gymn Digest Sun, 16 Oct 94 Volume 3 : Issue 30

Today's Topics:
A Few Notes From The New "World Of Gymnastics" (2 msgs)
Asian Games (RSG)
Bunch o' RSG Articles
China's Changing Face (Huang Yubin Profile)
Code of Points (3 msgs)
Compulsories (2 msgs)
Compulsories/ability (2 msgs)
FX poll
FX poll results
GIF's on AOL
GIFs
Gutsu in U.S.
Gymnastics On Film (videotape whatever)
Jr. Pan Am Games (2 msgs)
Karolyi Article
Olympic Fever Story
Petrova article from the dpa
RSG First Day EF
RSG Worlds EF (AP) (2 msgs)
RSG Worlds EF (results)
Zaripova profile

This is a digest of the gymn@athena.mit.edu mailing list.

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Date: Sat, 08 Oct 94 20:33:46 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: A Few Notes From The New "World Of Gymnastics"

>4-An interesting quote I thought "Federations partcipating in the 1995
Artistic World Championships to be held in Sabae [JAP] were requested to send
only gymnasts who were able to perform the compulsory excercises at the high
level expected at World Championships"'

I noticed this one, too. This makes me wonder (not having attending Worlds
compulsories myself) how 'bad' they can get. All who have been in person,
please elaborate.

Mara

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 09 Oct 94 12:22:51 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: A Few Notes From The New "World Of Gymnastics"

Oops. Forgot to put the gymn address on this.
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Re: A Few Notes From The New "World Of Gymnastics"
Date: 94-10-09 10:12:55 EDT

First, the original "A Few Notes..." arrived without a body, so could someone
re-send it to me?

>>4-An interesting quote I thought "Federations partcipating in the 1995
Artistic World Championships to be held in Sabae [JAP] were requested to send
only gymnasts who were able to perform the compulsory excercises at the high
level expected at World Championships"'

>I noticed this one, too. This makes me wonder (not having attending Worlds
compulsories myself) how 'bad' they can get. All who have been in person,
please elaborate.<

I have *been* one of those gymnasts. I could, however, at least do
everything in the routines. It can get a lot worse -- there have been
gymnasts who couldn't even perform all of the elements, for example, the
girls from Morocco at Indianapolis couldn't do the bars compulsory (as I
recall, they could barely kip. Yet they were doing double pikes in their
floor optionals). I'm not sure exactly what the FIG has in mind, though,
whether they just want gymnasts who can get through the whole thing, or
whether they want gymnasts who can score 9's or what. The latter may be the
case since most countries don't send gymnasts who can't do the compulsories
at all, out of a desire not to embarrass themselves (our own rule was that
you had to average above an 8.5, which I think is probably a good lower
limit. A routine above 8.5 is not painful to watch or judge, and also makes
it possible for countries without the resources to train better gymnasts to
be included, which is important if gymnastics is going to develop at all in
those places and if fostering some sort of spirit of world community is still
a goal of international sport).

:)
Adriana

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 94 17:49:29 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Asian Games (RSG)

From the Newswires ... (UPI & AP)

Rhythmic Gymnastics:

Individual multiple competition final
1. Yukari Kawamoto (Japan) 37.350
2. Zhou Xiaojing (China) 37.200
3. Miho Yamada (Japan) 36.950
4. Wang Xiuyun (China) 36.900
5. Kim Yoo-kyung (South Korea) 35.800
6. Kwong Bo-young (South Korea) 35.600

"China, who dominated the artistic gymnastics, had to settle for second best
in the rhythmic gymnastics where Yukari Kawamoto of Japan won the individual
multiple competition with 37.350 points. Zhou Xiaojing of China got the
silver medal and the followed went to Miho Yamada."

-posted by Susan

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 17:05:33 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: Bunch o' RSG Articles

