GYMN-L Digest - 19 Apr 1995 to 20 Apr 1995

There are 28 messages totalling 812 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

1. SI slams rhythmic gymnastics (2)
2. Seinfeld alert
3. Oklahoma Explosion
4. Hall of Fame inductees
5. NCAA men's awards
6. Yurchenko Loop on Beam. (3)
7. FX ideas (Was Re: Bela as judge)
8. Oklahoma explosion (fwd) (3)
9. ABC Special
10. Zmeskal's vault (2)
11. Longer Floor Routines (2)
12. Andrea Cacovean
13. TV alert
14. Hilary revisited
15. new subscriber
16. Fab's full turn
17. x-way back tuck
18. Questions
19. atlanta warning
20. Help! Boys' coach needed!!!
21. SI slams R-mics (suck eggs SI)

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Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 00:55:16 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: SI slams rhythmic gymnastics

I can think of few comments that would suitably convey my disdain and disgust
with both Sports Illustrated and its self-appointed gymnastics maven, Mr. EM
Swift.

Any self-respecting publication purporting to provide comprehensive coverage
of athletics would choke on this kind of intolerance. I would suggest that
there is a pattern in SI's coverage of athletics that suggests a deep-seated,
latent vein of mysoginy lurking deep in the hearts of both editors and
writers alike. Any sport a GIRL would be good at, apparently, could hardly be
called a SPORT.

Nonetheless, before we go firing our missives at the soon-to-be-hapless
editors of SI in a certainly futile attempt to yank the lot of the
over-the-hill athletic wannabes forward into the 20th century, it is
important that we all decide, once and for all and for the record exactly
what defines a sport. So what is a sport? Anyone? Anyone?

David

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 01:10:49 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Seinfeld alert

What gymnast is it?
Emily

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Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 01:26:22 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Oklahoma Explosion

> First, my sympathy to anyone living in Oklahoma City or who have relatives
> there. Hope everyone is well!
> Since this is a gymnastics discussion list, does anyone know if Dynamo or
any
> other clubs are near the explotion site? Just hoping and wondering if
> everyone is okay!
>
> Ann Marie
>
> I had the same question. Edmond, Shannon's hometown, is near Oklahoma
City
>(I'm not sure exactly where Dynamo is located), plus Paul Ziert, Bart and
Nadia
>are all in nearby Norman. They also have a gym, but again, I'n not sure if
it's
>in Oklahoma City. Let's hope everyone is okay.
>
>Beth

I'm in Oklahoma City and was working five blocks from the explosion. It was
devastating; but that discussion is for another forum. As for Dynamo and
Bart/Nadia's gym, they should both be fine. Although I've heard on the news
here that the blast was felt hundreds of miles away, the damage caused by it
was centered on the downtown area. Dynamo is way north of downtown, and
Bart/Nadia's is in central Norman, which is about 20 miles south of downtown
Oklahoma City. I'll be happy to answer questions via email should anyone
have any.

Mike

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

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 23:48:34 -0600
From: ***@RMII.COM
Subject: Hall of Fame inductees

International Gymnastics Hall of Fame -- Press Release
April 20, 1995

Ohio State Gymnastics Coach Elected to Hall of Fame

Columbus, OH - Peter Kormann, the first American in the post-Sixties
era to win an individual Olympic medal in gymnastics, was elected to
the Gymnastics Hall of Fame last evening following a dinner at the
Holiday Inn. The nation's top collegiate gymnasts are in Columbus to
compete at the 53rd NCAA Men's Collegiate Gymnastics
Championships. Elected with Kormann, the present coach at Ohio State
University (OSU), were three other Olympians. Steve Hug, a three time
NCAA All-Around champion (1972-1974); Ron Barak, a 1964 Olympian who
won the NCAA All-Around title in 1964 and Garland O'Quinn, a 1960
Olympian and former Army gymnast well known for his innovative work
with children were also inducted.

Kormann is best known for his stunning dismount at the Montreal
Olympiad which won him the bronze medal. He has been in gymnastics all
of his life becoming head coach at the Naval Academy in 1980 and on to
OSU in 1989. He played a major role in extending the NCAA
Championships for several more years. Many thought that this year's
Championships would be the last to be sponsored by the NCAA. Ohio
State is looking for its first national title having finished thired
for the past three years.

