gymn Digest Sun, 12 Jun 94 Volume 2 : Issue 135
Today's Topics:
another Russian gym art. (rhythmic)
Anyone going to US/Rom on 6-11?
Attending Meets In The US
Everyone Please Read (2 msgs)
Fwd: Re: More Karolyi/Zmeskal Details From The AP report...
karolyi training camp
More Karolyi/Zmeskal Details From The AP report...
More Men's Europeans (2 msgs)
Nadia in the News...
obituary
Old gym mags
pharmacology & CBC TV coverage
Russian gym article (2 msgs)
Scherbo to have surgery
Something We Already Knew But Now It's In Print...
speaking of old IG magazines.... (2 msgs)
Update on Michelle Campi
USA-Rom: Tickets?
USA-Rom Roster - US (2 msgs)
USA v ROM -- Men
USA vs ROM & US Rhythmic EF will overlap on TV
USA vs ROM -- the real story on the Men's meet
USA vs ROM TV Schedule (2 msgs)
where to put pictures?
This is a digest of the gymn@athena.mit.edu mailing list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 94 18:36:36 EDT
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: another Russian gym art. (rhythmic)
Here is another gym article I came across at work. It's
about rhythmic gymnastics, which I don't follow at all, so if
this gymnast is not really "newsworthy," sorry! Also, forgive me
if I make terminology mistakes, since I know very little about
rhythmic. Happy reading!
Beth
P.S. In the article, there is a Russian word "gimnaziada." I
can't find it in any dictionary, but from context it has to be
some sort of gym competition. So I just decided to Anglicize the
spelling and call it Gymnasiada.
I have another article about Amina Zaripova and the women's
Europeans. I'll try to translate it and post it later.
Rhythmic Gymnastics: GYMNASIADA: DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR THE RUSSIAN
GIRLS. (By Vladimir Naipak, Sevodnya [Today], May 27, p. 8.)
Russia's team of junior rhythmic gymnasts, composed of Moscow
schoolgirls, has returned from Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.
Irina Shiryayeva, Anna Sokolova and Anna Shishova won the team
competition at the 10th World Gymnasiada in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Moreover, 14-year-old I. Shiryayeva was awarded the title of
absolute champion of the Gymnasiada. A brilliant success for the
pupil at the Moscow City Physical Culture and Sports Association!
The Olympic Games, the University Games, and now the
Gymnasiada, which was organized by the International Scholastic
Sports Federation. In the past our juniors didn't participate in
competitions of this sort. But the general consensus is that they
have proven to be both extraordinarily entertaining and useful.
Forty-four gymnasts from 15 countries battled it out in the
individual competition.
Shiryayeva made it through the AA with the most stability.
With 36.5 points, Irina won the highest title for the first time
in her life. The silver went to A. Sokolova with 36.1, and the
bronze medal went to the Spaniard A. Tostado.
Eight years ago, when her parents brought 6-year-old Irochka
to the sports school of the Moscow City Pioneer Palace, she was a
total novice.
Although she was very capable, it took years for her to
master the gymnastics ABCs. It was only this past February that
she had her first major success, at the Russian championships in
Astrakhan. Irina was second AA and won the exercises with the
clubs.
Then came the Russian Regional Championships in Moscow. Here
Shiryayeva got the silver, finishing only .35 behind Amina
Zaripova, bronze medalist in the AA at the World Championships
and the leader of the national team. So it was natural that she
won the gold medal at the Gymnasiada.
"Irina personifies the rhythmic gymnast" - that is how Nina
Shibayeva, chairwoman of the Russian Federation, described
Viktoria Yarmushevskaya's pupil to her.
I can second that. In the 40 years I have spent in rhythmic
gymnastics, I have seen quite a few masters whose performances
I've wanted to watch again and again. Irina Shiryayeva is one of
them.
The "coach of champions," Irina Vinner, who trained many
famous gymnasts, recently showed an interest in Shiryayeva. The
union of the two Irinas and Viktoria cannot fail to bring new
successes.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 1994 12:46 EDT
From: ***@sph.harvard.edu
Subject: Anyone going to US/Rom on 6-11?
Boston area Gymn'ers -
If you're going to the US/Romania women's meet in Worcester on Saturday,
June 11 and have room in your car for two very nice and very enthusiastic
fans, please e-mail me privately.
We'll be happy to contribute to gas/tolls/parking, and we'd be eternally
grateful. Plus it would be fun to meet some of you in person!
Again, private e-mail please - don't want to clutter up the list, and I'm
on Digest anyway.
Thanks!
Elizabeth
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 22:48:43 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Attending Meets In The US
Since someone asked about US/ROM tickets I will offer a hint for those of you
who may not know. When attending meets in the US it is almost always better
to buy tickets at the door rather than in advance. The reason I suggest this
is that often the seats you buy even at the earliest possible moment will not
mesure up to the seats available at the door...trust me I know how
frustrating this is! Seats are often held for different reasons...local clubs
sell them, TV gets a certain number, etc....anyway the night of the meet many
tickets are returned and those are then sold at the door giving last minute
drop-ins precedence over long time ticket holders (this was even true at the
Indy worlds!!). Unfair but true. Another reason for better seats is that
arenas are often not aware of the exact floor dimensions required by a gym
meet or exhib. since they will not often have one in their stadium and
sometimes extra seats (often on the floor... though this is more common in
exhibs than meets) are added at the last minute. I have never been to a gym
meet in the US (I'm talking USAG sponsered events not NCAA meets) that even
came close to selling out so no need to fear about being unable to get in. I
hope this saves someone out there a lot of the grief that I exprieneced when
first attending US meets.
Good Luck and Have Fun,
Susan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 94 18:51:22 EDT
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Everyone Please Read
>Any and all opinions regarding this particular post are invited.
I want to know if you agree with me (and the other members who
have complained) or if you think people are being too sensitive.
