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American gymnast Nastia Liukin finished the Beijing Olympics on Tuesday by taking home more medals than any other gymnastics competitor and surpassing the haul of her own father in the process.

Her silver medal on the beam was her fifth prize of the Games, after taking silvers in the asymmetric bars and the team event, a bronze in the floor exercise and the gold medal in the women's all-round.

"To leave here with five Olympic medals, it just, it's amazing and it's more than a dream come true. I would have never dreamed this. It's been the experience of a lifetime and nothing could top this," she told reporters.

Her haul tops that of her father and coach, Valery, who won two golds and the two silvers at the 1988 Seoul Olympics competing for the Soviet Union.

"The only thing he can say to me is 'I have two golds'," she said,

Asked if she was thinking about beating his medal count as she saw the results flash up on the board, Liukin said: "Obviously that's not something he was thinking about but I sure was thinking about it."


She came second to team mate Shawn Johnson, while China's Cheng Fei took the bronze.

"Nine Olympic medals in the family's not too bad," said the 18-year-old, who had hung one of her father's medals in her Texas bedroom as inspiration.

Valery Liukin's reaction to his daughter's feat was that of a proud coach and father, rather than a bested competitor.

Image and News Courtsey: Reuters.com

Newcastle United have been linked with a loan move for Real Madrid forward Javier Saviola

The Argentina international has been on the fringes of the Bernabeu squad and would be a useful addition to the Newcastle squad currently thin in the forward ranks with both Michael Owen and Mark Viduka struggling for fitness.

After Newcastle's impressive showing in the draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford at the weekend, Keegan was hopeful that Mike Ashley, the club's owner, will be moved to make a "wow signing" to further boost morale.

The 26-year-old Saviola is keen to secure regular football after making just nine first-team appearances for the Spanish club and is thought to be eager to move on.

Last week, Ashley told corporate box holders at St James's Park that he will ensure that a top signing is made to lift the team.

And Keegan responded: "A wow signing? I am looking forward to that very much! Now he has said it.

"Saviola? That would be nice for starters. Dennis Wise, Tony Jiminez, Derek Llambias, we are working really well together to get quality players in."

News Courtey: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/

Samir Nasri has been ruled out of France's friendly with Sweden on Wednesday because of a thigh strain.

The Arsenal midfielder was called into Les Bleus' squad on Monday following the withdrawal of winger Hatem Ben Arfa, who injured his adductors at the weekend.

But Nasri will not board Tuesday's flight to Gothenburg, the French Football Federation confirmed on their website.

The former Marseille playmaker has been struggling with a thigh injury for the past couple of weeks, although he was able to start for the Gunners in their Premier League curtain-raiser against West Brom on Saturday.

Nasri, making his debut for the north London club, scored the only goal of that game.

France have confirmed they will not be calling up another player to replace Nasri, so they will travel to Sweden with a 19-man squad.

News Courtsey: The UK Press Association