PARIS (AP)- Unhappy with her performance in the all-around competition
where she could only manage a fourth place Friday, longlined Urkrainian
Ekaterina Serebrianskaya (1.75 m, 49 kg) redeemed herself in the event
finals Saturday, taking the gold medals in both the hoop and clubs event.
16 years old and coached by her mother, Serebrianskaya could
possibly succeed Bulgarian Maria Petrova, crowned overall World Champion
Friday for the second consecutive year, but who announced her retirement
after these 18th World Rhythmic GYmnastics Championships held at the
Palace-Ominsport at Paris-Bercy.
With the hoop, Petrova had the necessary difficulty Saturday to
tie for the gold (9.875) with Serebrianskaya and Belarussian Larissa
Lukyanenko, whose strenghts are reinforced by her small size, giving her
the look of a contortioniste.
Serebrianskaya, who had dropped her hoop during the all-around
competition, did not fail this time around in the event final. In the
clubs final, the Ukrainian confirmed her mastery and nerves of steel, in
defeating Maria Petrova (9.9 to 9.825) and Amina Zaripova (Russia), with
unusual flexibility, who took the bronze (9.8).
Qualified for both the last two finals, the ball and the ribbon Sunday,
Ekaterina Serebrianskaya could very well be dreaming of a "grand slam."
"Today I was performing for the crowd, the score didn't matter,"
declared Maria Petrova, with her 2nd All-around World title already, and
who placed second with the clubs.
Eva Serrano, French National Champion and who qualified for all
event finals, took 7th with the hoop (9.525) and with the clubs (9.65),
both scores higher than those she had received in the all-around
competition (9.5 and 9.55) where she finished seventh,
"I am very pleased," declared the sixteen year-old. "But I must still
improve, with precision, speed, and execution, and also composition."
In the group competition, the title for the exercise with four
hoops and two paris of clubs, was won by Bulgaria Saturday (19.55) in
front of Russia (19.4) and Spain (19.325). France placed in sixth (19.05).
---
PARIS (AP)-- Three gymnasts could not be seperated for the gold
medal for the hoop exercise in the first event finals of these 18th World
Championships...
Maria Petrova (crowned Overall World Champion Friday), Belarussian
Larissa Lukyanenko, and Ukrainian Ekaterina Serbrianskaya all tied for
first place. All three received 9.875. When three gymnasts tie for the
gold, silver and bronze medals are not awarded.
Originally, the judges could not agree over what to do with the
9.825 score given to Petrova, before they eventually decided to let the
Bulgarian keep her hoop title that she had earned at last year's Worlds in
Alicante (Spain).
French gymnast Eva Serrano, seventh overall from Friday's
all-around competition, qualified for all four finals, and finished
seventh in the hoop event with 9.525.
The eight best athletes in each event from the All-Around
competition participate in the event finals, with the hoop, the clubs,
the ball, and the ribbon.
-----
PARIS (AP)-- With three individual golds out of four events (hoop,
clubs, ball, and ribbon), the young blonde Ukrainian Ekaterina
Serebriansskaya, 16 years old, looks to be a candidate to succeed the
soon-to-be retired Bulgarian star, Maria Petrova, who was crowned best in
the world for the second consecutive year Friday, at these 18th World GRS
Championships... (we all know where they're being held!)
Already a gold medal winner from Friday's hoop final, longlegged
Ekaterina Serebrianskaya (1.75m, 49kg) tied for the ball title with
fellow Ukrainian Yelena Vitrichenko (9.875), and also the ribbon (9.90).
The "Grand Slam" (sweep) was achieved in 1987 by Bulgarian Bianca
Panova in Varna, who won not only the all-around but all four events with
maximun scores (10.00). Winning the golds in the event finals could be a
consolation prize for Serebiranskaya, who could only manage fourth in the
all-around behind Petrova (38.9) and the two gymnasts who tied for second:
rubberbanded Russian Amina Zaripova, and the explosive Belarussian Larissa
Lukyanenko (38.85 points each).
Maria Petrova, captivating with the ribbon, could not earn the
title in front of the Ukrainian (Petrova finished second with 9.85), and
who also announced her retirement from gymnastics after earning her second
World All-Around title. The lovely brunette Bulgarian retires pocketing
and impressive acheivement list: two consecutive World All-Around and two
consecutive European All-around Championships.
Russia largely dominated the group events in Bercy taking the
gold with the "six ropes" event (?). Bulgaria won the group event with
four hoop and two pairs of clubs.
For France, these world championships with always remain
exceptional. Eva Serrano earned several "firsts": 7th place in the AA and
hugely improved (she was 19th last year in ALicante, to made the most
successful results for a French RSG gymnast then), the young 16 year old
qualified for all four event finals, a first for France. The TriColores
(team) are the French National Champs and earned fourth in the world in
the "six-rope" event. They also placed sixth in the AA (huh?) and sixth
in the event with 4 hoops and 2 pairs of clubs.
SUnday Eva Serrano placed her highest in the ball event, but she
finished eighth in the ribbon, after having dropped it during a
"boomerang", and also had another error.
---
PARIS (AP)-- Ukrainians Ekaterina Serbrianskaya and Yelena
Vitrichenko shared first place in the ball event final Sunday...
With 9.875, the two Ukrainians defeated Bulgarian Maria Petrova,
AA World Champ, and now bronze medalist in the ball with 9.825. (When two
gymnasts tie the gold, the silver medal is not rewarded).
In this ball final, FRench gymnast took sixth place out of eight
finalists with a score of 9.65.
Serebianskaya, already World Champion in the hoop and the clubs,
will attempt to sweep the event finals when the final event final, the
ribbon, will be contested Sunday afternoon.
----
PARIS (AP)-- Already World Champion in three other events (hoop,
clubs, and ball) 16 year-old Ukrainian Ekaterina Serebrianskaya
attempted a complete sweep of the event finals Sunday during the last
event, the ribbon...
With a score of 9.90, she defeated three gymnasts who tied for
the silver medal with 9.85: Bulgarian Maria Petrova, Russian Amina
Zaripova, and another Ukrainian Yelena Vitrichenko.
French gymnast, Eva Serrano finished eighth and in last in this
ribbon final after having dropped her apparutus twice (9.225).
The "Grand Slam" of Serebriankaya's consoles her after she
finished fourth in the all-around, the most disappointing place (I guess
'cause she barealy missed a medal).
The group (six ropes) from Russia earned itself the World Title
with 19.587. It defeated Bulgaria and Spain. France took an excellent
fourth in this event with 19.200. (But isn't fourth the most
disappointing place? Hmmm...)