I need to know what you all think, because after all, you *are*
Gymn.
Rachele
Forum Manager
P.S. I know P.S's are supposed to come at the end of a message, but I wanted to
tell everyone that this is my second attempt to send this. I know it may have
gotten through already, but I have a feeling I sent it wrong - to gym@mit.edu
instead of to gymn@mit.edu (I'm always forgetting that "n"!) But if I'm
remembering wrong and it DID get through last night, sorry for cluttering up
everyone's mailbox with a message they already got!
Beth
Dear Rachele and all Gymners,
I just wanted to say I agree with what Rachele said 100%.
I'm assuming (though maybe wrongly) that a lot of the flack has
been because of the criticism of Dominique Dawes on gymn. I have
been troubled by it, especially when I wonder if she or her coach
has read any of it. Dominique strikes me as a very sensitive
person, and the one time I met her she was extremely nice, and I
hate to think how she would feel if she read some of what's been
on gymn lately. So I'd like to say some things in her defense.
First of all, I LIKE Dominique, but have been basically afraid to
"admit" it because the people who don't like her have voiced
their opinions in such a strong fashion that it's been
intimidating to me. Now I can see as well as anyone else that she
has form breaks, but it's very hard to find a gymnast who DOESN'T
have form breaks on at least one event or two. And it certainly
isn't Dominique's fault that the judges aren't deducting for
them. It's the JUDGES' fault. I really don't think it's fair to
criticize Dominique for the scores she gets, when she has no say
about it. Take it up with the judges. I also tend to agree that
it would be nice if she put her reverse hecht back into her bar
routine, but I was told by someone who knows the Code a whole lot
better than I do that one of her bar-to-bar transitions counts as
a release under the new Code. Since I'm no expert on a lot of the
technical aspects of gym, I don't know for sure whether this is
true or not, but in any case, once again it's the judges who are
responsible for the scores Dominique gets, not Dominique. So I
don't think she should be personally attacked. After all, she is
by no means the only gymnast in the world who has breaks and is
not deducted for them. Mistakes by many of the Romanians and the
ex-Sovs are overlooked too, but it seems like Dominique has been
singled out lately for criticism. I just don't think this is
right. Despite her breaks, I enjoy watching Dominique's routines
and I admire her for how much she has improved over the years.
She also seems to have a very good, sportsmanlike attitude, and I
admire that too. I respect her a lot as a person and an athlete,
especially after having learned that her family is breaking up.
That is a hard thing for any teenager to go through, yet she has
maintained her status as one of the US's top gymnasts despite the
inner pain she must be going through. But I think most of all I
admire her decision to turn down all the prize money she's won so
she can go on to college, get a good education and go on
competing in the NCAA program. She really seems to have her
priorities straight as far as the importance of an education
goes. And I hope that, like Kelly Garrison, she will compete both
NCAA and internationally. I respect other people's right not to
like her style of gymnastics or not to like her for whatever
other reason, but I agree with Rachele that those views should be
expressed tactfully and in a sportsmanlike way if they're going
to be posted on gymn. There are definitely gymnasts that I don't
care for either, but when I want to express those kinds of
opinions, I try to do it by private e-mail instead of on gymn. I
think a lot of us know each other, either by having met in person
or just by writing to each other by e-mail, so my suggestion
would be that if you really want to get something off your chest
or rant and rave about some gymnast, coach, etc., in a way that
would be considered "flaming," do it on private e-mail instead of
on Gymn, a public forum. Then fewer people's feelings would be
hurt and Gymn's reputation won't suffer needlessly.
Beth
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 94 13:18:45 BST
From: ***@ic.ac.uk
Subject: Everyone Please Read
Hi all,
I thought I'll try to clear this subject up once and for all (sorry
Rachele I know this has probably nothing to do with gym but I've
been writing out this message or similar for a few people so I thought
I'll make it public...). First I have to apologise again for the
Worlds94 article that Michelle wrote concerning the Dawes incident.
I have to say that that was actually a letter from her to me alone.
It was not intended to be public.
After reading the commments I thought they were rather good (generally)
and asked her if I can post it onto 'Gymn'. She said it's OK and so
I did. I have tried to cut out the unecessary bits and pieces (in fact
I have cut out a lot already) but I left the Dawes bit alone because
I thought if I'd have cut that off it would be discontinuous (since
that was one of the major moments in the meet). I didn't edit it either
since that would mean it was not 'Michelle's comments' as I said at
the beginning of the article. I guess since I know Michelle well, so
we were very blunt with each other in our letters when discussing
gymnastics. I didn't know it would have caused much trouble so I'm
sorry if I let 'Gymn' down. I just thought you guys might like to
hear of the true feelings of one who had been there. I'm sure if she had
Gymn in mind when she wrote the article, it would've been much more
pleasant to read for the general public. When I was writing my messages
to 'Gymn', I did try to be impartial e.g. my Europeans comments, I did
show preferences yes but not expressed whom I don't like,etc. (I don't
think...?)
So sorry again to you guys out there (ESPECIALLY Dominique herself if
she does read this.), I hope I haven't made many enemies by that and
I wish you will all forgive my thoughtlessness.
Yours apologetically,
Sherwin
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 94 23:23:28 PDT
From: ***@eworld.com
Subject: Fwd: Re: More Karolyi/Zmeskal Details From The AP report...
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Re: More Karolyi/Zmeskal Details From The AP report...
Date: 94-06-11 23:22:13 PDT
>'My very quiet and happy life has been interrupted by this little thing next
>to me,'' Karolyi said. ''I had a hard time convincing myself to come back.
>But I said to myself, 'Bela, you've never had anyone so dedicated and close
>to your heart. You must come back!'''...
Am I the only one who reads these words and feels a little abdominal
discomfort? Nobody else thinks this quote sounds maybe a eensy-weensy little
bit self-important? Perhaps a very little teeny tad egotistical?
