Neues Deutschland. October 2, 1966. The top-performing German gymnast at the World Championships in Dortmund was nineteen-year-old Erika Barth-Zuchold, a resident of Leipzig. With her fourth-place finish in the all-around competition, she performed outstandingly against fierce competition from the world's elite gymnasts - particularly those from the CSSR, the Soviet Union, and Japan - and in the finals, she captured the silver medal in the vault. In our Leipzig district editorial office, correspondent Herbert Gunther conducted the following interview with the world vice-champion.
Neues Deutschland: Your silver medal served as the crowning achievenment of our female gymnasts' performances in Dortmund. Did your personal results meet your expectations?
Erika Zuchold: It would not have been realistic to set my expectations any higher after having undergone only one year of serious training. In 1964 - prior to the Tokyo Games - I was in significantly better physical condition than I am this year, thanks to steady, progressive training. Being forced to take a twelve-month hiatus really sets you back.
ND: After your torn Achilles tendon had healed in late 1964, did you suffer the exact same injury all over again?
EZ: The first rupture, in August 1964, was a training injury that occurred while performing a somersault. Just as it had finally healed, I tripped on the street on the very last day of December. The result: a muscle tear right at the site of the recently healed tendon. Consequently, I was forced to remain sidelined until May 1965 and was unable to resume rigorous training on all apparatuses until September.
ND: Even so, you didn't cut back on the risk in your optional routine?
EZ: We were fully aware that at the World Championships, one absolutely has to summon the courage to take risks if one hopes to achieve success.
ND: You had already demonstrated this courage when - as the first female gymnast in the world, and to this day the only one - you dared to attempt a back handspring on the balance beam. What factors in your development paved the way for this?
EZ: I owe that to my father. He willingly indulged a childhood wish of mine: I dreamed of one day joining the circus and heading out into the wide world. My father replied, "Very well - but anyone who wants to make something of themselves in that world has to work very hard." And so, at the age of eight or nine - I was born on March 9, 1947, in Lucka near Altenburg - he began putting me through a very intense regimen of flexibility exercises. This made me agile and supple. I trained diligently at the Lucka BSG sports club, and when I turned twelve, my father didn't rest until I had started training on a regular basis. The reward for my first major successes was the prospect of competing abroad - in Budapest, alongside the SC DHfK club, at an international meet between sports schools. In 1962, I became the German youth champion; in 1963, I placed seventh in the national women's championships. Then, in 1964 - as the ultimate reward for the tireless efforts of our coaches Ursula Gundlach, Sylvia Hlavacek, and Helmut Gerschau, as well as our ballet instructor, Mrs. Tietze - came the championship victory in the eight-event all-around competition.
ND: Your great hope for Tokyo was ultimately dashed by your injury. The fact that you were unable to participate was undoubtedly detrimental to your subsequent development.
EZ: In two respects. For one, I missed out on the opportunities to compare myself with - and learn from - the world's elite. For another, I was denied that 'baptism of fire' on the international stage, which is so crucial for any young athlete. This had a detrimental effect in Dortmund, where having had the experience of Tokyo would certainly have helped me iron out minor physical deficiencies - weaknesses that manifested themselves as 'nerves,' such as during my wobble on the balance beam. Furthermore, as a newcomer, I now lacked those all-important 'bonus tenths' that come with having a recognized name.
ND: Your steady progression - from a small-town company sports group (BSG) to a major club, and ultimately to the title of World vice-champion - points to an effective system of youth development.
EZ: In my case, yes. But generally speaking, seven years ago, the state of targeted youth development was not nearly as advanced as it is today. This highly specialized approach to talent promotion has only reached its current high standard in recent years - specifically in conjunction with the evolution of the Spartakiad concept. I would go so far as to say that, in the field of gymnastics today, no genuine talent within our Republic goes unnoticed by our dedicated coaches.
ND: Have you chosen a profession in which you can make a contribution?
EZ: I want to become a primary school teacher specializing in sports and music. Since last autumn, I have been studying at the Institute for Teacher Training in Leipzig. Juggling both training and my studies - while simultaneously running a household (for the past six months, Erika has been married to the German long-distance cycling champion, Dieter Zuchold - H.G.) - demands strict time management and a great deal of understanding on my husband's part. But there is certainly no lack of that.
ND: Thank you very much for the interview. We would like to conclude with the wish that your continued progress toward the Olympic Games in Mexico proceeds without interruption this time around.
EZ: That is absolutely essential so that the new elements of difficulty we are incorporating into our program can mature undisturbed and be perfected to absolute 'bomb-proof' reliability.
H. GUNTHER