Steve Hug, still looking good as a gymnast in his Forties, was a
standout at Stanford University. He made the US Pan Am team at age
fifteen and is a two time Olympian. In addition to being America's top
gymnast for a time, he won the coveted Nissan award as a senior in
1974. Kormann won the Nissen three years later.

George Nissen, an octagenarian and former national champion who
founded the award named for him, pressed his annual hand stand at the
dinner. This will be the twenty-ninth year Mr. Nissen has
performed. The Nissen award is the gymnastics equivalent of football's
Heisman Memorial Trophy.

Ron Barak is a practicing lawyer who coached for several years at his
alma mater, the University of Southern California, following his
participation in the Tokyo Olympiad. He did a thorough study of the
NCAA-AAU dispute for the _Southern California Law Review_ in 1968. The
present national governing body for gymnastics became the first
exclusive American federation for the sport two years later.

Garland "Gar" O'Quinn, a raw-boned "walk-on" when he attended the US
Military Academy at West Point was the pride of former Olympic coach,
Tom Maloney. O'Quinn's contributions as a clinician and author of
materials for children's gymnastics are still influential. He was
presented with the national governing body's National _Pedagogy Award_
for his developmental gymnastics program in 1990.

The Hall of Fame award was founded by the former Helms Athletic
Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of Collegiate
Gymnastics Coaches. The award is presently certified by the Amateur
Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles.

# # #

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

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 23:49:30 -0600
From: ***@RMII.COM
Subject: NCAA men's awards

Awards and Honors presented at the 1995 Nissen Award Banquet in
Columbus, OH, 4/19/95

Nissen Award -- Josh Stein, Stanford
other nominees: Danny Akerman, Temple
Richard Grace, Nebraska
Rick Kieffer, Nebraska
Brian Kobylinski, Illinois
Daniel Stover, Oklahoma
Sebronzik Wright, William and Mary
Brian Yee, Minnesota

Honor coach: Abie Grossfeld, So. Conn.
Rusty Mitchell, New Mexico
Art Shurlock, UCLA

Hall of Fame inductees: Ron Barak
Steve Hug
Peter Kormann
Garland O'Quinn

National Assistant Coach of the Year: Scott Green, Cal-Berkeley
Doug Day, New Mexico

Regional coaches of the year: West Barry Wiener, Cal-Berkeley
Midwest Rusty Mitchell, New Mexico
Mideast C. J. Johnson, Illinois-Chicago
East Roy Johnson, UMass

Many people were recognized with a special service awards for helping
to save the NCAA championships. Included among these special awards
was Jonathon Kerr, a swimmer from Nebraska, and Shane Evangelist, a
gymnast from New Mexico, who are credited with eloquently putting the
issue to the student advisory committee at the annual NCAA convention.
Also, included were Dick Aronson, Roy Johnson, Bill Burns (President
of Univ. of Nebraska), and two individuals who produced a television
show supportive of men's college gymnastics. In addition, Fred
Turoff, Peter Kormann, and Doug Van Everen were recognized for their
great contributions.

Rachele

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 09:51:09 -0500
From: ***@ASTRO.OCIS.TEMPLE.EDU
Subject: Re: Yurchenko Loop on Beam.

>Typing about across the beam tricks. I know that an AMERICAN gymnasts
>has performed the side aerial across the beam, but has anyone ever
>performed the back tuck standing sideways? I guess they would have to do
>it gainer style to stay on the beam.

I've seen the back tuck done sideways on the beam in an exhibition. It was
one of those man-in-a-leotard things where the man does a parody of a beam
routine and generally looks like a buffoon, but manages to do a few
impressive tricks. He looked like he was setting up to do a back tuck off
the side of the beam as a dismount, but (much to his feigned shock and
confusion) landed back on the beam. He looked around quickly and then
"covered up" by throwing a front somi off the beam.

I want to know how long he had to train that trick just for an exhibition.

Ilene, whose side aerial-side aerial combination used to be worth a lot (in
the late seventies) but would be considered beginner's balance beam now)

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 09:49:37 -0400
From: ***@PANIX.COM
Subject: Re: Yurchenko Loop on Beam.

