gymn Digest Sat, 7 Jan 95 Volume 3 : Issue 57

Today's Topics:
'95 European Cup
American Classics Tickets
Atlanta tickets
Calling all electronic resources
Floor Music
Guestion about gym tuition
Gymnasts and Smiles (2 msgs)
Ivankov
low bar dismounts
NCAA meeting (2 msgs)
Podkopayeva
Question about gym tuition
question on low bar dismo
Question on UB Dismounts (2 msgs)
SELF-INTRO
Shannon and the team
Trivia Quiz #25: Unexpected Victors
WSG article on Men's Gymn & NCAA

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

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Date: Sat, 7 Jan 95 18:14:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: '95 European Cup

>.... BROADCAST European Cup (M)/ABC.....

Does anyone know when and where this competition will be held??

Thanks!
Debbie


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

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 1995 01:18:33 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@delphi.com
Subject: American Classics Tickets

I don't at the moment know how tickets are being sold except that, all of
our clubs here in Nor Cal have been given lots of tickets to sell. If anyone
here wants them, just contact me by mail;
Ben Corr
Rohnert Park Gymnastics
320 Professional Center Drive #150
Rohnert Park, CA. 94928
(707)585-9377
or you can call the Nor Cal Gymnastics BBS (that I maintain) at
(707) 585-7441
BBS use is free, just leave me a message, I will make sure that anyone from
Gymn who wants tickets will get them promptly. If you have any questions
about the meet, just contact me and I will get you answers ASAP.
bjcorr@delphi.com

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 07:43:05 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: Atlanta tickets

More info in addition to what George posted about Atlanta ticket
availability. The following was found on "USA Gymnastics Online!",
but originated in _USA Volleyball_:

11 Million Tickets Available in Atlanta (1/4/95)

You can't reserve tickets to the 1996 Olympic Games yet, but one thing
is certain: Because of larger venues and more sessions, there will be
more chances to see events in Atlanta than at any previous Games.

The latest estimate from the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games
is 11,039,699 tickets. That's four million more than were available in
Los Angeles in 1984; six million more than in Seoul in 1988, and seven
million more than in Barcelona in 1992.

Tickets will go on sale to the public May 1, 1995. Tickets will first
be available for purchase by direct mail and later for phone purchase
in a second phase.

Prices range from $6 to $250 for athletic events. Only five percent of
all 1996 Olympic Game tickets are priced over $75. The average ticket
price is $39.72 and, for the first time ever, the ticket price
includes the cost of Olympic transportation during the Games. Every
sport has at least one session for which tickets are available at, or
below, $25.

Tickets to Opening and Closing Ceremonies are the most expensive at
$200, $400, and $600. Ceremonies tickets in Barcelona were about $500
for the best seats. Only nine sports have tickets priced over $75; the
last session of athletics, and finals of basketball, boxing, diving,
artistic gymnastics, soccer, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

"You do need to respond quickly once tickets are available to have the
best opportunity of getting the ones you want most," said ACOG
Director of Ticket Sales Jack Tyson. "But there will be so many
tickets that you could come to Atlanta at the last minute and still
get a ticket for some sports."

--Olympic Beat

This announcement appeared in Sidelines, USA Volleyball, Winter 1994,
Vol. 5, No. 4, p 2.

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 08:42:48 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: Calling all electronic resources

Hey Gymn,

I am going to rearrange the ftp site a bit -- instead of
"Publications" being a top level directory, I am going to create a
"Resources" directory and move Publications underneath that. The
reason is that I will create another directory alongside
"Publications" called "Electronic-Resources". I would like to compile
a list of electronic resources for gymnastics, similar to our
publications list.

There are a lot of resources out there: Gymn, USA Gymnastics Online!,
Debbie's GIF site, some Compuserve GIFs, the NorCal BBS, the AOL
board, the Prodigy board -- those are the ones I know of off the top
of my head. There's surely more. If you know of, or better yet,
participate in one of these resources, please drop me a description of
it in the following format:

Name of resource (if any):
How to find the resource:
Fees associated with the resource:
Description:

Please limit description to 15 lines at most.

Thanks!
Rachele

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

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 1995 03:35:24 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@delphi.com
Subject: Floor Music

For those of you who collect suppliers of floor music (in an attempt to find
something new!) here's another to add to your list:
Larry Castle (408) 374-7448
He's a coach and a musician, and does top quality work, all his equipment is
state of the art DAT and MIDI, does custom and canned music.
bjcorr@delphi.com

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 18:52:12 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: Guestion about gym tuition

Jim's idea is an interesting one... I too wonder what the legal/tax
implications would be. I know some of the post-collegiate male
gymnasts receive sponsorships so there is a way.

On a side note, a _very_ ambitious goal for Gymn that I've thought
would be neat was that when we got big enough (1997?), it would be
cool if we could all contribute to a scholarship for two promising
young gymnasts (one male, one female). Never really thought about
what kind of legal mumbo jumbo we'd have to go through to do something
like that.

