Despite being without Beijing Olympic captain Alicia Sacramone,
who tore her Achilles tendon last week, the US finished with 179.411 points in
Tokyo.
Runners-up Russia, the 2010 champions, were way off the
pace, with 175.329 points, while China took bronze with 172.820 after falls
from the beam and asymmetric bars.
As the last notes of Aly Raisman's floor exercise music
faded, the Americans exchanged hugs before walking out with their index fingers
pointed skywards.
"It's turned out being an awesome experience,"
16-year-old Jordyn Wieber told reporters. "We sent a message that we're
really strong as a country.
"Even losing one of our top members we were able to
pull through and won the competition." Raisman echoed her teammate's
sentiments.
"It's an amazing feeling," she said. "I've
been dreaming of this ever since I was a little kid." Britain's women, led
by Beth Tweddle, had their best result at world level with fifth place, just
behind Romania in fourth.
Tweddle, 26, earned the highest mark of the night on the
asymmetric bars — 15.666 — to give herself some consolation after a mistake in
qualifying cost her the chance to defend her 2010 title in the individual final
on the apparatus.
"I wanted to prove that I am still up there, I am one
of the top bar workers, and don't forget me for London 2012," Tweddle told
the BBC.
The top eight teams, who also included Germany, Japan and
Australia, gained automatic qualification for the London Olympics.
The men's team final is scheduled for Wednesday when host
nation Japan will attempt to win a first world team title in 33 years after
topping the qualifying.
