactly how big this meet can be. She trained and is good friends with Carly Patterson, who won the American Cup title in 2004 and went on to become only the second U.S. woman to claim the Olympic all-around title.

　　"It's exciting, but I try not to think about it too much," Liukin said. "I try not to put too much pressure on myself, and I don't really feel pressure from other people. I just have expectations for myself and goals I want to achieve personally.

　　"There's a bunch of new skills I have, so that's kind of the main goal. We haven't competed since worlds, so just get that competition spirit going and test out those new skills."

　　For Hamm, this meet gives him a chance to see how he measures up against the best of the rest after his post-Athens layoff.

　　The reigning Olympic champion took 2 1/2 years off after winning gold in Athens, earning his degree at Ohio State and enjoying being an "ordinary" college student. He returned about a year ago with twin brother, Morgan -- and he might be even better than when he left.

　　At the Winter Cup three weeks ago, his first full meet since returning, he routed his fellow Americans, winning by more than seven points. But Saturday's meet will be tougher.

　　Much tougher.

　　The American Cup field includes the men who finished second through fourth at last fall's world championships: silver medalist Fabian Hambuechen of Germany, bronze medalist Hisashi Mizutori of Japan and Jonathan Horton, who has also won the last two American Cup titles.

　　Former U.S. champion Sasha Artemev is also competing.

　　"I'm ready for this field," Hamm said. "It's a good test me. I don't want it to be a situation where I don't feel like I have competitors that are pushing me. I want to feel that pressure that you're going to feel in the Olympic Games, because it's not going to be easy. It's going to be a tight competition."

　　Let the games begin.