gymn Digest Sun, 8 May 94 Volume 2 : Issue 122

Today's Topics:
ABC Postscript
FIG age req's
FIG Age requirements (5 msgs)
Goodwill Games Romania rep. (3 msgs)
Kochetkova/Mo routines
L10 Nationals Results (2 msgs)
leftover questions (3 msgs)
need info from gymn on New Mexico area
Oh One last Thing...
Requesting Trivia Questions
RSG Nationals Results
Strug
Strug's anorexia (6 msgs)
strug anorexia !
Strugg's Anorexia and Miller (2 msgs)
Womens European Championships

This is a digest of the gymn@athena.mit.edu mailing list.

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Date: Sat, 07 May 94 19:35:05 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: ABC Postscript

After our our oh-so-comprehensive coverage of Worlds, ABC devoted the
*entire* hour and a half of Wide World of Sports today to the Kentucky Derby,
with the actual race lasting 2 minutes. <sigh>

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 94 00:14:28 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: FIG age req's

The present FIG exception to the "thou shalt turn 15 in the calendar year of
the competition" rule for pre-Olympic world championships (i.e., 1987, 1991,
etc.) is based on those pre-Olympic worlds being the team qualification for
the Olympics. A team should be able to use all its potential Olympic players,
the logic went. For Romania or the USA, no matter, but for a team that hovers
around 12th (12 qualify) and has, say, an Elodie Lussac who will be 15 in the
Olympic year, it could make all the difference.

For the record, Boginskaya (born Feb. '73) and I think another Soviet were
able to compete in Rotterdam '87 because of this rule. In '91, Strug and
Sonia Fraguas (Spain) were similarly blessed.

I'd have to look it up, but I believe the requirement prior to 1980 (I
remember a buzz around the time) was 14 in the year of the competition. Then
it went to 15. And Bicherova's age was given as one year younger in the USSR
nationals two months prior to the '81 Worlds then fudged for the Worlds.
...Say the reports IG received (via Soviet press!).

I will check recent FIG bulletins (their reports are usually 6 months or
better behind) or hope to hear from Hardy Fink in the meantime re any changes
and let you know.

So the Chinese are pushing for younger/no requirement. Does Mo look 15 to
anyone? Which brings up a valid point (and possibly the brunt of their
argument): Who really cares how old she is? Just watch!

And finally, if artistry and such were *properly* rewarded, we might actually
have a level all-age playing field. Hmmm ...

Nancy

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

Date: Fri, 6 May 1994 13:56:23 -0500 (CDT)
From: ****@owlnet.rice.edu
Subject: FIG Age requirements

| I have another question about Indianapolis. Wasn't part of the uproar
| over Kim Gwang-Suk's changing age that she was too young to compete in the
| '89 Worlds if she was born on the date they gave at the Olympics because
| she would have been 13? Wasn't Kerri Strug (Toho, she pulled her stomach
| muscle and moved back home, which is why you didn't see her at Worlds) 13
| at Indianapolis if she turned 15 in Nov. '92?

The way FIG measures age is by how old the gymnast will be by the end
of the year. Strug's birthday is, as you pointed out, in November.
So, she was 13 at the '91 Worlds, but 14 by the end of the year, which
met the FIG age requirement.

Note, the FIG age requirement for Worlds is usually 15, but they
lowered it to 14 in 1991 to allow potential Olympians to gain valuable
international experience. In the fall of this year, the FIG is
supposedly voting on whether or not the standard age should go up to
16. (A rumor I heard awhile back... anyone have more current info on
this?)

Rachele

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 16:41:11 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: FIG Age requirements

>Note, the FIG age requirement for Worlds is usually 15, but they
lowered it to 14 in 1991 to allow potential Olympians to gain valuable
>international experience.

I don't know whether the age rule has ever not allowed 14-year-olds to
compete at Worlds in the pre-Olympic year, but if it has, it was changed
before 1991 -- at least by 1987 (but maybe not by 1983 -- it just occurred to
me that this might be why Shushunova wasn't at Worlds in '83 even though she
won the USSR Cup -- anyone know?). Just to anticipate any potential
confusion, 14-year-olds can compete at Worlds *only* in the pre-Olympic year.
Any other year, they still have to turn 15 by the end of the year.

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 17:07:32 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: FIG Age requirements

> over Kim Gwang-Suk's changing age that she was too young to compete in the
'89 Worlds if she was born on the date they gave at the Olympics because she
would have been 13?

The problem that the FIG had with Gwang Suk is that she didn't lie
consitantly and the age flucutuated from year to year...proving that she was
lying which is why they were suspended..."for falsifying ages." The fact is
that everyone (most everyone) lies about ages at some time or another (the
Soviets said that Kolyvanov was 18...when he was really 11 for god's sake &
Bicharova the '81 world champ - when the rule went into effect - was later
listed in a Soviet nationals program as being a year younger than her
birthdate was at worlds). The Romanians are particularly bad about this.
Daniela Silivas is supposedly confused to this day about her actual age (She
was supposed to be 15 in '85 but she was 12 tops!). Whenever you see a
Romanian in a jr's comp. she is undoubtably "14" so that next year if they
have to put her on the national team she's the legal age of "15". It's kind
of an "accepted" rule break...like underage college kids drinking beer.
Everyone knows it goes on but everyone looks the other way. Like I said, PRK
was only nailed because they couldn't keep their lies straight AND they got
no power in the FIG.