>''We are here to add a little spice to gymnastics,''
Oh, you mean it was BLAND without you, Bela?
How does anyone on GYMN or elsewhere take this without screaming? The fans,
press, and coaches of ANY OTHER SELF RESPECTING ATHLETIC ENDEAVOR would be
calling for the head of any person who spoke with such arrogance! Wake up
people! For all he has done we should all realize he is JUST ANOTHER COACH
(albiet one whose athletes have compiled an excellent record), and not the
father of modern gymnastics. If Pat Riley spoke this way in basketball, or if
Tom Lasorda spoke this way in baseball, they would be lambasted by those in
the press that cover those sports, and rightfully so.
But, whatever. It's YOUR sport. I simply feel that the second a coach or an
athlete or an administrator becomes more important than the sport itself,
that sport sits on the edge of a dangerous precipice.
Anyway, I wish Kim all the luck in the world. She, at least, knows that
performance talks, and P.R. walks.
David
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 94 22:12:35 EDT
From: ***@aluxpo.att.com
Subject: karolyi training camp
At the Karolyi training camp last week there was a small group
working out together...Kim Zmeskel, Wendy Bruce, and Kerri Strug.
I was told that Kerri looked GREAT! As far as I know, she was not
staying on, but going back to Tuscon. I also have no idea why Wendy
Bruce was there.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 94 13:48:51 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: More Karolyi/Zmeskal Details From The AP report...
WORCESTER, Mass. -- World-renowned gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi said Friday
he has been lured out of retirement to coach former pupil Kim Zmeskal in her
comeback...
''My very quiet and happy life has been interrupted by this little thing next
to me,'' Karolyi said. ''I had a hard time convincing myself to come back.
But I said to myself, 'Bela, you've never had anyone so dedicated and close
to your heart. You must come back!'''...
nnounced the comeback at the 1994 Budget Rent A Car Gymnastics Invitational
at the Worcester Centrum, are eyeing the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a chance
to erase bad memories from the 1992 Games...
(About Kim's Olympics)...She continued to struggle throughout the week, and
by the end of the Games, the then-16-year-old was a crying, heartbroken
spectator.
(Kims' Quotes) ''I think I've grown up a lot since then,'' Zmeskal said. ''I
think about things a lot more now. Before, (gymnastics) was just for fun. The
break made me realize how special gymnastics is to me.''...''I think I've
grown up a lot since then,'' Zmeskal said. ''I think about things a lot more
now. Before, (gymnastics) was just for fun. The break made me realize how
special gymnastics is to me.''
(Karolyi's quotes) ''We are here to add a little spice to gymnastics,''
Karolyi said. ''Kim made up her mind to challenge herself and all the other
athletes involved in preparation for '96.''
Kim is supposed to do an exhib after the USA/ROM dual meet the article
says...
Susan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 94 22:09:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: More Men's Europeans
More about the men's Europeans, from the German sports magazine _Kicker_:
Sr. AA
1. Ivan Ivankov (BLR) 57.549
2. Igor Korobchinsky (UKR) 56.799
3. Yevgeny Shabaev (RUS) 56.749
4. Alexei Nemov (RUS) 56.624
5. Valery Belenky (GER) 56.412
6. Yuri Chechi (ITA) 56.150
The GER men's team was composed of Valery Belenky, Andreas Wecker, Ralf
Buchner, Marius Toba and Maik Krahberg. I don't know which was the
alternate.
Jr. EF (partial results only)
FX: 1. Ioannis Melissanidis (GRE) 9.325; 3. Sergei Pfeifer (GER) 9.275
PH: 1. Eric Casimir (FRA) 9.475
R: 1. Matteo Ferreti (ITA) 9.375; 2. Pfeifer (GER) 9.275
V: 1. Florentin Pescaru (ROM) 9.531
PB: 1. Ivan Pavlovsky (BLR) 9.275; 3. Pfeifer (GER) 9.125
HB: 1. Cioana (ROM?) 9.512; 3. Rene Chernitshek (GER) 9.250
I *think* that Pfeifer won the AA title (for the 2nd time). He's 17, and
was born in Dushanbe, Tajikstan.
Debbie
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 94 20:15:46 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: More Men's Europeans
>The GER men's team was composed of Valery Belenky, Andreas Wecker, Ralf
Buchner, Marius Toba and Maik Krahberg. I don't know which was the
alternate.
Does this mean we can try to get Ivankov and Voropaev to compete for the US
in Atlanta? <g>
Seriously, was is the current waiting period and requirement before "changing
teams." I think we discussed this before, but it was never really resolved.
Mara
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 94 06:40:23 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Nadia in the News...
Outakes from a news article on tourism in Boston...
'PARTNER APPRECIATION NIGHT' CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP
BETWEENBOSTON BUSINESS AND LOCAL TOURISM WHAT: Global car and truck
rental company Budget Rent a Car's Eastern regional operation based in Boston
hosts a dinner and forum to celebrate the continued success of Boston's
growing tourism industry, including two Budget-sponsored events -- U.S.A.
Gymnastic Invitational (June 10-11) and the local World Cup Soccer Games
(June 21 - July 9).
WHO:
-- Two-time Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci will sign autographs from
6:30-7:30 p.m. during the event cocktail hour.
Susan
So Rachelle did I do it right? No copyright infringements?
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 94 17:11:56 EDT
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: obituary
I don't follow rhythmic gymnastics, but a coworker
showed me this obituary in a Russian paper. I thought some of
you on Gymn might like to see it.
Beth
(Note: "Sinichka" means "titmouse," a kind of bird, in Russian
and Ukrainian.)
Catastrophe: 'SINICHKA' HAS FLOWN AWAY FOREVER.