-Posted by Susan (translated and quibs added from Amanda)

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 08 Oct 94 16:57:18 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: China's Changing Face (Huang Yubin Profile)

>From Reuters "Coach's Shoes Reflect Changing Times" by scott McDonald (direct
quotes noted) ...

"The running shoes on Huang Yubin's [head coach of the CHN men team] feet
show how much sport has changed in China since he became the country's first
men's world gymnastics champion 14 years ago." Hunag was wearing track shoes
made by former Chinese superstar Li Ning.

Hunag says "Things have changed so much since I was competing. It is
completely different"
When Huang begam training in 1975 he was 17 years old. The "Cultural
Revolution that rocked China was nearing an end. "At that time during the
Cultural Revolution there was nothing. The equipment was old and didn't work"
Twenty Two years later much has changed.

When his current star Li Xiaoshuang started training at age 7 he had only the
best coaching and state of the art equipment. [Huang] "For example, last year
we imported the same equipment that was going to be used at the Asian Games
so we could practise on it." Chinese gymnasts now how have govermental &
commercial support.

Li Ning, triple gold medalist at the '84 Olympic Games, was the really the
first to benefit from this new attitude. He now sponsers the Chinese
gymnastics team (and those of several other sports) with his line of athletic
apparel. "Li Ning Sports Goods Co. was founded in 1990 and by 1993 the
privately owned group had sales of more then 100 million yuan (about 12
million dollars) a year."

Yubin is paid less then 100 yuan a month (about $12) as coach of the Chinese
men which was still higher then the Nat'l average in the early '80's when he
started (8 years ago). His athletes currently earn more then 1,000 yuan
(about $120) a month from the gov't while the average Chinese worker makes
about 300 yuan (about $36) a month. Huang says that the rewards for medals
and promotional deals dwarf the 1,000 yuan salery though. Gold medals from
Barcelona were worth 80,000 yuan ($9,600) a piece plus business sponsership
deals. The amount for golds in Hiroshima is as yet undetermined.

When Huang won his rings gold in 1979 he joked "I got my name in the paper."
He goes on to say "They [the athletes now] have lots of opportunities. They
can go into business and they are famous and can represent companies. I'm not
jealous of them. My life has also improved." Huang lost his chance to compete
in the Olympics when China boycotted the '80 Moscow Olympics.

The article goes on to say that China is favored for the gold [?] at the '96
Atlanta Olympics.

- Susan

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 09:10:51 -0400
From: ***@wam.umd.edu
Subject: Code of Points

In the recent IG it was stated that some of the judges at Nationals
recognized loop holes in the COP and were not hesitant to award
higher scores to more difficult routines (Millers floor vs Dawes floor).
If this is a popular consentious is there any chance that the code
will be changed before the Olympics? Or is the code of points only
revamped after an Olympic year?

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 09:29:01 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Code of Points

>If this is a popular consentious is there any chance that the code
will be changed before the Olympics? Or is the code of points only
revamped after an Olympic year?<

No chance we'll see any changes in the Code before Atlanta. Ok, so I'm not
on the WTC (Women's Technical Committee), nor have I spoken to any of them,
but to my knowledge that's not done, and IMO the coaches and federations
wouldn't be very happy about it. They've relied on this Code in their
preparations (as have the judges who would have to relearn it), and to have a
full, pre-Olympics Worlds (a *real* Worlds <g>) and/or an Olympics with
totally new routines and an untested Code would cause mass chaos. The only
people I can picture maybe in favor of it are the coaches and federations of
gymnasts who can throw the genuinely difficult stuff, but they also have to
think about their team as a whole, and there isn't a single team that
wouldn't be seriously affected by significant changes.

Adriana

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 17:09:47 BST
From: ***@axion.bt.co.uk
Subject: Code of Points

>No chance we'll see any changes in the Code before Atlanta. Ok, so I'm not
>on the WTC (Women's Technical Committee), nor have I spoken to any of them,
>but to my knowledge that's not done, and IMO the coaches and federations
>wouldn't be very happy about it.

I agree I dont see it happening either but that doesnt mean to say it
shouldnt be done, theres something wrong if judges are marking
routines higher because the difficulty is higher but that marking isnt
reflected in the Code of Points. You dont write a rule book for the judges
to decide it isnt good enough.

>They've relied on this Code in their
>preparations (as have the judges who would have to relearn it), and to have a
>full, pre-Olympics Worlds (a *real* Worlds <g>) and/or an Olympics with
>totally new routines and an untested Code would cause mass chaos.