Susan

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 16:56:09 PDT
From: ***@eworld.com
Subject: FIG Age requirements

>In the fall of this year, the FIG is
>supposedly voting on whether or not the standard age should go up to
>16. (A rumor I heard awhile back... anyone have more current info on
>this?)

Yes, the debate still rages on the Women's side, but not on the Men's. China
is taking a firm stand against the raising of the limit (they would like to
see it go the other way) and is lobbying heavily against it. The rationale is
that females hit their gymnastic peak between 11 and 14, while men hit on the
average around seven years later.

China is trying to rally support, but I feel they know it is an uphill
battle.

David

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 10:00:12 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: FIG Age requirements

>Bicharova the '81 world champ - when the rule went into effect - was

When this came up in passing a couple of months ago (in connection with Dave
Wallechinsky's mistaken claim that Nadia wouldn't have been able to compete
if the rule had been in effect in '76), I thought someone said it was in fact
already in effect in '76 (and an exception was made for Karen Kelsall and all
that).

>It's kind
of an "accepted" rule break...like underage college kids drinking >beer.
Everyone knows it goes on but everyone looks the other way.

It's also that there's a big problem with enforcing it -- how do you prove
they're lying? They show up with a passport claiming the kid is X age, how
do you prove it's fake? There *are* girls who look a lot younger than they
are. On my team, the oldest girl looked by far the youngest -- at 17 she
looked 12 (and was *not* amused when people expressed their amazement at her
age and cooed over how cute she was -- even the announcer at floor finals at
PanAms ('87) broadcast to the entire audience something to the effect of,
"And would you believe she's 17?" in an "isn't-she-cute?" sort of tone. I
thought she was about to puke. Right before she was to start her routine,
too).

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 1994 09:50:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu
Subject: Goodwill Games Romania rep.

Wasn't the reprentative from Romania for the 1990 Goodwill Games
Milosovic (still can't spell her name!), not Gogean? I'll check my videos.
Also, I had heard nothing prior to this about anorexia problems with
Kerri. What a shame. btw, Gymnastics World (formerly Gymnastics Center) is the
gym I first started out with. While it is not Desert Devils, Gymnastics Center
did produce a junior elite national champion in '81 or '82 named Tara Gervin.
It's not exactly a backwater gym. I believe ( though not positive) that Jerry
Hinkle, her coach now, was a big assistant coach w/ Stormy up in Phoenix before
moving to Tucson.
The official justification for pulling Sandy from the '91 Worlds team
was that she fell in practice during a bars routine. A poor excuse, but I
believe that Michelle Campi did more for the US than Sandy would have. While
she didn't have the experience, she had her routines ready, (7 out of her 8
counted toward the team score though she was the 6th member) and she had
superior body line and form to that of Woolsey. The US was looking to earn a
medal and needed clean form in order to not give any points away. I still loved
her RO, full, 3 handsprings to triple full opening on floor. I liked Sandy as a
gymnast and as a person, but I'll admit it probably benefitted the US to compete
Campi.
Cara

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

Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 14:08:49 -0400
From: ***@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
Subject: Goodwill Games Romania rep.

> Wasn't the reprentative from Romania for the 1990 Goodwill Games
> Milosovic (still can't spell her name!), not Gogean? I'll check my videos.
> Also, I had heard nothing prior to this about anorexia problems with
> Kerri. What a shame. btw, Gymnastics World (formerly Gymnastics Center) is the
> gym I first started out with. While it is not Desert Devils, Gymnastics Center
o

> did produce a junior elite national champion in '81 or '82 named Tara Gervin.
Tara Gervin? Would she have been like 7 or 8 at the time? Because
there is a girlhere who goes to school named Tara Gervin, and I know
she was a cheerleader last year. Plus she's very, very tiny.

Just wondering,
Toho


> It's not exactly a backwater gym. I believe ( though not positive) that Jerry



> Hinkle, her coach now, was a big assistant coach w/ Stormy up in Phoenix before
> moving to Tucson.
> The official justification for pulling Sandy from the '91 Worlds team
> was that she fell in practice during a bars routine. A poor excuse, but I
> believe that Michelle Campi did more for the US than Sandy would have. While
> she didn't have the experience, she had her routines ready, (7 out of her 8
> counted toward the team score though she was the 6th member) and she had
> superior body line and form to that of Woolsey. The US was looking to earn a
> medal and needed clean form in order to not give any points away. I still loved
> her RO, full, 3 handsprings to triple full opening on floor. I liked Sandy as a
> gymnast and as a person, but I'll admit it probably benefitted the US to compete
> Campi.
> Cara
>

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

Date: Sun, 8 May 94 16:16:08 BST
From: ***@ic.ac.uk
Subject: Goodwill Games Romania rep.