(By Vladimir Naipak, Sevodnya [Today], June 1, 1994.) Natalia
Ovchinnikova, two-time USSR AA champion in rhythmic
gymnastics and an instructor at the Ukrainian State University of
Physical Education and Sports, telephoned me from Kiev late in
the evening: "We've had a misfortune. Natasha Sinitsina was
killed in a car crash."
How unfair fate sometimes is. The beautiful, beloved
pupil "Sinichka" has flown away from us. In early May she
celebrated her 20th birthday. A week ago Natasha brilliantly won
the Ukrainian Student Championships in Berdyansk. On Saturday
she was supposed to have taken her last test in track and field to
complete her sophomore year at the university, but the tragedy
occurred the evening before.
A year and three months ago, also in a car crash, we lost
World AA Champion Oksana Kostina of Irkutsk. Now Natalia
Sinitsina has died - an international-class Master of Sport, many-
time champion of the USSR and a medalist at the European
Championships.
When Natasha had only just appeared on the gymnastics
floor, the famous Albina Deryugina told me, "Look, a star is
rising!" She was not mistaken. Natasha was a gymnast whose
captivating performances could be watched again and again. I
can confirm this, for I myself presented her with prizes as a two-
time winner at the international tournament the Aleksandra
Semyonova-Naipak Cup in Kharkov. Now the fairy tale is over.
Dear fellows, don't speed in your Zhigulis, Volgas,
BMWs and Mercedes. Take care of your fiancees. They are so
fragile. Oksana didn't live to see her wedding day. Natasha also
didn't have time to put on the wedding dress that had been
tailored for her.
"On Monday she said goodbye to us with it on," her
mother Lyudmila Nikiforovna told me by telephone. All of
Pavlograd saw "Sinichka" off.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 11:04:20 +119304128 (EDT)
From: ***@polar.Bowdoin.EDU
Subject: Old gym mags
Hello gymn,
I have a bunch of old IGs from the end of 1983 to about 1992 and
some USA Gymnastics magazines from somewhere in that time period also.
Some of them are a bit cut up but if anyone wants them, I will mail them
to you. The only thing I ask is that you reimburse me for the postage
because they are kind of heavy. I am currently not on gymn so I would ask
you to e-mail me directly if you want them and send your mailing address.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 14:51:54 UTC-0700
From: ***@cs.ubc.ca
Subject: pharmacology & CBC TV coverage
Pharmacology
------------
Last week Texx inquired about the contents of Midol. Each original Midol
caplet contains: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) 486 mg, caffeine 32.4 mg and
cinnamedrine 5.5 mg. The extra strength stuff has slightly different
ingredients (possibly no caffeine) but I can't remember for sure.
CBC TV Coverage
---------------
Did anyone catch the coverage of the Canadian championships on CBC on
Saturday? My TV guide lacked to mention it in the sports summary and I forgot
that it was on that day, so I missed it. (On Sunday I found the scrap of
paper that I had written the broadcast date on when they mentioned it during
the world's coverage in May.)
I know that this information is totally out of date, but for those
interested in what CBC covered for the worlds, I kept track of what was
shown. I won't put any comments about the routines themselves since a) I
didn't write any down and can't remember any and b) the routines themselves
have already been discussed on gymn.
Elfi Schlegel (a former Canadian gymnast) and Scott Russell were the
commentators. At the start of the coverage, they showed some highlights of
the Canadian competitors. No Canadians made it to the finals so these were
all preliminary round routines. They showed Stacey Galloway's unevens, Jaime
Hill's floor, Marilou Cousineau's beam and floor. There was no mention of
Stella Umeh. Does anyone know what has happened to her? On the men's side,
they showed Kris Burley's parallel bars, Peter Schmidt on the high bar, Alan
Nolet on the high bar and on floor and Richard Ikeda on high bar.
They then had a piece on animals in Australia (kangaroos and koala bears
mainly). Then they showed the following men's floor routines: Grigory
Misutin (UKR), Ioannis Melissandis (GRE), Neil Thomas (GBR) and Vitaly
Scherbo (BLR). Then they had a blurb about famous Australian athletes and
entertainers. The only women's vault that they showed was Gina Gogean's
(ROM). The only men's pommel horse routine that they showed was by Marius
Urzica (ROM). They showed the following women's uneven bar routines:
Lavinia Milosovici (ROM), Dina Kochetkova (RUS), Luo Li (CHN), Dominique
Dawes (USA), and Svetlana Chorkina (RUS). Then on men's rings they showed
Yuri Chechi (ITA) (they spelled his first name Jury), Dan Burinca (ROM),
Andreas Wecker (GER), Paul O'Neill (USA) and Valeri Belenki (GER).
Next they showed a piece on the Australian Sports Institute. Then they
showed Vitaly Scherbo's vault, but no one else's. On the beam they showed
Shannon Miller (USA), Lilia Podkopayeva (UKR), Oskana Fabrichnova (RUS) (they
spelled her first name Oxana), Lavinia Milosovici (ROM) and Dominique Dawes
(USA).
Then they had an interview with the president of FIG. They showed Rustam
Sharipov (UKR) and Huang Liping (CHN) on men's parallel bars. Moving on to
women's floor exercise, they showed Gina Gogean (ROM), Lavinia Milosovici
(ROM), Dominique Dawes (USA), Shannon Miller (USA), Mo Huilan (CHN) and Dina
Kochetkova (RUS). Finally, on men's high bar, they showed Chainey Umphrey
(USA), Ivan Ivankov (BLR), Vitaly Scherbo (BLR) and Zoltan Supola (HUN).
So, a mixed bag of coverage. Some events they showed a lot of (relatively
speaking) and other events they had very little coverage of and of course
the required human interest filler stories were present as well. I didn't
actually time how many minutes of gymnastics were shown and I forget how
long the coverage was in total.