> 1)When did Natalia Yurchencko FIRST perform this move in international
> competetion?

She did it at the '79 Spartakiade/Moscow Pre-Olympics, although I have no
idea if this was the first time she performed the move.

> Typing about across the beam tricks. I know that an AMERICAN gymnasts
> has performed the side aerial across the beam, but has anyone ever
> performed the back tuck standing sideways? I guess they would have to do
> it gainer style to stay on the beam.

Soviet gymnast Ludmila (?) Yudina did it back in '75 or '76 at one of the
USSR tours here -- IG printed a sequence of it.

Debbie

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 08:55:13 -0400
From: ***@CORNELL.EDU
Subject: FX ideas (Was Re: Bela as judge)


> What I think would
> be a better idea would be t allow longer routines, to escape the "I better
> get back in to the corner and rest up for this final full-in" syndrome
> that prevents adequate (at times) chorography. If I had a nickel for every
> time an announcer said "She's resting up here before the final tumbling
> run" which translates to "lots of arm waves and poses in the corner".
>
> Some how, there are some really good floor performers who can do it all.
> You'ld hope that every gymnast can, but with a slightly longer routine,
> it might be easier.
>
> Jeff
>

Isn't there a dance element requirement now, though (for the women)? I can
see how that would require less energy than the tumbling passes, but won't
the extra time spent on other things still require about the same amount of
effort?

Still, though, having more time to perform a routine allows more time for
creativity, can show off a well-choreographed routine, etc. Hmm...It might
be a good idea.
--

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 10:49:00 EDT
From: ***@PRODIGY.COM
Subject: Re: Oklahoma explosion (fwd)

Everyone here at Dynamo's is ok,we all felt the blast ,it felt like an
earthquake.......everyone in OKC is in shock over this........some of
the dynamo girls go to the high school where there were several bomb
treats and evacuations........which sent everyone in the school running
out of the buildings......kids were crying and screaming....it was
really a terrible thing for someone to do......at the middle school
where some of the younger gymnasts go there were about 30 kids waiting
in line to use the phone .....their parents worked in the fed. building
and they were trying to find out if they were ok......... my son came
home terrified.........we all went to sleep praying and very
sad.......
Lynn

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 10:50:51 PDT
From: ***@GEOWORKS.COM
Subject: Yurchenko Loop on Beam.

> Typing about across the beam tricks. I know that an AMERICAN gymnasts
> has performed the side aerial across the beam, but has anyone ever
> performed the back tuck standing sideways? I guess they would have to do
> it gainer style to stay on the beam.

Actually, when doing a standing back you should land in the same
place you took off from. Many people do go slightly backward in a standing
back because they are throwing their arms/body backward in their takeoff
instead of straight up (I used to do it right, but lately I've been dumping
it backwards because I'm out of practice (i.e. lazy:)), and so they aren't
getting the best height out of their jump.
From any sort of run, roundoff or flipflop you will have some
backward travel in a back flip, but I don't think you should have to do
anything special if you start from a stand on the beam, sideways or not. If
you did a gainer, you would miss the beam (and probably hurt yourself quite
a bit).

Dave

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:59:32 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: ABC Special

ABC will air the Nike Special, "The African-American Experience," this
Sunday, April 23. It will air at 2 pm Central time, so check local listings.
In the promos, Dominique Dawes is shown, but I don't know for sure whether
or not she'll be featured in the special, but I hope so!

Ann Marie

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 14:25:03 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Zmeskal's vault

<<Second, we were discussing best vaulters, not best all-arounders.>>

Well, excuse me, but so was I! The discussion began with Zmeskal, and that
was what my post was about. Everyone was critizing her because she her
second vault was poor and that was what I responded to. Besides, she never
seemed to mind about not medaling on vault at Worlds or the Olympics, so why
should anyone else? Bela obviously felt she had better chances to medal on
other events, or I'm sure he would have worried more about vault.