Cara wrote,

> Wasn't the reprentative from Romania for the 1990 Goodwill Games
> Milosovic (still can't spell her name!), not Gogean? I'll check my videos.

Gogean was certainly there as she definately competed in the vault finals.
(She already had that precise vaulting ability of hers at those early days.)

Sherwin

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 94 00:14:44 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Kochetkova/Mo routines

Thanks for posting those, Sherwin ...

>1. Kochetkova BB:
>mount (don't know since they didn't show that bit); 2 split leaps;
>flick-layout-flick; full twist backflip; full twist Korbut;
>fish jump into full twist Korbut; flick-flick-double back dismount.

A clarification, for those not familiar with the British terms: flicks or
backflips are flip-flops or back handsprings.

Kochetkova's full-twisting back handspring was superb - fully twisted before
the hands hit and a controlled stepout. (Correct me if I'm wrong; I only saw
the routine from the opposite end of the arena and couldn't truck over to
beam fast enough to shoot it.)

"Mo" mounts beam with a press to easily held one-arm handstand (straddled),
lower to straddle L, still on one hand. She adds flip-flop to high split jump
and a round-off ("Arab spring") to a huge layout, Laschenova-style (oh,
yeah!). The rest is gloriously Chinese - you know, choreography, rhythm,
extension, amplitude and so forth. The fall served her right for doing the
cheap flip-flop 1/4 turn. Hope they'll learn. ;-)

On a nicer note, after the fall she was greeted with a handshake and smile
from the (female) beam coach. Just as if she'd hit.

How old is Mo really? Any guesses?

Nancy

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

Date: Sat, 7 May 94 23:46:10 EDT
From: ***@aluxpo.att.com
Subject: L10 Nationals Results

The all-around and team results are in. Just a quickie before I list them.
Brent, I sent your hello to Emily Chell - she said thanks and hello back to
you. She had an awesome meet until beam where she fell on her dismount and
again on her series - if she had hit her beam she would have won the meet.
Rachele, I spoke to Terry again. Also found out the host gym is Northwest
Aeriels in Seattle.

Children's Division:
1. Michi Ishikawa, Dynamo 37.8
2. Katie Taylor, Kentwood 37.675
3. Sarah DiPasquale, Parkettes 37.425
4. Cari Zawistowski, GymXL 37.4
5. Melinda Baimbridge, Cypress 37.3
6. Maureen LaRocque, KIPS 37.225
7. Lindsay Waddell, Capital 37.175
8. Ashley Lamb, Capital City 37.075
9. Lindsey Wing, Gymn.World 37.050
9. Kinsey Rowe, Cypress 37.050

Children Team - Region 5 and Region 3 tied for first, with Region 7 less
than .5 behind.

Junior Team - I think Region 8 won (I'm very tired - if it wasn't them it
was region 3), region 5 came in 2nd, region 7 came in 3rd.

I've never been to a college meet, but this must have come closest to what
it must be like - compared to regular meets. There was tons of cheering
going on - Region 5 would win the award for team spirit if one were given.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the regions... region 5 is the midwest. region 8 is the southeast, region 3 is the southwest, region 7 is mid-atlantic.

Junior Division:
1. Alexis Norman, Hill's 37.625
2. Suzanne Poretz, Karon's 37.575
3. Maria Taylor, Atlanta SOG 37.55
4. Ashley Feddersen, Dynamo 37.475
5. Ashley Stwart, Cypress 37.475
6. Jane McIntosh, Great Lakes 37.45
7. Stacy Wong, Gymtowne 37.425
8. Alison Stoner, National 37.425
9. Suzanne Sears, Cobb 37.4
10.Wendy Wheaton, Hill's 37.375

I was switched from working vault to working floor - score keeper for the
head judge. It is a very interesting experience listening to the comments
which she makes - and also being able to ask questions.

Good night all. I'll post event finals when they're over.

Toby

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 94 15:14:24 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: L10 Nationals Results

Just wondering if Amy Heath (TAGS - Minnesota) was at Nationals and how she
did.

Also, Was Level 9 Nationals at the same time? If so, are there results.
Looking for Gracie Ames (RGT - Dallas).

Lastly, anyone know about Level 8 Region ? Looking for Allison Grossman (DSG
- Dallas).

Thanks - Debbie

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 16:41:29 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: leftover questions

>I remember when Sandy Woolsey finished 2nd at Nationals in '91.
Why was she not in Indianapolis, then? Did she retire before
>that fall or was she shafted a la Kim Kelly in '92?

Sandy was shafted in favor of Michelle Campi. I understand the good points
and fairness of having a predictable selection process, but I still can't
help thinking that, given the choice, I'd have preferred Michelle, too.
There are some benefits to discretion for one or two spots on a team. No
flames, please -- I'm not saying which way it should be, just that there are
arguments to be made on both sides.

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 17:07:16 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: leftover questions

>Mo Hui-who?

Mo Huilan...a Chinese girl who threw a Gaylord (double front over the bar) on
unevens...she's the first women ever to be that crazy.