Fair point but are you telling me it will take longer than the time we
have between now and Atlanta 1996 which is roughly a year and nine
months for everyone to learn a new code of points, I understand the code
needs to be tested out preferably in a major meet, but if this simply comes
down to a case of its not the right time to change the code of points,
perhaps we should be asking is there ever a good time to change a code of
points I mean surely something somewhere will be affected somehow.

>The only
>people I can picture maybe in favor of it are the coaches and federations of
>gymnasts who can throw the genuinely difficult stuff, but they also have to
>think about their team as a whole, and there isn't a single team that
>wouldn't be seriously affected by significant changes.

Well the thing is anyway the points are ramping up higher and higher each
competition and with judges possibly awarding more marks, that strikes me as
very odd you know the consistency of such marking must be very hit and
miss, we are going to find ourselves back at the good old paradox of does
it deserve a 10 arent we.

Something to think about I believe.

Clive

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 18:57:16 -0400
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Compulsories

As for how bad they can get ... in '91 watchingthe lesser teams compete was
actually painful. For instance the Kuwaiti athletes only learned the
compulsories a week before the meet. They often forgot them mid routine. For
several teams the compulsories were notabley harder then their optional sets.

I think that time and complete lack of public interest (eg. revenue) is what
promted the FIG to issue this statement ... how tough will they be? I doubt
very.

At one point the FIG talked about an "A" and "B" worlds to divy up the good
teams from the great ones. I have mixed feelings on the subject. On the one
hand frankly I don't want to watch the Indian boys go 6 for 6 in the fall
department again and on the other ... how will countries ever improve their
programs without the inspiration that a worlds provides? It's a complicated
issue but like all things it will probably end at the wallet.

-Susan

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Oct 94 10:28:22 EDT
From: ***@eos.ncsu.edu
Subject: Compulsories

[First two paragraphs deleted]

> At one point the FIG talked about an "A" and "B" worlds to divy up the good
> teams from the great ones. I have mixed feelings on the subject. On the one
> hand frankly I don't want to watch the Indian boys go 6 for 6 in the fall
> department again and on the other ... how will countries ever improve their
> programs without the inspiration that a worlds provides? It's a complicated
> issue but like all things it will probably end at the wallet.
>
> -Susan

I know that in international ice hockey, they have a Group A and a Group
B champion, with the Group B being the "not-as-good" group. It works
pretty well, and it could be applied to gymnastics. If a country does
well, it will stay in Group A, but if it (majorly) falters, it would be
demoted to Group B. Plus the best of Group B (in hockey, it is usually the
top one or two teams), would get promoted to Group A. It serves as an
incentive to "run with the big boys". You never know. Russia could
have a REAL BAD Worlds and get replaced by, say, Moldova.

--Brent

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 94 10:22:03 EST
From: ***@email.cfr.org
Subject: Compulsories/ability

Previously undelivered message follows-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mara asked about how "bad" compulsories can get...

Well, when I went to the '91 Worlds, gymnasts from lesser countries were
not only performing them incorrectly but *dangerously* ie. gettin' hurt.
A gymnast from Denmark hurt both knees after performing a comp vault, and
was wheeled out in a stretcher. BTW- Madame Berger had walked from her
position across the floor to hurry them along so that the competition
wouldn't be too delayed (really, they were checkin' her out when Berger
motioned with her hands to get a move on...). So, clinically speaking
(excuse the bad pun), time may be a factor to the decision by the FIG to ask
for those who can perform comps. well.

Connie

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 10:56:00 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: Compulsories/ability

> Mara asked about how "bad" compulsories can get...
>
> Well, when I went to the '91 Worlds, gymnasts from lesser countries were
> not only performing them incorrectly but *dangerously* ie. gettin' hurt.
> A gymnast from Denmark hurt both knees after performing a comp vault, and
> was wheeled out in a stretcher. BTW- Madame Berger had walked from her
> position across the floor to hurry them along so that the competition
> wouldn't be too delayed (really, they were checkin' her out when Berger
> motioned with her hands to get a move on...). So, clinically speaking
> (excuse the bad pun), time may be a factor to the decision by the FIG to ask
> for those who can perform comps. well.
>
> Connie

I doubt that the Yamashita 1/2 is such a dangerous vault... For
every compulsory injury, I'd bet that there are fifty optional injuries. I
wouldn't say that compulsories contribute to injuries at all. As a matter
of fact, I'd say that injuries are lessened by compulsories. Given that
when compulsories counted for something, these gymnasts were training
upwards of 2/3 hours a day on them. If they'd never had to worry about
them, that's three more hours a day for optionals... which definitely
*can* be dangerous.

Amanda

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 94 10:47 PDT
From: ***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU
Subject: FX poll

also...

Bogy's 89 Worlds routine also received one vote.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 18:30 PDT
From: ***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU
Subject: FX poll results

Announcing the winners of the Fx favorites poll...

