Sovetsky Sport. August 25, 1984. Residents of Olomouc, the seventh most populous city in Czechoslovakia, rightly talk about the well-developed industry of their region, the ancient cathedrals, and the best parks and rose gardens in the country. They are also proud of their excellent sports facilities, which allow tens of thousands of people to actively engage in physical education.
Yesterday, the main sporting events of this warm August day took place under the roof of the Winter Stadium, where the women's gymnastics team tournament was held. The optional program was underway.
There are only four events, but the dispute was for the championship in the team competition, and what could be more honorable? This honor was eventually achieved by the USSR national team, which conquered the world's largest gymnastic heights. Each of our six girls performed brightly, boldly, and beautifully.
For example, O. Mostepanova. This evening, the judges awarded her the highest score - 10 points - three times. This was how her success was noted in the vault, balance beam, and floor exercise. Only on the uneven bars, Olga, performing a Tkachev, touched the pole with her left foot. That's why the score 9.75 appeared on the scoreboard.
The rest of the girls' score were very high. E. Shushunova had a 10 (vault), as did N. Yurchenko (vault), and the score 9.95 was also very popular among us.
Let's give the floor to the senior coach of the USSR women's national team A. Radionenko. "Now there are two clear leaders in the team, Natalia Yurchenko and Olga Mostepanova. I deliberately put Natasha in first place, although she is still only fourth in the individual competition, behind O. Mostepanova, M. Gnauck from the GDR and H. Ricna from Czechoslovakia. Natasha accomplished a real sporting feat these days. After a serious injury received at the last world championship in Budapest, she did not compete for eight months but still managed to recover both physically and mentally. The student of the most experienced coach V. Rastorotsky performed well at this tournament. Natasha is a real captain."
Olga Mostepanova (coach V. Aksyonov) made me happy. She is a gymnast with bright, fresh lines, and she is strong-willed and focused. Her style embodies the best features of Soviet art. Olga perfectly combines both difficulty and beauty in her exercises.
The third athlete who will compete for the all-around championship, together with Mostepanova and Yurchenko, is Elena Shushunova (coach V. Gavrichenkov). The young Leningrader has one of the most difficult programs. She has her own, original style of performance. She is a person with character and, I'm sure, an athlete with a good future.
One of the most experienced participants is Natalia Ilienko (coaches Yu. and N. Tsapenko). This gymnast's strong point is the compulsory program, but Natasha also showed herself well in the optional program, although this is where she needs to work a lot.
Tatiana Frolova (coach V. Shishkin) is a gymnast with a beautiful appearance. While competing in the USSR Cup, she suffered an ankle injury but showed courage and was able to get into the national team.
I would like to say some kind words about our team's debutante Irina Baraksanova (coach V. Yakovleva). Here, in Olomouc, she had her first start as a member of the USSR national team. Champion of the Junior European Championships, she, having found herself in the main team, spent days of the [team] competition without without significant mistakes.
TECHNICAL RESULTS
Druzhba-84 international gymnastics tournament Olomouc.
Team results. 1. URS - 395.25; 2. GDR - 392.5; 3. TCH - 391.95.
Individual competition. 1. O. Mostepanova (URS) - 79.65 (10, 9.75, 10, 10); 2. M. Gnauck (GDR) - 79.45 (10, 10, 9.85, 9.95); 3. N. Ricna (TCH) - 79.35 (9.95, 9.9, 10, 9.95); 4. N. Yurchenko (URS) - 78.9 (10, 9.95, 9.45, 9.8); 5. E. Shushunova (URS) - 78.85 (10, 9.9, 9.85, 9.95); 6. A. Drevjana (TCH) - 78.8; 7. N. Ilienko (URS) - 78.7 ... 9. T. Frolova (URS) - 78.35 ... 13. I. Baraksanova (URS) - 78.1.