Rachele

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

Date: Wed, 4 Jan 1995 01:45:58 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Gymnasts and Smiles

I agree that deep concentration often causes gymnasts to "forget" to smile.
But, I think that those gymnasts who remember to do so enhance their
performance and makes it more "entertaining" to watch.

Should adding expression to a performance be rewarded? Does it require
greater effort? Added training? Perhaps even choreography? I think for
some yes, and for some no.

Does adding expression make a routine appear superior, one an audience would
remember more and look forward to seeing? Without a doubt. All else being
equal, people just love a smile.

Wasn't it just that quality, that smile, that made so many around the world
remember Nadia, Olga and Mary Lou? It looked like they were really having
fun, didn't it?.

Well, that's how I feel about it. And one more thing, wasn't it "just
wanting to have fun" that got gymnasts enrolled in the first place? I think
that if a gymnast ever stops having fun, at any level, they are really
missing, or "forgeting" the point, (which judges just might be counting).

Jeff

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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 95 10:41:25 GMT
From: ***@ic.ac.uk
Subject: Gymnasts and Smiles

Jeff wrote:

> Should adding expression to a performance be rewarded? Does it require
> greater effort? Added training? Perhaps even choreography? I think for
> some yes, and for some no.

Certainly Olga Korbut herself admitted that her smiles during the routines
were trained. Her coach was especially keen on her smiling and so she did
it, but she said she didn't fancy doing it sometimes. It was understandable
especially when the gymnast was having a bad day then it would be very
difficult to smile.

Sherwin

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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 95 19:09:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: Ivankov

And here's an interview with Ivan Ivankov which appeared in _Sport
Express_....

I WANT TO PLAY A HERO

"A journalist has come," Vitaly Scherbo said so loudly that everyone in the
hall heard. He was sitting in the center of the FX mat. Then he began to
give advice to Ivan, who recently became world champion.

"Is he your new coach?", I asked Ivan about Scherbo. "Yes, he's another
one," Ivan answered, grinning.

Ivankov is a model sportsman, pupil and son. You can believe this. The 19
year-old young man from Belarus could play the title role in a film. He has
the right features, inclination toward analytical thinking, and exacting
self-appraisal. He's a solid and reasonable young man. Here is the new
idol of the gymnastics world. He was able to move Scherbo (who is gossiped
about even when he is sitting at home doing nothing) from the top step of
the podium. Recently, before the Worlds, Ivan was asked if it was time for
Scherbo to leave gymnastics since he was already a veteran.

II: Oh, then I was understood by nobody! On one hand, it's the truth that
he's a veteran: he took part in the Olympics, a few worlds, he has
all the titles. But, on the other hand, he remains the number one
gymnast for everybody. The second part of my discourse was heard by
nobody, and everyone decided that I didn't think he was my rival. So
I had to explain that it was not so. I think that Vitaly didn't resent
me.

SE: Is he your friend?

II: Yes. We are good friends even though our characters are different. We
are rivals only on the podium.

SE: Before the worlds, Scherbo said that he didn't think you could become
an absolute champion. And what did he say to you after that?

II: He was glad for me. Then he added that my combination wasn't quite
good enough and if I want to win the next championship I must do it
better. And he spoke the truth. By the way, his program on every
apparatus is more difficult than mine.

SE: Did you win only bronze EF medals in Australia because of this?

II: I don't want to say that my program is weak. Some gymnasts don't take
part in the AA, but declare themselves specialists on the apparatus.
They spend much time perfecting one routine.

SE: Didn't you want to settle a private score with Andreas Wecker before
Brisbane? Last year in Birmingham he left you behind only after the
last apparatus and deprived you of a bronze medal.

II: In Cottbus I noticed that he wasn't in good form. But he looked good
on R. I didn't think that he would be very strong in Brisbane.

SE: How did you celebrate your victory?

II: I had a drink of champagne and bought 3 liters of whiskey for my
trainers. I was happy. We caroused until morning and went to the
disco.

SE: How long a rest did you have at home?

II: I rested for 3 days. For 2 of them I went to the gym hall to see my
friends. And I went to my dacha on the 3rd day.

SE: Did you plant potatoes?

II: No, they had already been planted. My parents are great authorities in
this field. But I like to fish very much. The last time I fished was
last year. I caught 10 carp.

SE: Ivan, is it difficult to train with Scherbo?

II: It's interesting. I'm accustomed to him. I've learned to turn a deaf
ear to many of the things he says. Very often, though, he gives me good
advice which helps me to cope with my mistakes.

SE: Is it true that a gymnast who does not smoke is a rarity?

II: Yes. I don't smoke and don't advise others to do so, because it
brings nothing except harm.

SE: And what do you think about carousing?

II: I'm not a supporter of it. Sometimes it happens, but seldom. I drink
little and don't care what I drink: champagne or white wine.

SE: When you went to the sports boarding school you were a model pupil and
a model son at home...