Karen
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 94 17:11:28 EDT
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Russian gym article
My boss just handed me an article on the status of Russian gymnastics dated May
27. I've only skimmed it, but it seems fairly interesting. For some reason,
it's accompanied by a photo of Groshkova - I don't think Russian newspaper
editors realize who Russia's gymnasts are and whether they're still competing
or not! (In '86 they ran a photo of Omelianchik, who was World AA champ at the
time, and said it was Olga Strazheva making her debut at the Goodwill Games!)
Anyway, this recent article tells where some of the ex-Sovs are and has a short
quote by Dina Kochetkova. I'll try to whip off a translation and post it. If I
don't have time to do the whole article, I'll just hit the highlights.
Unfortunately I don't have time right now (I'm at work and should be, well,
working...) But I'll try to get to it later in the week.
Beth
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 94 17:48:30 EDT
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Russian gym article
Hi Gymners! Here's the Russian gymnastics article. I translated
it REALLY fast, so please excuse any spelling errors, strange-
sounding English, etc. There were a couple of Russian phrases I
was a little unsure of, so I had to make my best guess.
Hopefully I wasn't too far off! (But it makes the title of the article
appropriate!)
Beth
Guesswork on the Gymnastics Podium
(By Natalya Slavina, Sevodnya [Today], May 26, p. 8)
Although Russian gymnasts won only silver medals at the
recent Women's European Championships in Stockholm, second
place, in experts' opinions, is a "prized achievement." After all,
for well-known reasons, the Russian team is being created
practically from scratch.
Fortunately, thanks to Leonid Arkaev, head coach of the
national team, Russia has preserved the traditions of the Soviet
gymnastics school. Evidence of this was the World
Championships in Brisbane, Australia in April, where Muscovite
Dina Kochetkova was the bronze medalist in the AA. Let's try
to do some guesswork on the topic of what awaits Russian
gymnasts in the near future.
By analyzing the Russian Championships in Voronezh,
the "Stars of the World" tournament in St. Petersburg and the
competitions in Brisbane, one can draw the conclusion that the
"stronger sex" is holding on more confidently under the current
difficult conditions than the girls are. This can be attributed to
the fact that men's competitions, especially the tournament in
Brisbane, looked more like a championships of the former Soviet
Union. The rivals clearly weren't a mystery to one another -
after so many years of "joint life," the schools of our CIS
colleagues are thoroughly known to one another. Aleksei
Voropayev, an Olympic champion in Barcelona, performed well
in Australia, winning the silver medal. But the main discovery of
the season was, perhaps, Muscovite Yevgeny Shabayev. In
Brisbane he was only fifth, but in the opinion of experts he has
every chance of becoming the favorite on the world podium in
the very near future.
But the Russian girls have to compete against real
foreigners: the Americans, the Romanians. We recently learned
from a report by Germany's DPA agency that German
gymnastics also intends to get back the vanguard positions it
lost. At least, national team coach Hannelore Zauer said, "I am
sure that in time, the female gymnasts in Germany will once
again show the same level as Olympic champions Karin Janz
and Maxi Gnauck."
The biggest problem for Russian sports in general, and
for gymnastics in particular, is a "brain drain." Olympic
champions Valery Lyukin and Dmitry Bilozerchev are in the US,
Aleksandr Tkachev, Lidia Gorbik, Valentin Mogilny and Olga
Bicherova are in France, and Masha [Maria] Filatova is in
Ireland. Nikolai Andrianov, six-time Olympic champion in
Montreal, intends to go to Japan. The people have left who could
have passed on the best traditions of the country's gymnastics to
the youngsters. The reason they left is clear: Their knowledge
was not being called upon, and they wanted to receive pay that
was worthy of their work. In general, the Russian gymnastics
team isn't going through the best times right now.
"Are you afraid to go out on the podium all by yourself,
so to speak?" a Sevodnya correspondent asked Dina Kochetkova
in Voronezh. "After all, all our stars were born and performed in
the glorious aura of their more experienced teammates. For
example, Boginskaya went onto the podium having Lena
Shushunova behind her. The unforgettable 'Goddess' herself
supported Tatyana Gutsu. How do you feel, not having a strong
'covering force'?"
"Of course, you feel calmer when there's an experienced
leader on the team. But if the situation develops in such a way
that there's nothing you can do about it, you have to 'play and
try to win.'"
Before the next competitions of the season, the most
important of which will be the Goodwill Games (they will be
held in St. Petersburg in June) and the team championships in
Dortmund (Nov. 15-20), one can state that our young gymnasts,
who are working on the podium "without a safety net," are faced
with a difficult task ~ to restore the glory of the country's
gymnastics. Judging from how carefully foreign experts are
keeping track of our newcomers, they have realistic chances of
doing so.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 94 02:13:53 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Scherbo to have surgery
I think George mentioned that Scherbo was going to have surgery for his
shoulder. Here's some more detail from Reuters:
"Vitaly Scherbo, who won six gold medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is
to have a shoulder operation which could sideline him until the world
championships in November, the Sport Express newspaper said on Wednesday.
Scherbo from Belarus is suffering from shoulder joint problems which can
be cured only by arthroscopic surgery, the newspaper quoted medical experts
in Moscow as saying.
It said the gymnast was likely to have the operation at the end of June
and might not recover fully until the world championships in Dortmund,
Germany."
Rachele
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 94 13:41:42 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Something We Already Knew But Now It's In Print...
>From the AP newswire (I was looking for US vs ROM material...fat chance eh?)
Gymnastics: World-renowned coach Bela Karolyi said he has been lured out of
retirement to coach former pupil Kim Zmeskal in her comeback.
Susan
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 94 11:31:47 -0400
From: ***@riscee.bxb.dec.com
Subject: speaking of old IG magazines....
Would anyone here happen to have an old IG that has the '79 Men's NCAA
competition? I think it's '79; anyways, it's the competition that was held
at LSU.
There's a picture of all the gymnasts lined up at the beginning of the
competition and I'm in the somewhere (the only competitor behind the
Massachusetts sign). I used to have the issue, but I think I heaved all of my
IGs when I left college. I'd like a copy of it though.