1st place - 7 votes total (3 of them 1st place)

Sylvia Mitova - Blues Goddess

2nd place - 5 votes total (1 1st place)

(t) Olga Strazheva - Rite of Spring
(t) Svetlana Boguinskaia - Carmen

4th place - 2 votes total (1 1st place)

(t) Oksana Omelianchik - bird music
(t) Oksana Omelianchik - 87-88 music "Ballet Russe"

6th place - 2 votes (0 1st place)

(t) Natalia Frolova 1986
(t) Elena Shushunova 1988 "Gypsy music"
(t) Daniela Silivas 1987
(t) Natalia Laschenova 1989 "Peer Gynt suite"
(t) Elena Sazonenkova 1991 "Bach: the well-tempered Clavier
Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in c-minor"
(t) Khrabrina Khrabrova 1988 "Bolero"
(t) Choe Gyong Hui - 1989 Worlds routine

13th place - 1 vote (1 first place)

(t) Camelia Voinea - 87 Worlds
(t) Kathy Johnson - Swan Lake

15th place - 1 vote

(t) Svetlana Boguinskaia - Tango 1988 US/USSR
(t) Svetlana Boguinskaia - Liberte 1992 Olympics
(t) Elena Davydova - 1980 Olympics
(t) Tatiana Tuzhikova - 1987 WC
(t) Svetlana Lebedinskaia - 1986 US/USSR
(t) Olesia Dudnik "Rhapsody in Blue" 1989 Worlds

Congrats to all the winners. Especially to Choe Gyong Hui and Kathy
Johnson as they are not from Romania, USSR, or Bulgaria. Just a note, I
received 2 votes for Silivas 87, and I know SIlivas performed 2 different
FX routines in 87, one vote was for her routine at 87 Worlds, the other
vote just named the piece of music "dark eyes".. now I didnt know whether
dark eyes was her routine from 87 Worlds or 87 DTB, so I just assumed it was
from worlds. If I am mistaken, I apologize.

If I knew the piece of music used, I tried to fill it in. Thanks to all
who participated, you actually returned to me my faith in mankind, well, maybe
not, but its a lot stronger than it was. Adios.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 16:17:19 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: GIF's on AOL

I know that some of these have mentioned before but just to review ...

There's a new "ABC" area on AOL (American Online) and under the "ABC sports
photos and clips" section there is a "gymnastics" category. Right now it's
pretty bare (1 pic of Nadia and 1 of Marylou) but maybe it will get better
... at least they thought to include it as a sport!

In the "PC Software graphics" area there are 2 pics of Oksana Omelianchik, 1
of Nelli Kim, and 1 of Kim Zmeskal (the "It Hurts" Newsweek cover).

In the "Winter Sports" (god knows why) area there is a Shannon Miller shot.

Have Fun,
Susan

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 00:34:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: GIFs

If anyone is interested, I've put a few GIFs in my ftp directory at Netcom:

ag-chn.gif Chinese women's team, '94 Asian Games
chusov.gif Chusovitina on B, '94 Asian Games
hatakeda.gif Hatakeda on PH, '94 Asian Games
mo-fx.gif Mo on FX, '94 Asian Games
oksana.gif Omelianchik on B (from AOL)
nelly.gif N. Kim on B (from AOL)

Warning!! The Asian Games pics are of poor quality, so download at your own
risk. :) I'll upload more GIFs over the weekend.

Debbie


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 16:55:06 EST
From: ***@email.cfr.org
Subject: Gutsu in U.S.

>From The Times-Picayune, dated Oct. 5:

"Victor and Tamila Dieke and the couple's former pupil, 1992 gold-medal
winner Tatiana Gutsu, recently opened a gymnastics training center on
Gause Boulevard (Slidell in New Orleans)".

The program director is Igor Ashkinozi originally from Odessa, Ukraine but
living in the U.S. for the past 20 years. Gutsu and the Diekes are here
on visas for 18 mos. and will decide during that time whether to stay.

Businessmen in Slidell are investing in the $250,000 training center
($4,000 was spent to get the 3 into the U.S.).

On an aside: Seems Victor Dieke's entry into the world of microwaves
led to an explodin' egg (you may guess the grisly details...)

Connie

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 94 01:10:03 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Gymnastics On Film (videotape whatever)

Info From the Newswires ...

A British film company has been endorsed by the IOC to create a series
entitled "The Olympic Hall of Fame" to be aired prior to the '96 Atlanta
Olympics. 13 1/2 hour shows will be made using never before seen archive IOC
footage. " Each part will feature an athlete, chosen by a panel of experts,
with interviews with the subject and archive material from the IOC museum in
Lausanne, Switzerland." Olga Korbut is one of the athletes to be featured.

On ESPN2 a series called "Great College Rivalies" (check local listings)
will feature the men's gymnastics rivalry between Oklahoma, Nebraska, and
UCLA. in an upcoming episode.

-Susan

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 94 00:34:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: Jr. Pan Am Games

Here are the results for the US gymnasts at the Jr. Pan Ams (Sept. 20-24),
taken from the USGF section on Delphi. Not all scores were listed.