> Where's Kerri Strug?

Kerri's been struggling emotionally and physically for quite some time now.
She's battling anorexia and Steve Nunno booted her from the gym...though
offically it was a "mutual decision"...she's at a small gym near her home in
Tucson right now...her last big comp. was the DTB Cup in December '93. In
qualifying she was first in UB and then fell in the final.

>I remember when Sandy Woolsey finished 2nd at Nationals in '91.
Why was she not in Indianapolis, then?

Sandy also finished sixth (I think) at trials and Bela, the team coach,
(Stormy Eaton is Sandy's coach) decided - in a much discussed decsion - to
place Sandy as the alternate. She was there but she didn't compete and after
that she retired...a little disheartened I think

>Why are the teams for the Goodwill Games only made up of
four gymnasts?

Only Worlds and Olympics traditionally sport the 6 (now 7) person team. 4
makes the rounds go quicker and more countries can come up with four gymnasts
than with 6. In '86 the Goodwill Games was a 6 person team format and only 6
men's and 7 women's teams comepted. Since Goodwill is a non-FIG meet there
are no age limits or specific team requirements.

>Also, who competed for the U.S. (men's and women's)
in '86 and '90?

In '86 for the women it was: Joyce Wilburn (top all arounder for the USA at
number 13 she also placed highest in the EF for any American...4th on FX),
Hope Spivey (16th AA), Jennifer Sey (21st AA), Doe Yamisharo, Marie
Roethlisberger, & I have no idea who the 6th girl was. The USSR won easily
(Strazheva - in her first big meet, Shusanova, Omelianchik, Kolesnikova - AA
winner,Yurchenko, & Shevchanko...Baraksonova and Bicharova - '81 world champ
- were the alternates.) and the USA placed 5th.

For the guys, Dan Hayden, Charlie Lakes (7th AA), Brian Babcock, Tim Dagget,
Phil Cahoy (13th AA), & Dennis Hayden (21st AA). The USA also placed 5th here
as a team. The Soviets again easily won... in fact they won or shared every
medal - men's and women's - that they could with the 2 per country EF rule.
The Sov guys were: Mogilny (fell on PH of all places), Balabonov (injured his
knee on HB and was out of the comp.), Korolev (AA winner), Liukin, Artemov,
& Tikhonkih.

In 1990 the US women were Kim Zmeskal, Betty Okino, Sandy Woolsey, & Amy
Shear. Kim fell in the AA off UB and ended up 6th...she qualified in first.
(NOTE: I am only reporting on the offcial results not agreeing with them!)
Betty was 4th... only 2 per country were allowed into the AA final. The US
placed second as a team and the Soviets won with Boguinskyia (fall off UB in
team & was 2nd in the AA after being subbed in for Lyssenko), Kalinina (AA
champ with a 10.0 on FX), Lyssenko, and Chusovitna. Onodi finshed third AA.
The Romanians were supposed to send a team and once they got to the airport
found they could only send 1 person who just happened to be litttle Gina
Gogean.

The US guys were Lance Ringnald (3rd AA...give me break!), Trent Dimas (he
fell a lot - what a surprise), Chris Waller, and John Roethlisberger. The
Soviet guys won with the US second again (only in the US!). Mogilny (his last
comp. ever), Liukin, Scherbo (his first big AA victory at age 18), & Belenky
(2nd AA) made up the team. They (the Sovs) finished 1-4 in the team comp. as
individuals.

Hope this answered all your questions!
Susan

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 10:00:38 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: leftover questions

>Only Worlds and Olympics traditionally sport the 6 (now 7) person team.

Well, there are some other meets, like PanAm Games and other regional games
that also use the 6 person team.

>Since Goodwill is a non-FIG meet there
are no age limits or specific team requirements.

That is, there are none imposed by the FIG. The organizers are free to set
their own, as they do in, for example, the DTB Cup (16 minimum), PanAm Games
(12), etc. What gets me is when the maximum age for juniors overlaps with
the minimum for seniors and you get stuff like girls at Jr Europeans
competing at Worlds the same year. I think being a jr and being a sr should
be mutually exclusive during a single year.

>>Also, who competed for the U.S. (men's and women's)
in '86 and '90?

>In '86 for the women it was: Joyce Wilburn (top all arounder for the USA at
>number 13 she also placed highest in the EF for any American...4th on FX),

Joyce (Wilborn) was third on V and the only US medalist (and she could do one
*excellent* layout Tsuk-full. Also, on that vault during the AA or team comp
[I forget which], she *nailed* the most stuck landing I've ever seen).

>Roethlisberger, & I have no idea who the 6th girl was.

The other girls were Yolande Mavity and Alyssa Solomon (alt). Incidentally,
three of the seven ended up going to Stanford, all class of '92 [(Sey,
Solomon, Yamashiro --teammates and classmates of mine =)]

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Fri, 06 May 94 14:58:36 -0400
From: ***@riscee.bxb.dec.com
Subject: need info from gymn on New Mexico area

Last night I found out that my high school assistant coach died recently. His
name was Ed Powers and he was only 39. The last time I saw Ed was when UMass
competed against ULowell (Ed went to college a little late), so that was about
14 or so years ago.

