Patterson overcomes Khorkina for all-around title

An arrogant insult? Maybe so.

"I just thought, 'Whatever?"' Patterson said last month. "I'll go out and do my gymnastics and the best person will win."

She did just that.

Retton, who for two decades has been waiting impatiently to see who the "Next Mary Lou" might be, started screaming when she heard the news from home.

"I have been waiting 20 years. The crown has been sitting and waiting for the next all-around champion," she said. "Carly Patterson, it's yours."

During the medals ceremony, Patterson sang along with "The Star-Spangled Banner," played at the arena for the second straight night, and looked to be blinking back tears.

Khorkina, meanwhile, stared at the scoreboard and smiled at the fans, most of whom had come to see her.