Ann Marie

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 14:33:26 -0400
From: ***@ZEUS.TOWSON.EDU
Subject: Longer Floor Routines

I absolutely agree with the sugestion of longer floor routines.
All that arm waving and walking around is very distractive. One of the
best things done at the "professional" competitions was having longer
routines. On the FX, I believe having the longer time is improvement.
Since I'm talkin about FX, and since there has been much discussion
on floor routines lately; I want to add one thought. It's nice to see
the gymnasts this past year returning to faster-paced, more up-beat routines.
I really don't like the dance-like routines that have been used quite often
lately.
My favorite current FX routine is the one Milosivich performed at
the Dortmund Worlds. It's fast-paced and fun, but slows down a little in
the middle. I really enjoy this FX routine! What current FX routine catches
everybody else's eyes?


THE MIKESTER BEE

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 14:50:08 -0400
From: ***@ZEUS.TOWSON.EDU
Subject: Andrea Cacovean

In the results that were posted recently for the Trophee Massila,
there was the mention of Andrea Cacovean. How is she doing? I know she
was having some injuries, but she has not been to active lately. When
she appeared at the Birmingham World's, I thought Romania had another star.
I hope she is o.k. I think she is a pretty good gymnast.




THE MIKESTER BEE

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:05:56 -0600
From: ***@HARRIER.SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: TV alert

Hi everyone,

For those of you interested, I just saw a commerical for "The Operation"
on The Learning Channel.

"A talented gymnast" will be having spinal surgery. They showed her face
just for a few seconds and I *vaguely* recognize her but can't come up
with a name. Wonder if it's someone well known in the US?

Anyway, it airs 10:00pm Eastern on Saturday, April 22nd for anyone that
can stomach watching surgery!

Later,

Dory

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 12:50:00 PDT
From: ***@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU
Subject: Hilary revisited

Hey. Over the past few days, I have received many letters concerning
my expose on Ms. Grivich. The letters have been both positive and
negative, but there are some points I feel need to be cleared up.

First of all, most of the negative reactions have been something like
(and I'm paraphrasing here)
"How dare you say something negative about Hilary. She tries really
really hard and stuff. She trained 6 hours a day, 6 days a week,
commuted, read to the blind, etc. etc. I dont see YOU doing that."

This seems to be an argument that comes up again and again and I feel
that it has to be addressed. We DO have the right to say what we like
and don't like about the gymnastics of particular individuals. You must
remember that we are judging the gymnastics of the individual in question,
not the individual themselves. Most of you understand that, although
some of you obviously still do not. It is analogous to my saying "I
can't stand Kevin Costner movies". I dont care if he tries really
hard to act or if he is really a nice guy or if he volunteers at
the hospital or whatever. The fact remains that I think his acting is
horrible, and I have a right to say so. Even if I'm not an actor
myself.

Although I play one on TV.


Adios,

Brett

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:22:25 -0400
From: ***@DB.ERAU.EDU
Subject: Re: Oklahoma explosion (fwd)

I talked to several people from the Dynamo club last night and every one
they knew about was O.K.


Jaye

> >
> > First, my sympathy to anyone living in Oklahoma City or who have relatives
> > there. Hope everyone is well!
> > Since this is a gymnastics discussion list, does anyone know if Dynamo or
any
> > other clubs are near the explotion site? Just hoping and wondering if
> > everyone is okay!
> >
> > Ann Marie
> >
> I had the same question. Edmond, Shannon's hometown, is near Oklahoma
City
> (I'm not sure exactly where Dynamo is located), plus Paul Ziert, Bart and
Nadia
> are all in nearby Norman. They also have a gym, but again, I'n not sure if
it's
> in Oklahoma City. Let's hope everyone is okay.
>
> Beth
>

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:27:39 -0400
From: ***@ACS.BU.EDU
Subject: new subscriber