If anyone has this, or knows where I can get one, I'd appreciate it. Obviously
I'd pay you for it plus shipping.
Thanks,
Steve
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 09 Jun 94 17:36:56 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: speaking of old IG magazines....
>If anyone has this, or knows where I can get one, I'd appreciate it.
Obviously I'd pay you for it plus shipping.
Well now, geez, it just so happens that I work for the International
Gymnastics Hall of Fame and we're selling all our old "IG's" (among other
things)...If you send $3 to IGHOF 227 Brooks St. Oceanside, CA 92054 I'll
send you a catalog...the $3 is applied to anything you may order.
I'll post this to the main list since others may care (or not)...IGHOF *IS*
non-profit so it's not exactly for personal gain right? Anyway, hope this
blatent "ad" doesn't offend anyone.
Also this still doesn't mean that any of the annoying/stupid things I say
represent Glenn or the IGHOF in an yway shape or form.
Thanks A Lot,
Susan
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 19:31:01 PDT
From: ***@eworld.com
Subject: Update on Michelle Campi
Much has been said on this forum deriding gymnasts who attempt to "come back"
after an absence from the sport. My own comments have been
none-too-complimentary about those past their prime.
But I think that everyone will agree that coming back from an injury is a
different case altogether.
To see Michelle writing those infamous words (ILL BE BACK) speaks to the
highest principles of gymnastics and athletics.
If anyone on this net is in touch with Michelle, please let her know that we
at Li-Ning's have kept our girls updated on Michelle's condition, and her
words are an inspiration to us all. We wish her the best of luck and health.
David
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 21:25:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@AMBER.DFCI.HARVARD.EDU
Subject: USA-Rom: Tickets?
Hi there,
Are there still tickets available for the USA-Romania meet?
Where is the meet being held - at the Centrum? And where do you
get tickets and how much were they? Thanks!
-Tricia
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 18:24:06 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: USA-Rom Roster - US
Rosters for the US team for USA-Romania
Women
Shannon Miller
Larissa Fontaine
Sarah Cain
Marianna Webster
Amy Chow
Doni Thompson
one other I don't remember (I left the list on my desk at work, this is from
memory)
Dom Moceanu had to withdraw due to injury
Men
Mihai Bagiu (you can cheer now, Susan)
Robby Kieffer
The OSU Contingent (Drew Durbin, Blaine Wilson, Kip Simons)
again one other who I don't remember
Mara
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 94 20:21:18 EDT
From: ***@MIT.EDU
Subject: USA-Rom Roster - US
>Rosters for the US team for USA-Romania
>Women
>Shannon Miller
>Larissa Fontaine
>Sarah Cain
>Marianna Webster
>Amy Chow
>Doni Thompson
>one other I don't remember (I left the list on my desk at work, this is from
>memory)
After the first 2, I really don't know much about these girls. What are
their strengths? Special moves? (I'm going to be going to and reporting
on this meet, so I thought I'd try to get an advance idea of what to expect.)
Is Doni Thompson one of the younger girls?
>Dom Moceanu had to withdraw due to injury
aw darn, I really wanted to see more of her!
--Robyn
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 94 19:12:50 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: USA v ROM -- Men
This is just a quick note to deliver results:
Team
1. Romania
2. USA
All-Around
1. Marius Urzica
2. Mihai Bagiu
3. Blaine Wilson
I will send in a (much) more complete report tomorrow or the next day (Sunday
or Monday).
Rachele
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 8 Jun 94 13:42:57 EDT
From: ***@BBN.COM
Subject: USA vs ROM & US Rhythmic EF will overlap on TV
According to the schedule reported in May when CBS broadcast
the US Rhythmic All Around, CBS will cover the event finals
on Sunday, June 19, at 4:00 p.m.
This overlaps the US vs ROM coverage (2:30 - 4:30 p.m.)
by half and hour. Crank up the VCRs!
>>Kathy
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 94 22:53:05 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: USA vs ROM -- the real story on the Men's meet
(found an hour to whip this up tonight, so here goes)
USA v ROM
Budget Rent-A-Car Dual
The Spectrum/ Worcester, MA
June 10-11, 1994
Well, friends, the summer seems to be a maze of meets this year, and
the USA vs. ROM dual was yet another date in the US calendar. This
seemed to be a really low key meet, however. The Americans did not put
forth their best men, and many of the men from both teams there seemed
unprepared for an international competition. Unfortunately, the meet
was more than merely "lackluster" -- it was disastrous for many
gymnasts. I was quite disappointed, as I hadn't seen many of these
athletes before and so was looking forward to seeing the routines and
moves that I had only heard other people talking about. The general
talk on the floor, though, was that the American guys are looking at
USAs in August, and were not really training hard enough to make an
impact at this meet. A somewhat interesting statistic: the average
score of the men's meet, with all scores from both teams, was only a
9.10.
First off, here are the results:
Team: 1. ROM 277.20 (best = 47.4 on rings)
2. USA 276.10 (best = 46.65 on high bar)
All-Around
1. Marius Urzica ROM 55.40 (9.3, 9.8, 8.85, 9.15, 9.35, 8.95)
2. Mihai Bagiu USA 55.35 (9.2, 9.6, 8.95, 9.00, 9.10, 9.50)
3. Blaine Wilson USA 55.00 (9.2, 8.9, 9.30, 9.45, 9.05, 9.10)
4. Alexander Ciuca ROM 54.35 (9.0, 8.85, 9.35, 8.75, 9.3, 9.10)
5. Nistor Sandro ROM 53.80 (7.95, 9.45, 9.5, 9.35, 8.35, 9.2)
6. Steve McCain USA 46.55
7. Cristian Leric ROM 46.15
8. Robert Taciulet ROM 45.55
9. Jeff Lutz USA 45.45
10. Kip Simons USA 44.55
11. Drew Durbin USA 43.90
12. Dan Burinca ROM 37.05
13. Nicu Stroia ROM 36.20
14. Rob Kieffer USA 36.15
Note, this competition utilized the new 7-6-5 format of the FIG. I.e.,
seven team members, six competing per apparatus, five scores counting
per apparatus. The six on each apparatus can change from event to
event, and line-ups can change. So, all of those scores from McCain on
down are "low" because they didn't do six routines. Note that McCain
actually had an outstanding meet, all of his scores being 9.2 and up.
