BEIJING -- American gymnast Shawn Johnson finally got her Olympic gold medal in the last event of the women's competition, the balance beam.

Johnson nailed her routine that is chock-full of difficult tricks, earning a 16.225.

The world champion already had a silver behind fellow American Nastia Liukin in the all-around, and a silver on floor and in the team event. She edged out Liukin, who finished with a gold, three silvers and a bronze.

Cheng Fei of China took the bronze, giving China six women's medals, two behind the U.S.

Reaction From Chow's Gym

"To finally get the gold on my final routine in my Olympic career experience, it's the perfect ending," Shawn said. "It means more to me than any medal ever could."

"I'm so excited.  When my dad told me I started jumping around, so happy for not only her, but Chow and Lee.  They invested so much time in them," said Maryah Huntley, Shawn's teammate.  "I'm just so happy she won beam because she really deserved it.  She worked twice as hard on the beam as everybody else.

Maryah Huntley and Alexa Johnson have spent a lot of time with Shawn over the years practicing inside Chow's Gym.

"We're just really proud of her that she finally got her gold because she was getting so much silver and we're just so excited that she finally got it," said Johnson.

"I woke up to my mom screaming in her room about it because she was getting ready to go to work and I'm like, 'What happened?' and she said, 'Shawn Johnson finally won the gold.'"

"I'm delighted because she's had hard knocks at the Olympics and she's a nice gal and I'm just delighted," said Sandy Sheldon, Shawn's teammate.

Shawn's friends told KCCI that they want her home so they can congratulate her in person.

"It's been forever, it seems like since we've seen her so I can't wait to see her and Chow and Lee because we're all a family and I just want to give them a hug because we miss them so much," said Sheldon.

Reaction - Governor Culver

Iowa Governor Chet Culver lauded Johnson.

"I'm very proud of Shawn Johnson and what a terrific, outstanding leader and model she is," the governor said at a Capitol news conference on an unrelated topic.

Culver, who has two young children, added that Johnson is "a great role model for my kids and so many other young Iowans."

Johnson, from West Des Moines, collected three silver medals before winning gold Tuesday.

Aides said plans were being developed for an event welcoming the gymnast back to Iowa.