Hi, my name is April. I am new to this gymnsdtics forum. I am 19
and a freshman at Boston University. I've been doing gymnastics for
about 11 years, and I am currently on the club team here at BU. I
competed class 4 when I was younger, then 2 years of level 6, and then I
was on my high school team when I moved to New York. (I used to live in
Georgia before that). However, I am originally from Baltimore,
Maryland. Now, I am living in Slingerlands, NY (it's a small cow town
outside of Albany) :-)
I love gymnastics and have been keeping up with it even though my parents
have long since given up on me <G>! (Actually they signed me up for
gymnastics when I was young b/c they thought it would be a nice sport to
do for a couple years. Little did they expect that I'd still be doing it
<G>!)
I actually do have a question that I think may be dumb, but I'm a little
behind on current gymnastics. I know that there have been a few men who
have been able to throw a triple back, but I was wondering if there have
been any women either on floor or off bars who have been able to do it.
With the way gymnastics has changed just in the last couple of years, I
wouldn't be too surprised if there have been some women. But I know that
it is a terribly difficult move.
Well, thank you so much!
April :-)

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:53:08 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Fab's full turn

I stand corrected. Fab's full turn is good. Until now I only had her
routine from Goodwill, but ordinally her full turn is just fine! And to say
it is only better than a Romanian's does not do her justice.

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:40:24 -0400
From: ***@TIGER.HSC.EDU
Subject: x-way back tuck

I remember Muriel Grossfield (sp?) talking about how she performed one by
accident during US Nationals in the '50's. (Her dismount was a tuck off the
side and her legs buckled.....It is a great story.)

Julius

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 17:35:40 +0500
From: ***@CAPITAL.EDU
Subject: Questions

I have several questions:
1. Does anyone know where Brandy Johnson is these days?

2. Have there been any professional meets lately and are there any coming up?

3. Is Phoebe Mills still diving? Where and how is she doing?

4. Does anyone know of any gymnastics related jobs in the Columbus area?

5. Is there any kind of open gym at Ohio State? I go to Capital which is
about 15 minutes away and I am interested in working out.

6. Did any of you Ohio residents ever compete for a YMCA? If so, where? Did
you ever attend the Great Lakes Invitational in North Canton?

7. Where do you get mail order forms to buy tickets to the Olympics? I know
they go on sale May 1.

8. Does anyone have information on working at Atlanta???? I would love to!

9. Has anyone heard of a gymnast named Carey Hoyt? I know she's striving for
96 and is currently on the Penn State team.

I think that's all for now--sorry for the crazy range of questions. Send any
comments!

Marni

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 17:55:25 -0400
From: ***@PRISM.GATECH.EDU
Subject: atlanta warning

hi guys-this is to let anybody who is really uninformed about the atlanta
area this weekend know that 'freaknik' is happening-this is basically a
black mardi gras-i heard number around 20,000-50,000 negro college
students etc will be in the area over the weekend partying HARD

if you are traveling through atlanta or want ot go remembe that traffic is
basically at a stop on the freeways-especially downtown-it will take
several hours just to get through the city

i would recomend leaving VERY early if you are traveling through atlanta
and if you dont need to go to atlanta-DONT GO!!!

hope this wasnt too late and is helpful

also-what events are saturday and sunday for NCAA's???

adrienne

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 15:23:18 -0700
From: ***@NETCOM.COM
Subject: Re: Help! Boys' coach needed!!!

See if you can chase down Dave Jusczyk's brother.
I think he's still "mile high".

Josh ! You know what ever happened to Dave's "bro" ?
(And yes Dave knows the wherabouts of Adam & the inhalers)

-texx

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 20:47:41 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: SI slams rhythmic gymnastics

I am a level 9 rhythmic gymnast. I train under Irina Vdovets at Illinois
Rhythmics in Winnetka Il. I honestly believe that if the people who write
these crazy coloumns bashing rhythmic would sit down and watch their opinions
change drastically.
-Grace

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 21:30:17 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: SI slams R-mics (suck eggs SI)

I thought Rhythmics was a "demo" sport when my daughter, who was more
or less a recreational gymnast, lobbied us to let her add a couple
nights rhythmic classes to her artistic classes. "So much for
competition," her mother and (mostly) I thought. I kept hearing about
how good our coach was, but, since I had already discounted the sport
as "souped-up ballet", my ears were closed--as usual--my mouth was
running instead. Since I do some announcing for one of the local
university's sports, I was asked if I could help with a (1994 Region
II) regional championship..no one seemed to want to face the
"mike". "Sure," I said, "whatever I can do...".