If he had competed rings and managed to get a 8.85, he would have tied
for first.
The new 7-6-5 format was very beneficial to the US men. Drew Durbin
(Ohio State Univ.) injured himself badly on floor (7.45), and so was
drawn from the vaulting line-up, the USA choosing to compete Kieffer
instead. I definitely like that the new 7-6-5 allows the coaches more
flexibility and fewer of those "do I compete an injured gymnast?"
decisions. (Note, floor was Durbin's first event, but he did compete
all the rest except for vault.)
Anyways, on to the competition.
The USA men
Well, the US men had a rough start on floor, garnering only a 45.5,
their lowest event total of the day (but they still beat Romania on
floor -- an indication of how poorly floor went for both teams).
Still, there were some highlights: Simons threw a nice layout Thomas
for his second pass, Wilson displayed good front tumbling, Bagiu
showed off his smooth body line (what a nice Manna!). And McCain
surprised with a "one and a half twisting one and three quarter". (I
missed it, having turned away briefly, and turned back in time to see
the curly blond McC dive head first into the mat. "What was that?" I
asked my neighbor, who then kindly informed me of the exact number of
twists and flips.) Kieffer threw a difficult set -- laid out full-in,
for starters, but lacked his normal polish also put a hand down -- 8.8
was the result. I've seen him do it better. Anyways, the real story of
this rotation for the US men was Drew Durbin, who had a miserably
painful floor set, crashing on each pass and then limping off the
floor. I felt bad for the guy. I've heard so much about his potential,
so I was hoping to see the better side of his gymnastics.
Don't worry, I didn't take such detailed notes for all of the
rotations. ;)
OK, second. US men on pommels. Sure wish I knew what was going on when
I watch pommels. Our best pommels were from Durbin and Bagiu (who did
one or two "double loop to Russian"'s, I am told, which is an E move),
but neither were particularly memorable. Speaking of memory, Blaine
Wilson, I can recall, because his loose feet really show up poorly on
this event. Simons fell off, Lutz pretty much just made it through.
Rotation three, US men on rings. More of the same from pommels-- not
too much to ooh or ahh over. I liked Durbin's routine, which I noted
as "creative!", and Kip Simons really impressed me in proper Ohio
State fashion (they are kings on rings). I was also impressed that
Bagiu picked up very little swing, seeing as he's 5'10" and all.
American men on vaulting for rotation four. Can we say "Kasamatsu"?
Lutz and Wilson both threw 1.5 twisting versions. McCain was our
anchor with a 1.5 twisting Yurchenko. When Bagiu vaults, his flipping
seems to be moving r e a l l y s l o w l y, no doubt because he's so
tall (look at an old tape of Bogie vaulting, and put a pair of short
shorts on her -- poof, it's Bagiu!) (OK, so I exaggerate.)
Bogie, btw, now resides in Boston.
OK, now we've trudged over to Pbars. The US men didn't miss in a big
way except for Durbin (who looked really smooth, nonetheless), but
never really turned on the energy, mustering only 45.55 for their
event total. The routines just weren't that hard. (A whoo-hoo to
Mihai, though, for his fun Manna to double front).
Last rotation! (in my US men's segment, anyways) High bar --
traditionally a high-flying event for the US men. <nudge nudge, elbow>
Get it? Get it? "high-flying"? HA! (sigh). Anyways, yes, by now I was
pretty sleepy, but the US men hit some swinging routines (there I go
again) for a 46.65, a decent event total. Durbin grimaced on his
landing, and I was mighty pleased he was done for the night and could
get off that left ankle. Bagiu threw a Gold Cup Kovacs (notice how all
of the men from Albuquerque do a Kovacs? Ringnald, Dimas, Bagiu.) and
a triple dismount. McCain threw a Stalder into piked Tkatchev, and
also a one-arm Gienger. His routine was not of the caliber that won
him the '93 NCAA high bar title, however (which all of you old-time
Gymners know I hold in my list of top two favorite men's routines --
the other being Lamorte's rings. yummy.)
OK, now on the Romanian men.
Keep in mind, Gymn friends, that I really was not particularly excited
by this meet, and that also, I knew none of the Romanian men, really.
So, keeping track of who did what was a bit more difficult that I'd
like to admit...
Anyways. On pommels, the Romanian men got off to a pretty good start
-- it was their second best event of the night. I was not impressed
with Ciuca (bad form) or Stroia (fell off), but the rest were all
good. Marius Urzica, however... Energizer ought to hire this kid (he's
18). He is the reigning world champion on pommels, and boy does it
show. Urzica was the only gymnast to elicit a "wow!" from me on
pommels, which is amazing considering my illiteracy with that event.
Mayland later tells me that he did three double loop's to Russians on
one pommel, then crossed over and did another double loop to Russian
on the other -- four E moves in a row. Now, if you'd asked me, I'd say
"he had outstanding work on one pommel." Live and learn. =)
The second rotation saw the Romanian men on rings, and this was
certainly a treat. Probably the best part of the meet for me. Almost
all did some sort of double layout dismount (some with a twist, some
not). All of the men got lots of bonus with great strength and
control. The most eye catching mount was Ciuca, who did a back roll to
Maltese. Stroia did not hold most of his strength elements for the
requisite two seconds. Burinca, up last for the Romanian men, taught
everyone a lesson, scoring a 9.8. (On rings, he was 3rd in the 1994
Worlds and 5th in 93.) Sure wish I could list what he did (though it
would be quite long), but for those who know his gymnastics,
apparently he did his normal routine (this info from conversations I
overheard on the floor).