Men
----
Team: 1st

AA
1. Mike Morgan 54.000 } I don't know if there was a tie for
2. Mike Dutka 54.000 } 1st or if one of the scores is a typo...
3. Jason Katsampes 53.450
4. Tim Elsner 53.200

FX
1. Dutka 8.825
2. Morgan 8.775

PH
1. Dutka & Katsampes

R
2. Morgan 9.025
4. Elsner 8.875

V
1. Morgan

PB
1. Dutka
2. Katsampes

HB
1. Dutka

Women
-----
Team: 1st

AA
1. Andree Pickens 38.025
2. Tara Tagliarino 37.275
3. Marissa Medal 37.000 (tie)
8. Deidra Graham 36.425

V
1. Pickens
2. Tagliarino/Medal
28.Graham

UB
2. Tagliarino/Graham
4. Medal

B
1. Medal/Graham
3. Pickens
4. Tagliarino

FX
1. Pickens
3. Tagliarino
11.Medal/Graham (tie)

Rhythmic
--------
AA
4. Laurie Illy 33.700
6. Lori Frederickson 33.200
13.Tina Tharp 32.600

Rope
3. Illy

Clubs
2. Illy


Debbie


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 11 Oct 1994 00:05:15 -0400 (edt)
From: ***@dorsai.dorsai.org
Subject: Jr. Pan Am Games

Mike Morgan won the Men's AA at the Jr. Pan Am Games. He scored 54.10 to
beat Mike Dutka by 0.1.

Jason Katsampes and Mike Dutka ties for first on Pommel Horse with scores
of 8.975

Mike Morgan's winning score on vault was 8.9875 (two vaults - finals rules)

PB: 1. Mike Dutka 9.00
2. Jason Katsampes 8.90

HB: 1. Mike Dutka 8.90

Congratulations are in order to the USA Junior Boys team: they took the
team, AA, FX, PH, V, PB, and HB first place, and a total of 13 of the
possible 16 medals they could have brought back. Let's hope this bodes
well for the future of the Men's Program in the USA! Both the coaches
for the meet, Dennis McIntyre and Keith Petit (Queen City Gymnastics),
and the gymnasts are to be commended on an excellent performance.

- Ken

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Oct 1994 06:52:06 -0700 (PDT)
From: ***@netcom.com
Subject: Karolyi Article

"Same Karoly, Different Tune" is the title of an article in today's _New
York Times_. Bela says that women's gymnastics is overrun with young
tiny girls. Therefore, he's decided to come out of retirement to train
Zmeskal and Boginskaya.

"I certainly feel gymnastics is missing some of the maturity of the
former great athletes. Expressiveness, elegance, the great feminine
emotional outbreak on the floor, the communication with the crowd."

Zmeskal sayd she got the urge to return to the sport after watching Brian
Boitano at the '94 Winter Olympics. "I felt like he was talking to me,"
she said. Zmeskal is still recovering from ligament damage to her right
knee (she's wearing a large brace in the accompanying photo), which won't
be fully healed until February or March.

As for Boginskaya, Karolyi said that she learned the current compulsory
exercises in 2 1/2 weeks.

What are the girls' chances for medals in '96? "I would not go that far
[either winning an individual medal], but they don't have to win. Their
presence will be the biggest medal of their lives. The audience would go
crazy," he said.

Debbie

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 94 11:43:00 -0700
From: ***@hpflash.rose.hp.com
Subject: Olympic Fever Story

Hello. I'm new to the GYMN group, but I have read the last few digests
published. I also read the Olympic Fever story and read the messages
here on that subject. A recent one asked what Chelle Stack was doing
following her Olympic experience and before college. Well....I met Chelle
while my daughter was attending gym at Cypress Academy in Texas (just
outside of Houston). Chelle was an elite gymnast on our Cypress team.
>From what I saw, Chelle was having a GREAT time there. She seemed content
and motivated. I don't know the details but we learned that because of some
past "arrangements" (I'm not sure exactly what/which), one of Chelle's
possible scholarship offers was being reversed. I know the family was devasted
at this point and I lost track of them after that. I read the message
from Adriana saying that she was attending Oklahoma now, so I don't know
if they got "around" the blockade preventing her from receiving scholarships.

We left Cypress (job transfer) 2 years ago so I lost track of her situation
then. My daughter is now a Level 8 gymnast for Splitz Gymnastics in Loomis
California (just east of Sacramento).

Anyway, nice to meet you all!

Mark

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 94 00:54:23 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Petrova article from the dpa

Maria Petrova defends world title - Magdalena Brzeska Tenth

Paris - The 18 year old Bulgarian Maria Petrova (38.900 points)
defended, this afternoon in the Palais de Omnisport in Paris, her
1993 world title. With a very tight winning margin of 0.05 points
from her protogees , the BelaRussian Larissa Lukyanenko and Russian Amina
in second place scoring 38.850 points. Closely behind following were
Ekaterina
Serebrianskaya (UKR/38.725), Olga Gontar (BLR/38.625) and Elena
Vitrichenko (UKR/38.625) further favourites for the apparatus finals on
Saturday and continuing on Sunday.