So I asked for some material to "beef up" on the nomenclature, visited
with some of the team parents, met the coach, cked out the sound
system and (wa-la), next thing, I'm doing opening ceremonies. By then
end of the day, I was a convert, and I had no doubt this "Rhythmics
thing" was going to be big some day--soon! I had put together some
stuff on the first world events for Rhythmics, and highlighted its
entry as an Olympic sport. Assuming that there might be one or more
folks as pitifully ignorant about Rhythmics as me, I organized my
support material assuming the fans had never heard about rhythmics
before coming to our meet--how big of me. But, by the end of the day
we had comments from coaches, parents and fans alike that the meet was
not only a big success (due to everyone else's efforts, not mine), but
that those who came now clearly understood the sport, its goals and
how to view it (that, I'll take SOME credit for). Among other things,
I learned about this kid Tamara Levinson, who had been coached by my
daughter's coach prior to (the coach) moving to our city due to her
husband's (military) assignment.

This year, my daughter, a fledgling level six, consumed megabucks in
travel $ (that's ok, its an investment:) and will compete in the Lone
Star Classics in Houston in May. It doesn't matter how she does--what
has happened is extraordinary. We have two legitimate contenders for
national team, one of them only 12 years old. If we can keep the
expenses in check, it looks like our team may add six new competitors
(losing none) next year. Recreationally, an adult class is starting,
and the preschool classes are filling fast. There is no doubt, these
kids are competing in a rapidly growing world class SPORT with a world
class coach. I was a college wrestling coach for 3 years, had the
good fortune to cultivate 7 NCAA All- Americans including 2 Pan Am
Games medalists (one gold). Unlike SI's puffed-up laptop quarterbacks,
many of whom have never stepped into the real arena of competition, I
recognize a sport when I see it. Rhythmic Gymnastics is here to
stay. Sports Illustrated can go back to its swimsuit showcase and
leave sporting discussions to those who take up the torch of
competition and understand what that means.

I hope many clubs do what our club has done: Add rhythmics to artistic
girls and boys comp programs. It gives your club more breadth and
balance, and keeps or attracts kids who would otherwise go else where
or fade entirely from gymnastics. It is a great complement to any
healthy program. And, it is a built in promoter for your club, due to
its breathtaking beauty.

Go suck eggs SI. I hope you find one with a pin hole that's a little
rotten on the inside.. (good thing I'm practicing my non-violent,
family oriented expressions from sensitivity tng)... any other
stories?

Don

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 22:00:25 -0400
From: ***@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Longer Floor Routines

I don't believe that longer floor routines will significantly add
to artistry in gymnastics. If the rule was designed to give more time
for dance and expression but still allow for good tumbling (ie give
the gymnast a chance to catch her breath before her last pass) I think
what would happen would be the opposite. Pretty soon one gymnast
would throw six tumbling passes and blow everyone away, and then
everyone else would have to play catch up until it was just a big
tumble-off. If people would like to see more artistry I say start
judging artistry. Besides, adding more time to one event would hold
down the rotations at large meets.

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

Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 22:59:40 -0400
From: ***@MINERVA.CIS.YALE.EDU
Subject: Re: Zmeskal's vault

> <<Second, we were discussing best vaulters, not best all-arounders.>>
>
> Well, excuse me, but so was I! The discussion began with Zmeskal, and that
> was what my post was about. Everyone was critizing her because she her
> second vault was poor and that was what I responded to. Besides, she never
> seemed to mind about not medaling on vault at Worlds or the Olympics, so why
> should anyone else? Bela obviously felt she had better chances to medal on
> other events, or I'm sure he would have worried more about vault.

The discussion began with favorite FX routines, then shifted to bests
on the other apparatus. It was suggested that Zmeskal should be on
the vault list, and then people said why she shouldn't be. That is
all this is about. It's not about whether we mind that she didn't try
harder to medal on vault. Whatever reasons there are for her not
having had a good second vault (or not having had one consistently)
don't change the fact that she didn't have it. The criticism is not
so much of *her* as it is of the idea that she is among the best
vaulters the sport has seen.

:)
Adriana

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End of GYMN-L Digest - 19 Apr 1995 to 20 Apr 1995
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