I know that he was running a gymnastics school in the Albuquerque area with a
guy name Doug Day. I was just wondering if anyone in gymn knows anything about
the school, or Ed.

Thanks,
Steve

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 22:42:17 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Oh One last Thing...

I'm not saying that the coaches tell their kids to be aneorexic or force them
to strave themselves but if the only message they ever hear is thin, thin,
thin...then these driven little kids are gonna' try and be as thin as
possible...not matter what methods are needed.

Susan

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 94 18:23:30 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Requesting Trivia Questions

Hi Everyone!

I am putting together another trivia list for next week or the week after
(depending on mail traffic). The topic is "Women's European Championships."
Any and all questions would be appreciated!

Thanks.

Mara

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

Date: Sun, 8 May 1994 19:34:32 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@sosi.com
Subject: RSG Nationals Results

Rythmic Nationals results from the USOC BBS.

--

Andy

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

USA GYMNASTICS

May 6, 1994
Contacts: Luan Peszek, Director of Public Relations
Ramonna Robinson, Manager of Public Relations


1994 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
LACUESTA LEADS 1994 JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM

Natalie Lacuesta from Skokie, Ill., captured the junior all-around
title today at the 1994 Rhythmic National Championships at Hofstra
University in Nassau County, N.Y. Lacuesta was a strong favorite
coming into the competition after her first place finish at the 1994
Rhythmic Challenge in February.

Lacuesta was very confident coming into the event. "Winning the
Rhythmic Challenge really gave me the confidence boost I needed
coming into Championships," said Lacuesta. She also added, "I took a
two-weekend mind control course in December which really helped
me with my confidence level. I wasn't very confident last year."

Lauri Illy of Evanston, Ill., took second place in the all-around,
becoming a first-time Junior National Team member. Illy was
excited, revealing, "My goal of this competition was to make the
Junior National Team."

Placing third was Lori Fredrickson from Sandwich, Ill., who was also
pleased with her performance. Fredrickson said, "I'm happy because
my goal of this competition was to finish in the top three."

The top ten junior gymnasts from today's competition comprise the
1994 Junior National Team while the top eight qualify for the 1994
U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Mo., July 1-10.

1994 Junior National Team
Place Athlete, Hometown, Club

1 Natalie Lacuesta, Skokie, Ill., Rhythmic Gems
2 Lauri Illy, Evanston, Ill., Rhythmic Gems
3 Lori Fredrickson, Sandwich, Ill., Illinois Rhythmics
4 Jennifer Lim, Skokie, Ill., Rhythmic Gems
5 Sara Sieber, Glenview, Ill., Rhythmic Gems
6 Tina Tharp, Jacksonville, Fla., Int'l RSG Gymnastics
7 Kelsi Kemper, Lake Oswege, Ore., Anelia's RSG Academy
8 Kristin Lee, Mountlake Terrace, Wash., Vancouver RSG
9 Liriel Higa, Los Angeles, Calif., L.A. Lights
10 Johanna Shoemaker, Rockville, Md., Rhythmflex


1994 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
LEVINSON CAPTURES SECOND NATIONAL TITLE

Tamara Levinson from Rockville, Md., captured the all-around title
today at the 1994 Rhythmic National Championships at Hofstra
University in Nassau County, N.Y. Levinson was a 1992 Olympian and
ranked 15th at the 1993 World Championships.

Excited about her second national title, Levinson said, "It makes it
extra special to win two in a row."

Caroline Hunt from Winettka, Ill., took second place, followed
closely by Jessica Davis from San Anselmo, Calif., in third.

The top ten senior gymnasts from today's competition comprise the
1994 Senior National Team while the top eight qualify for the 1994
U.S. Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Mo., July 1-10.

1994 Senior National Team

No. Athlete, Hometown, Club

1 Tamara Levinson, Rockville, Md., Rhythmflex
2 Caroline Hunt, Winnetka, Ill., Illinois Rhythmics
3 Jessica Davis, San Anselmo, Calif., Gymmarin
4 Challen Sievers, Downers Grove, Ill., Rhythmic Gems
5 Christi Tucay, Burbank, Calif., L.A. Lights
6 Mandy James, Jacksonville, Fla., Int'l RSG Gym.
7 Sally Ward, Jacksonville, Fla., Int'l RSG Gym.
8 Alicia Albe, Rockville, Md., Rhythmflex
9 Vanessa Vander Pluym, Redondo Beach, Calif., Calif. Breeze
10 Roxanne Pietrasik, Glenview, Ill., Illinois Rhythmics

Individual event finals take place Saturday, May 7, at 1:00 p.m. at
the Hofstra University Physical Fitness Center. Tickets may be
obtained at the Hofstra University Swim Center or by calling
516/794-2020.