The German champion Magdalena Brzeska presented herself with a 9.400
on Ball and a 9.450 on Clubs, an excellent performance that enabled her to
move from 13th place to 10th. With that after her 12th place at the World
Championships in 1993 and her 10th place at the European Championships in
1994, this was a much closer fight. With both hand turns missed she
respectively missed 9th place, close to entry in the final. But only
through a questionable decision of the judges the Bulgarian Popova (9.525
in spite of dropping her apparatus) finshed 8th with only 8 qualifying
in the disputed clubs final.

The second German competing Kristin Sroka by the second day also had
clearly improved in the field of 35 gymnasts finishing 22nd.

-translated by Clive Stonebridge

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 08 Oct 94 16:57:58 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: RSG First Day EF

>From the Newswires (AP & Reuters) ...

Maria Petrova (BUL) added yet another gold medal to her collection with a
share of the hoop EF title. She shared her medal with Ekaterina
Serebriankskaya (UKR) and Larissa Lukyanenko (BLR). All three scored 9.875.
Petrova was orginally given a 9.825 but a review of the judges scores put her
in a tie for the lead.

Serebrianskyaya came back to take the club title all for herself with a 9.9
which edged Petrova's 9.825. Ekaterina finisheda dissappointing 4th in the
All Around competition but stands a good chance of sweeping the EF golds as
she also qualified in to tomorrow's (Sunday's) ball and ribbon finals.

In the group event with hoops and clubs Bulgaria took the crown while Russia
won the overall team title.

-posted by Susan

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 09 Oct 94 17:08:17 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: RSG Worlds EF (AP)

>From the AP ...

Ekaterina Serebrianskaya (UKR) swept the EF titles at the RSG Worlds this
year. On the first day of comeptition she was in a three way for the hoop
gold and then took clubs all for herself. On the last day of the
Championships (Sunday) she won the ribbon outright with a 9.9. The ball was a
tie with teammate Elena Vitrichenko with a 9.875

The biggest ovation of the day went to Maria Petrova (BUL) who has announced
that this will be her final meet.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I can't believe that the UKR girls beat Zaripova in ball. It really makes me
makes me wonder; esp. since by the scores you can tell she, Amina, didn't
have a major error ... Adraina may not like her (and to each their own) but
trust me in that Serebrianskaya is 5' 10" and under 90 pounds last I heard
... talk about scary! They make Zaripova at about 5' 8" and 95 pounds look
healthy (not that it is mind you). Zaripova is so over flexible and can put
that ball in the most unearthly places that she's really neat. Her
musicallity has improved (and the rest of the packs gone down IMHO) since she
debuted as well. Just for the record Kostina is *my* all time fav too.

A very wise person name Nancy Raymond <g> once said that when watching RSG
it is better to view them as cartoon characters vs real people that way you
can quite gapeing in horror and just enjoy the show.

Ta Ta All,
Susan

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 94 10:13:17 BST
From: ***@axion.bt.co.uk
Subject: RSG Worlds EF (AP)

>The biggest ovation of the day went to Maria Petrova (BUL) who has announced
>that this will be her final meet.

Marginally I would have thought the biggest ovation I saw over the
weekend went to Eva Serrano, also the crowd got a tad over excited when
the French Team did their bit as well, nothing like a partisan crowd is
there <g>.

>I can't believe that the UKR girls beat Zaripova in ball. It really makes me
>makes me wonder; esp. since by the scores you can tell she, Amina, didn't
>have a major error ... Adraina may not like her (and to each their own) but
>trust me in that Serebrianskaya is 5' 10" and under 90 pounds last I heard
>... talk about scary! They make Zaripova at about 5' 8" and 95 pounds look
>healthy (not that it is mind you). Zaripova is so over flexible and can put
>that ball in the most unearthly places that she's really neat. Her
>musicallity has improved (and the rest of the packs gone down IMHO) since she
>debuted as well. Just for the record Kostina is *my* all time fav too.

Well I didnt think Zaripova did that well not as well as she has done
before, no major errors that I can remember just the routine didnt feel
right. What causes that I dont know it just seemed out of place thats all
although that is IMO.

Talking about scary, scarier than Serebrianskaya was Yana Batyrchina,
Id put money on the fact she is less than 90pounds and flexible, well I
mean brings tears to your eyes some of the moves she was doing, I thought
most of them were physically impossible even by RSG standards
but there you go obviously not, certainly was a lively performance she gave.
I see her career after RSG as being a contortionist.

>A very wise person name Nancy Raymond <g> once said that when watching RSG
>it is better to view them as cartoon characters vs real people that way you
>can quite gapeing in horror and just enjoy the show.

Matchstick cartoon characters at that.


Clive

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 09 Oct 94 17:08:55 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: RSG Worlds EF (results)

>From Reuters ...

