American gymnast Chellsie Memmel, center, celebrates her World Gymnastics title in Melbourne, Australia

American Chellsie Memmel has edged favored countrywoman Nastia Liukin by one-1000th of a point to take the women's all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

Memmel, the U.S. silver medalist, ended her four routines with a total score of 37.824 points. She is the first American to win the world title since Shannon Miller in 1994.

Liukin, the daughter of 1988 Olympic gold medalist Valeri Liukin and former rhythmic gymnastics world champion Anna Kochneva, took the silver medal with 37.823 points. Australian Monette Russo took the bronze medal (37.298).

Liukin and Memmel were deadlocked headed into the final rotation -- the floor exercise -- but Memmel won because she had a higher score in an earlier event.