Bridget Sloan takes all-around gold at World Gymnastics Championships

By Chris Cottrell and Kathryn Catney, Sportsbeat, at the o2

 BRIDGET Sloan is the new queen of world gymnastics after coming out on top of a dramatic all-around final at the o2.

TEEN SPIRIT: American Bridget Sloan claimed the all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championships in London (Getty Images)

The 17-year old looked like she would have to settle for silver behind teammate Rebecca Bross with the latter needing just 13 points from her final apparatus - the floor.

But a tumble at the climax of Bross' final routine gifted Sloan the gold on 57.825 points with Bross an agonising 0.05 points behind in silver and early leader, Japan's Koko Tsurumi, taking bronze on 57.175.

The new champion was quick to praise her even younger teammate and insisted she had paid no attention to the tight scoreline, despite being in the same rotation as her American rival.

"I was very nervous for Rebecca having to perform the last floor routine," said Sloan.

"We were both out there for the USA and I didn't notice I'd won until the very end - I had no idea it was so close.

"But obviously I'm really happy with the outcome. I didn't want to pay attention to the scores during the competition - I just wanted to focus on my own performance.

"I was a bit nervous stepping up to the beam but the thoughts of practice were going through my head and it calmed me down. I've done that routine so many times and I've been focusing on doing it the best as possible and thankfully it turned out well."

Bross had been the talk of the championships after finishing top of qualifying and looking very much the heir apparent to her coach Valeri's daughter, absent Olympic champion Nastia Luikin.

And despite her late disappointment, the 16-year old insisted she had no regrets with her performance at the o2.

"I'm really happy with my silver medal," said Bross. "I went out there to try my hardest and I'm very proud of how I did.

"It really didn't feel like I'd already won. I had a little mishap at the end of my routine - these things happen and there's nothing I can do to change it now.

"I've just got to move on and refocus for the apparatus finals over the weekend."

And with Bross competing in Saturday's asymmetric bars final and against Britain's Beth Tweddle in Sunday's floor final, few would bet against the youngster adding to her medal tally before the end of the championships.