Four berths are still up for grabs

USA TODAY, June, 2008 by Marlen Garcia

PHILADELPHIA -- A few weeks ago, gymnast Chellsie Memmel bought herself a Coach purse and an iPod in honor of the 20th birthday she celebrated Monday.

What Memmel really wanted was an automatic Olympic berth from the U.S. Olympic trials that concluded Sunday. But only the top two all-arounders were guaranteed spots, and they went to champion Shawn Johnson and runner-up Nastia Liukin.

"I was always hoping," Memmel said Monday.

Memmel and nine others will vie for the four remaining openings at a selection camp July 16-20 near Houston. Memmel of West Allis, Wis., was third in all-around at the trials, followed by Samantha Peszek of McCordsville, Ind. Both are front-runners to make the team, as is Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, Mass., one of the...