Ball
1(t). Ekaterina Serebrianskaya (Ukraine) 9.875
1(t). Elena Vitrichenko (Ukraine) 9.875
3. Maria Petrova (Bulgaria) 9.825
4. Amina Zaripova (Russia) 9.800
5. Olga Gontar (Belarus) 9.725
6. Eva Serrano (France) 9.650
7. Larissa Lukyanenko (Belarus) 9.200
8. Diana Popova (Bulgaria) 8.875

Ribbon
1. Serebrianskaya 9.900
2(t). Zaripova 9.850
2(t). Petrova 9.850
2(t). Vitrichenko 9.850
5. Lukyanenko 9.800
6(t). Yana Batyrchina (Russia) 9.700
6(t). Gontar 9.700
8. Serrano 9.225

Group EF (ropes)...
1. Russia 19.587
2. Bulgaria 19.537
3. Spain 19.400
4. France 19.200
5. Japan 19.150
6. Belarus 19.075
7. China 18.875
8. Greece 18.800

-Susan

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 17:46:19 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@asu.edu
Subject: Zaripova profile

"Amina Zaripova", by Celina Nony, reprinted from LE GYMNASTE, N.
167, September 1994.

-She will be barely 18 when she performs at the World Championships
in Paris-Bercy next month. But more than her age, it is her maturity and
undeniable confidence that has mode this such a successful season for
Russian RSG gymnast Amina Zaripova. Her victory at Corbeil and her AA
bronze medal from last years worlds and Europeans make her one of the
favorites for this years world title.-

...It is quite amusing to see them there, under the watchful eyes of
their coaches, but far from the pressures of competition and the
constraints of coaching. To see them like that, as one brings up her
boyfriend, the other savors her ice cream (well, the word is "glace"
which I know they mean to mean ice cream here, but it also means ice, and
considering they're rsg gymnasts, could very well be what they're
munching on! ;-)), all animated at this table which includes the likes of
Yana Batyrchina, Yulia Rosliakova, Israeli Tali Kedoshim and Belgian
Cindy Stollenberg, one might hardly notice Maria Petrova and even less
Amina Zaripova.
Although the oldest at the banquet, the blonde Amina won the gold
medal at the Corbeil-Essonces tournamnet, and nearly won the World
Championships. "That's competition. It doesn't mean that we must be
enemies outside of the gymnasium," all the girls declare. Amina
Zaripova doesn't hide her admiration for Petorva's work: "I love her
routines, her expression. Just like I admired the work of Marina Lobach
when she became Olympic Champion at Seoul in 1988, and alos Oksana
Kostina, whom I trained with in Moscow."
But she doesn't ever try to copy. "A routine must show off the
strengths of the gymnasts," she points out. "Me, I am very naturally
flexibly, and capable of excellent balance and amplitude in all the
senses. I'm not saying whether or not that is the way every girl must
be. Simply, it is normal that I take advantge of my strengths."
And this is the controversy surrounding the pretty Russian. All
of the fans and specialists admire her sporting performances, and are
inpressed with her contortionism. "She is the only one capable of three
or four B difficulties and the same leg," explains Anne-Valerie Barel,
coach at the Ervy training center (French RSG training center). "But,
she lacks rhythm changes and is nearly dull in her interpretations."
Translation: Amina lacks personality. Easy to say, but far from
the truth.
Born in Schilshik, Uzbekistan on July 10, 1976, Amina is a small
turbelent little girl. But at ten year sold, her teacher spotted her at
the local gymnastics club.
"I was sneaking out my window to go to the gym. My mother didn't
want me to be a rhythmic gymnast," recalls Amina, smiling at the
remembrance. "On the other hand, I think that she is proud of me and my
achievements today, but just doen't show it... and still hopes that I
will give up competition."
Quickly, Amina climbed the ranks of what was the USSR hierarchy.
Two and a half years ago, she left her parents, her brother, and her
sister to follow her Irina Viner, her coach since the age of twelve, to
the national training center at Moscow. Since then, she has only seen
her family twice. On these rare occasions, she eats (ice cream and
hamburgers) and lazes around a lot. "I sort of catch up on it!"
Back at Moscow, life is austere. Three training sessions minimum
add up to six hours a day in the gym, with only Irina Viner, the darling
Yana Batyrchina and yet another marvelous junior, as her companions.
"It is sometimes difficult, and Irina is very strict. But she
is also like my mother. Just like Yana is like my little sister."
They guard against distractions at the center. "The girls rarely
leave their rooms," recalls Anne-Valerie Barel, who completed two coaches
training sessions at Moscow. "But Amina is very open. She speaks
English very well and spent a lot of time with Chrystelle Sahuc and
Celine Degrange (French RSG gymnasts)."
And once she was thrown into a video game match with two French
boys on their Game-Boy! "I love new things. I like to stay in the
"non-touristy" places when I travel. Always on the fringes!"
Coquette, Amina reveals her pleasure in posing for photographs.
"I like my looks," she dares to brag, without pretention, but with eyes
shining all the same. "So, when I finish my career in gymnastics, I
would like to try being a Supermodel."
Pausing, she returns to earth and to her gymnastics career.
"Before, I could never stay focused during competition. Now, I sense
that I am capable of winning the whole thing. And I dream of opening
eyes and becoming the Olympic Champion at Atlanta."
---

translated & posted by Amanda

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End of gymn Digest
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