###

------> rsgnatl3 <------
USA GYMNASTICS

Contacts: Luan Peszek, Director of Public Relations
Ramonna Robinson, Manager of Public Relations

May 7, 1994

1994 RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
LEVINSON WINS GOLD ON FOUR EVENTS

1994 Senior National Champion Tamara Levinson from Rockville,
Md., captured four individual event titles today at the 1994
Rhythmic National Championships at Hofstra University in Nassau
County, N.Y.

Levinson scored 9.5 on hoop, ball and clubs and 9.375 on ribbon. "I
perform better when I'm tired because I don't think. When I'm
nervous I think to much," said Levinson.

Jessica Davis from San Anselmo, Calif., earned a silver medal in
hoop (9.15), ball (9.35), clubs (9.425) and ribbon (9.225).

Placing third on hoop was Challen Sievers from Downers Grove, Ill.,
(9.125) while Caroline Hunt from Winnetka, Ill., took the bronze
medal in ball (9.3), clubs (9.375) and ribbon (9.175).

For the juniors, Natalie Lacuesta from Skokie, Ill., won the ball
finals with a 9.4 and the rope and ribbon with a 9.25. She also tied
for third in clubs with Sara Sieber from Glenview, Ill., (8.75).

Lacuesta was follwed in the ball finals by Laurie Illy from
Evanston, Ill., (9.075). Illy also placed third in rope (9.05)and
ribbon (9.0) and second in clubs (8.9).

Tina Tharp from Jacksonville, Fla., finished third in ball with a
8.8. Kristin Lee from Mountlake Terrace, Wash., took the silver
medal in rope (9.05) while Lori Fredrickson from Sandwich, Ill., won
the silver medal in ribbon (9.2).

# # #

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 1994 10:46:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu
Subject: Strug

Ewww, I had *no* idea what a can of worms I opened on that one. I can
say though, that both Kerri's mom and her sister Lisa are small people with low
bodyfat. I had lunch with Lisa at her private school when I was visting it, and
she ate from this mobile truck that came to the school every day - basically a
mobile diner. Let's just say, it's probably not the same food they serve at the
Olympic Training center.
Oh - if anyone's going to Phoenix for the tri-meet and wants suggetions
and/or directions for places to go (Linda B. might be able to help there,
too...) you can e-mail me. I was downtown for four days in April, so I've got
recent experience. One caution - parking is horrendous for Suns games, so watch
out! The Ramada Inn downtown is fairly cheap and has nice rooms and is within
easy walking distance to America West Arena. thought I should mention it since
it seems like several gymn-ers may go.
Wasn't Shannon also one of the ones who was technically too young to go
in '91 but fell under the same specifications as Strug and Fraguas? And how old
was Campi at the time? Kelsall did get an exception in '76, because she was
clearly one of the best for Canada.
One other point - I believe someone mentioned when people commented how
"good" Nadia looked in '78. Aren't you thinking of '79, when she was back w/
Karolyi and had lost all the weight she had put on in '78? Ick, she was soooo
emaciated. No wonder that infected wrist of hers wasn't healing. Also,
according to Karolyi, she was the only one on the gold-medal team in '79 who
was truly old enough to compete - everyone else was in the 12 - 13 year-old
range.
Cara

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 13:16:58 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Strug's anorexia

>Also, I had heard nothing prior to this about anorexia problems with Kerri.

I'd heard last fall that she was kicked off national team b/c her body fat
percentage was too low (indicating anorexia, I guess). Don't know if it's
true -- anyone? Anyway, it seems to me that setting one number as a measure
and then kicking you off the team if you are too low, if that's in fact what
happened, isn't the right way to go about dealing w/ something as difficult
and complex as anorexia. People's bodies are different and I think what they
(USAG) need to do is investigate the situation and provide counseling from a
psychologist and from a nutritionist to help her work through it, as well not
let her compete until it's determined that she's healthy, but not make that
determination on the basis of one number. Anyone know how they go about
dealing with these situations?

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 19:04:04 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Strug's anorexia

>I'd heard last fall that she was kicked off national team b/c her body fat
percentage was too low (indicating anorexia, I guess). Don't know if it's
true -- anyone?

Didn't really mean to mention the Strug thing at all (didn't actually know I
had)...but this is the same thing I had heard (which made me quite surprised
to see her turn up at DTB for the USA). I think we can all stop pussyfooting
around (or at least I will) this subject. Many coachs are really obssessed
with the weight of their girls - the thinner the better. Of course medically
while overweight is bad under weight can be just as harmful. You lose your
stamina, endurance, and your abilty to recuperate is hindered.... among many
other problems. I think that some coaches get out of control trying to make
young women undergoing puberty fight against their body's natural changes. I
know people that think that Boguinskyia was too fat to be a gymnast and that
Nadia looked "great" in '78...this is the attuitude that scares the crap out
of me. I saw both Kerri and Miller close up in August and in MY PERSONAL
OPINION neither looked too healthy. I've also heard and seen them both (and
amny of the other girls too) obssess over even the tinest bit of food "how
many calories in that power bar?"..."can I have a banana?." You should NOT
be able to see every vein and muscle outlined in the body of a young teenage
girl. Getting back to Kerri's problem the rumor I heard about her getting
kicked off due to low body fat percentage was a ridiculously low number to
begin with (something like 5% was okay and she was less than that...or so I
heard). A young HEALTHY girl's percantage body fight even in the category of
"athlete" should be nearly twice that...This problem seems to be far more
prevelant in the US than elsewhere....most likely simply because many of the
nations strong in gymnastics don't have the myriad of food choices that we do
(I once saw Roza Galieva eat more than a long shoreman...ice cream, hotdogs,
pizza, cotten candy, fudge, saltwater taffy...all in about 30 minutes [I was
slightly nausous just watching her]...of course this oppurtunity to indulge
doesn't present itself on a daily basis to someone like Roza where it would
to someone like Kerri or Shannon or any American)