>From here, the Romanian men started to lose momentum. The third
rotation saw them vault to a 46.6, which is decent, but nothing to
jump up and down about. Burinca got good distance with his Kasamatsu
layout full, and Leric impressed with a Kasamatsu double twist. Sandru
had a Yurchenko 1.5, which is noteworthy in and of itself, but was not
executed particularly well.
Round four: the beginning of the Romanian demise. They plummeted to a
45.6 Pbars (still better than the US at 45.55). Leric missed, Sandru
missed (on a Diamidov 1.25), Taciulet landed a straddle cut (is that
what it was?) on his legs in the middle of the bars. Sigh. Urzica and
Ciuca both made it through unscathed, though.
On to the fifth event, high bar. Can it be worse? Yes... a 45.5.
Burinca was up first and impressed with a layout Jaeger and a
full-twisting double layout dismount (flaired). Ciuca then hit his
double double dismount. But Urzica missed a full-twisting layout
Jaeger (still scored 8.95) and Stroia missed a Tkatchev, landing on
his feet (can we say "no rotation"?). Then Sandru missed a laid-out
Tkatchev. Sandwiched somewhere in all these off-the-mark gymansts was
Leric, who managed a pretty nice Kovacs and a tucked double double
over the bar.
Well, three major breaks on two events in a row. *Can't* get worse,
right? Try a 45.35 on floor. By now, Rachele is really tired (so
much so that she writes in the third person), and loses track of all
the bobbles and misses-- it's just too many. The Romanians, however,
had really impressed on rings, and performed sufficiently well on
pommel horse and vault to win the competition on those first three
events.
Other notes:
-- Zmeskal performed an exhibition in which she threw more difficulty
than most of the men: a double layout, three whips through to a double
tuck, and another double tuck -- sound familiar? She bounced out (with
great excitement and energy -- a bit odd) on both of the tucked double
backs. I sure would like to see her put a piked full-in at the end of
those three whips...
-- The Romanian men wear pants about two sizes too big. Baggy and
then some. You know how lady's pantyhose looks when it droops down
around your ankles?
-- The Romanian men had a female coach (!). There were several male
coaches too, of course, that were all more active on the floor, but
nevertheless, I have never even seen a female on a men's gymnastics
coaching staff. Maybe she wasn't a coach. But it sure looked like she
was quite involved with the whole thing.
-- Attendance was 3,110. Seemed like less... the stands were really
sparse.
-- Zmeskal, Karolyi, and Tim Heath (her manager) held a press
conference before the meet to officially announce their comebacks. I'd
relate the interesting parts, but there really weren't any
particularly memorable quotes. It was typical Karolyi, really... it's
like Mad Lib, you can just fill in the blanks.
"I'm very _____ <insert happy word> to be here today! I have coached
many champions, but ____ <insert gymnast of the moment> was always
absolutely the grooviest, in my book. ____ <repeat name of gymnast> is
the best gymnast that has ever lived, and has the _____ <insert
honorable trait> to do what it takes to win. She has the power and
heart, and the *discipline* to excel at the highest level. She is up
to the challenge and will eat up her competition like a little lion."
Anyways, getting back on track, Zmeskal talked about how she felt she
had more to contribute to the sport, and how her break from
competition made her realize how very much the sport meant to her, etc
etc. She missed the thrill of competition and felt she was prepared
to do what it took to make a successful comeback. She says her
parents, friends, and former teammates have all been supportive of her
decision. She thinks she can do what it takes because, having
graduated from high school, she has more time and she's grown a lot
since her last attempt at the Games.
Karolyi talked about how he was so enjoying his peaceful retirement
(farming and so forth) when "this little thing beside me" (that would
be Ms. Zm, o'course) asked him to return and coach her to fame and
glory (well, neither of them phrased it that way, but hey). He said
that it is surprising how quickly the level of competition has
increased in just the two years since the Games, but he feels that
Zmeskal can do it. He said that if it were for anyone else, he would
not have come out of retirement. But for Zmeskal, who was always so
honest and never complained and never blamed anyone for anything
except herself, he felt he couldn't say "no" when she asked him to
coach her. He apparently holds his only World Champion very near and
dear to his heart.
The men's press conference was even lower-key than the men's meet
was... there's really nothing to say about it. Everyone was happy with
how they'd done. They were planning to work hard for their next big
competition (Goodwill, USA's, etc).
Btw, the reason I put Zmeskal into this report was because she
announced her comeback right before the men's meet...
Rachele
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 94 17:17:50 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: USA vs ROM TV Schedule
NBC will show the USA vs ROM (men and women I think) on Sunday June 19th
(orig. scheduled for the 18th I think)
-- SUNDAY, JUNE 19
2:30-4:30 P.M.
Budget Rent-a-Car Gymnastics Invitational (taped)
Romania vs. USA
Commentators: Dan Hicks, Tim Daggett, Elfi Schlegel, Mary Ann Grabavoy
Site: Worcester, MA
Susan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 94 17:49:51 EDT
From: ***@BBN.COM
Subject: USA vs ROM TV Schedule
Sunday, June 19, is also the day CBS plans to show the event finals
from the US Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships (sorry, I don't
remember the exact time).
>>Kathy
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 94 17:37:33 CDT
From: ***@midway.uchicago.edu
Subject: where to put pictures?
Could somebody *please* tell me where the picture directory was at kentucky.
I think Ben Fu was responsible for it. I need to make room on my hard drive
and I have about 15 or 20 scans I would like to put up somewhere before I
delete them.
-------------------------------------------------
Anthony
------------------------------
End of gymn Digest
******************************