Sovetsky Sport. April 5, 1972. The stands of the Kiev Sports Palace were full all four days of the USSR gymnastics championships. Needless to say, thousands of Kiev citizens came here not out of idle curiosity but as deep connoisseurs of this wonderful sport! But perhaps it was a small group of foreign observers who had specially arrived in the capital of Ukraine for the purpose of following the events on the platform. These were coaches from the GDR, Poland, and Romania. One of the guests, head of the GDR delegation, coach Manfred Schultz from Leipzig, shares his impressions of the championships with the readers of Sovetsky Sport.
"I don't think it's difficult to guess the purpose of our arrival in Kiev," said M. Schultz. "For many years in a row the coaches of my country have considered it a pleasant duty to attend the USSR gymnastics championships. Mutual and a very useful exchange of experience between the athletes and coaches of the Soviet Union and the GDR has become a tradition, one of the many manifestations of the close friendship that binds our countries. Our interest in everything that happens in Soviet gymnastics, from the experience of which we never tire of learning and to which the GDR gymnasts owe many of their achievements, is all understandable in the Olympic year."
"A few words about my general impressions of this championship. Despite the fact that there was a clear lack of stability (especially on the pommel horse) in the performance of most of the candidates for the USSR men's Olympic team, I liked their performances. Preparing for the Olympics is a very difficult task, requiring the finest calcuations. Haste is just as dangerous here as delay. I believe that there is enough time before the Olympics to eliminate all technical gaps and come to Munich fully armed."
"If we talk about individual athletes, then I would like to single out Andrianov, Shchukin, and Mikaelyan - young athletes who until recently were in the reserve, but now they are real contenders for a place in the national team. I especially liked Andrianov and his ability to mobilize. I remember his confident and powerful performance in the optional program. This trio would be able to do a lot for their team at the Olympics."
"Voronin does not need compliments. He is a renowned master and a proven fighter. It is his high fighting spirit and ability to remain composed that impresses me the most. Such a gymnast-leader is needed for any team to claim success in a difficult struggle. The role that Voronin plays in the men's Soviet team is assigned to Erika Zuchold among the GDR gymnasts - experienced, prudent, remaining calm in the most dramatic situations. I am very happy that Klimenko has recovered from a serious injury and, although his performance was still affected by a break in training, I think that he, Voronin, and Andrianov will form the main fighting core of the Soviet team at the Olympics. Of course, the struggle will be difficult. Especially with strong Japanese."
"About the women, I was at the recent GDR-USSR match in Halle. Since that time, the Soviet gymnasts have improved significantly. Especially Karaseva. I liked them very much - Turischeva, Lazakovich, Korbut, Burda, Koshel, Saadi. Who wouldn't?"
"The duel between Turischeva and our Janz promises to be interesting but, of course, other strong gymnasts of our countries will also try to intervene in the battle for the all-around championship. Everything promises to make the women's gymnastics competition at the Olympics a truly breathtaking spectacle."