Susan

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 20:02:41 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Strug's anorexia

Maybe Texx is on to something, but I just have to say that there are more
than enough pressures driving girls, especially gymnasts, to eating
disorders, and I doubt being forced into right-handedness accounts for too
many of the disorders. Also, these girls are quite young and forcing
children to use their right hand is more and more a thing of the past. I
doubt many, if any, were ever forced to switch hands. It is all the other
pressures which need to be addressed first.

-- gimnasta

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

Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 19:16:13 -0500 (CDT)
From: ***@owlnet.rice.edu
Subject: Strug's anorexia

Just to add in my thoughts:

I don't know if Strug was kicked off of the National team, but she
looked incredibly thin at the Hilton Challenge (Aug 1993). I heard
some USAG people worriedly remark that she looked too thin, and it
seemed more than just momentary concern. There was some talk of
"Revita" (this stuff you can take that helps your body use food more
effectively... breaks it down into the parts you need and flushes out
all the rest, or something like that?); all of Nunno's elites take
this Revita stuff, and a lot of other gyms are using it too. (It's
supposedly really bitter-- you mix it into your drink; wrestlers take
this too, as do many other athletes, no doubt.) Anyways, people were
saying that, even taking into consideration weight loss related to
Strug's using Revita, she still shouldn't be that thin. One also
thought she looked weaker than normal, but I didn't notice that
myself.

Also, re whether it was good of USAG to boot her off the Nat'l team,
if she had extraordinarily low body fat. Just to play devil's
advocate (not saying I agree, but just pointing this out)... well, say
they left her on the team. In a way, this could be interpreted as
condoning it, in a sense. Having a supposedly anorexic gymnast on the
team... it would just be very difficult for USAG to defend that, I
think.

Also, just wanted to say that of course not all gymnasts are anorexic.
I remember stories from Karolyi parents about how the girls would go
about sneaking cake and candy bars into their hotel rooms (such as put
it in the bathroom, turn the light on and send a girl in; if Karolyi
came for a room search, it's not like he could go in the bathroom or
anything...)

Also, on their bios, many gymnasts list their favorite food as
"pizza"... ;)

Rachele

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

Date: Sat, 07 May 94 22:39:41 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Strug's anorexia

>Also, on their bios, many gymnasts list their favorite food as
"pizza"...

Well there's a big jump beween listing your favorite food as pizza and ever
actually getting to eat it...I can say my favorite thing is Mel Gibson (it's
most certainly not by the by) that doesn't mean I have him.

>Just to play devil's advocate (not saying I agree, but just pointing this
out)... well, say they left her on the team. In a way, this could be
interpreted as condoning it, in a sense. Having a supposedly anorexic
gymnast on the team... it would just be very difficult for USAG to defend
that, I think.

I certainly don't think the USAG has any humanitarian reasons for this. With
the whole and very public Christie Henrich situation I'd say they were
covering their butts and making a VERY token appeal at action. From what I
have seen the US federation cares a lot more about medals in their pockets
than the health of their gymnasts...of course, I'm cynical and no I can't
conclusively prove that so I'll just leave it at that. This is a VERY touchy
subject. When a world class sport relies as heavily on childern as does
"women's" gymnastics there is a lot of scrutiny concerning motives and
procedures...most people can't get a 6 year old to sit down long enough to
tie their shoes let alone work for hours on end on the perfect back
handspring. Gymnastics draws a certain kind of driven individual and that is
more evident in the young girls than the men who have more independance in
their coaching and thought (if you don't buy that then look at any warm-up
session or post comp. party and see who's stressing and who's kicking back)
Boys can be eased into competition and puburty is encouraged for strength and
endurance...with girls I've seen coaches make them feel personaly responsible
for their bodies changing shapes. Most of the top female gymnasts these days
are shy & obediant and therefore easy to control. Coaches have to be very
careful not to take advantage of their desire to win and their equal and
often stronger desire to please...unfortuantely I think that many coaches
have been more concerned with personal glory than the health, safety, and
mental well being of their athletes. Eating disorders are only a part of this
problem. The competitive life span of a female gymnast is so very brief and
injury oftimes makes it even shorter. Gymnastics at the level it is now
proacticed has not been around long enough to analyze what happens to less
little girls when they eventually grow up...I'd venture a guess that it's
neither a mental nor physical boon.


>all of Nunno's elites take
this Revita stuff, and a lot of other gyms are using it too

This perfectly illustrates my every point... anyone that thinks that a 60
pound girl working out 6-8 hours per day needs to lose weight is not quite
right.

Susan

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

Date: Sun, 08 May 94 00:57:08 EDT
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Strug's anorexia

Susan says

>>Also, on their bios, many gymnasts list their favorite food as
"pizza"...

>Well there's a big jump beween listing your favorite food as pizza and ever
actually getting to eat it...

This reminds me of 1988, when NBC did a profile of Chelle Stack with her
friend in the mall eating a *huge* slice of pizza, and Gayle Gardner talking
about how Chelle "seems to eat everything without gaining a pound." Yeah,
right. And Bela's baking her cupcakes...

Mara

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

Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 11:24:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: ***@netcom.com
Subject: strug anorexia !

I was surprised as you all were to hear about Keri having anorexia.

Booting her off the team because you suspect anorexia sounds like a good way to
make it even worse !

(I could understand it if she was fainting during her routines, however...)

By the way is she left handed or right handed ?
Has she always been the same handed ?

There are some scary studies that link eating disorders to converting
kids from one handedness to the other.

Most common are "right hand leads" where people decide they dont want their kid
to be a "southpaw" so they resort to "reach for your milk with the left hand
again and Ill break it!" (I'm one of these)

What ends up hapening is that they use fear to remap the kid's neurology from
being a "leftie" to regular right handedness.
Later, this often causes unexplained problems.
Eating disorders and learning difficulties are often linked to converting kids.
These disorders are sometimes linked to other forms of abuse as well.

I was lucky, I only ended up with 2 minor problems, I get right and left mixed
up (without about 30-45 sec I cant tell the difference) which started happening
in 4th grade. My other problem is that in college I suddenly became
ambidexterous.
In my case ambidexterosity is not an advantage because I am not good at anything
with either hand and people dont belive that I am neither right nor left handed.

At Chevron Research a few years ago, a co worker sharing my lab bench with me
got real mad at me.

"Are you right handed or left handed?"
"Im both"
"No ones both"
"I am"
"Which hand do you write with?"
"Am I writing on paper or on a chalkboard?"
You should have heard the string of expletives she cut loose...

Exploring my falling problem earlier this year with the list, I am now
suspecting that this conversion has introduced a delay in the processing of
sensory information. Perhaps this explains why I hit the floor before I realize
that I am falling....

Considering the number of parents on this list, please remember this post, keep
an eye on your family and your team mates. Perhaps this info will answer
questions or start you researching on your own.

Last of all, I do not have the source of the study linking eating disorders to
hand conversion. I first heard about it from a nurse at the blood bank.
Since then I see news articles on it sometimes. I havent had time to read up on
it in the library, but I promise to do so and post when I have time.

Honest ! I swear ! This was only supposed to be a 10 line post !

-texx

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

Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 20:16:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@db.erau.edu
Subject: Strugg's Anorexia and Miller

Hey Gymn,
Just thought I had to comment about some of the comments. First, Kerri,
from what I have been told, left Dymno because Steve kept telling her that
he would not let her compete if she did not gain weight. This was inside
information so please do not tell any one where you herd this!!!!!

As far as Coaches worried about eating disorders. many of them do watch
their gymnasts for these problems. From what I have found is that most of
the cases of anorexia is "self imposed" and the coach would like to have
the gymnast eat more.

Susan mentioned that shannon looked real thin and was always concerned
about what she was eating. I have been out to eat with Shannon many
times, and she eats just like most normal teenagers. We have had pizza,
hamburges, and ice cream. She does rember what she eats and tries to
follow a strict diet. Dymno also has a nutrionist that comes in to check
on their athletes everyonce in a while.

As a last question, How much control over a gymnast career should their
parents have? This is a question that came up in a dissucion over the
phone with Dymno and I would like to have some imput from ya'll.

Jaye
------------------------------

Date: Sun, 8 May 1994 00:06:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: ***@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
Subject: Strugg's Anorexia and Miller

> about what she was eating. I have been out to eat with Shannon many
> times, and she eats just like most normal teenagers. We have had pizza,
> hamburges, and ice cream. She does rember what she eats and tries to
> follow a strict diet. Dymno also has a nutrionist that comes in to check
> on their athletes everyonce in a while.

huh? How can she follow a strict diet if she has pizza, hamburgers, & ice
cream whenever she's out? Eating like a normal teenager seems
incompatiable with strict diet...

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

Date: Sun, 8 May 94 16:22:03 BST
From: ***@ic.ac.uk
Subject: Womens European Championships

Hi all,

Haven't seen anyone mentioning this lately but the Womens European Championships
is this coming weekend (14/15 May) and is there anybody round here who's going?
(Stockholm, I believe).

EuroSport here in Britain (or Europe) is again broadcasting live on this event.
(About five or six hours' coverage altogether, I think). ;)

Sherwin Ho Ho Ho!

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

End of gymn Digest
******************************