II: I wouldn't say so. Simply, I became accustomed to completing my chores.
When it's over, I'm happy. At school I often received the mark of "4".
And I was the most ordinary son.

SE: What's your domestic dream?

II: I want to have a new flat.

SE: Are you a reckless man?

II: Yes. I found this out when I was in a casino in South America!

SE: Generally speaking, you are at the age when people not only go to
casinos but also marry.

II: I have no wish to do this right now. I want to have a good time and
experience the present first. And I must select a girl. I like
beautiful, witty, cultured girls with beautiful figures.

SE: Have you met them?

II: The whole point is that I have not met them. As a rule a beautiful girl
is stupid. And smart girls are usually the opposite. That's why I
speak of having a good time; this way I may meet a woman who will be
like Kim Basinger.

SE: Last year you said you wanted to meet Michael Jordan.

II: Yes, but then I thought, why can't I also meet Stallone or
Schwarzenegger...

SE: One day, I believe, you were invited to act in a film?

II: Yes, 2 men came to my kindergarten to choose children for the film.
They said that they will take a child who could do 10 chin-ups. All
of the children wanted to act. And now I don't want to act because
I'm already acting. Gymnastics is the cinema, too.

SE: What role do you want to play?

II: I want to play the main hero.


Debbie


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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 1995 05:57:57 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: low bar dismounts

> After I thought about it, I decided that the reason we have seen a













^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That should read, "we have NOT seen a deluge of Mukhinas"...

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

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 1995 01:18:23 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@delphi.com
Subject: NCAA meeting

Perhaps someone here more knowledgable than I can answer a question that has
nagged me.
The NCAA is considering dropping it's support for Men's gymnastics, which
simply means that they will not sponser the National Championships. This
will do in Men's gymnastics at the colligiate level, as it would for any
sport, because NCAA support IS the support of a National Championship,
no NCAA Nationals and a sport is dead, correct?
What about football? They have no NCAA National Championship?
bjcorr@delphi.com

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 00:08:15 -0700 (MST)
From: ***@rmii.com
Subject: NCAA meeting

|
| no NCAA Nationals and a sport is dead, correct?
| What about football? They have no NCAA National Championship?

Well, I don't know a whole lot more than Ben, but I do think it's true
that NCAA makes/breaks a sport in other ways. It's more a question of
"are they the governing body for this sport?" And with that comes
stuff like setting guidelines for athletes and coaches and so forth,
and perhaps most importantly, scholarships, that is the number of
scholarships that can be offered for a certain sport. Recognizing
All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, etc.

That's my best answer... --Rachele

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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 95 18:15:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: Podkopayeva

The following is from the Russian paper _Sport Express_. I didn't translate
it, don't have the original text (sorry Beth!), and don't know the date this
story ran. Thought you'd be interested anyway.

LIONS ARE AFRAID, TOO

Sport Express: Eyewitnesses say that the audience was delighted and even
shocked by your appearance in Stockholm. Is it the truth?

L. Podkopayeva: Well, I got the highest mark, 9.937, for my appearance on
the carpet (FX). The audience went crazy.

G. Losinskaya: Lilia appeared in the first group of 4 in this final. And
after she finished, Leonid Arkaev, the trainer of the Russian team,
said that after Podkopayeva there is no reason for others to perform.

SE: Why are her floor exercises so good?

GL: They have been organized around a popular Jewish melody Havah Nagilah.
This masterpiece (pardon my immodesty) was done by Sveta Dubova, who
used to be a professional dancer and has been working with gymnasts
for 20 years. Podkopayeva's acrobatics are original, and this is her
hobby. She was the only one to perform the double front somersault in
Stockholm.

SE: Lilia, did you want to become a gymnast yourself or did your parents
want it?

LP: I wasn't asked whether I wanted to do it or not. I was 5 then. I was
simply brought to the hall. Mainly, my mother and grandmother dreamt
to see me as a champion.

GL: I can add that her parents said (in contrast to others who bring their
children to sports schools) either you will train to become a star or
do not waste your time. You must understand that it is ideal for the
trainer who coaches a gifted child when his parents treat it seriously.
In addition, Lilia was lucky with her first trainer, Lilia Pugacheva.
When Pugacheva gave her to me 3 years ago, it was apparent that she had
a strong character and would be able to accomplish much.

SE: You have been competing at the top level for 2 years now. Who do you
think is the strongest?

LP: It's difficult for me to tell. It's impossible to guess who will win
at any competition, because one can fall during a difficult combination.
Also, I think there is no real leader in women's gymnastics.

SE: Isn't Shannon Miller the real leader?

GL: She's not a bad gymnast but I think she's not on the same level as
Korbut, Comaneci or Boginskaya. She has become a leader because of the
judges. Because of the imperfect scoring system, gymnasts from 2
different "groups" perform the same difficult element differently but
are awarded the same score. It's one thing if you appear in a circus
for an audience and another if you appear in a competition using much
risk and bravery. The Americans chose the circus variant and profit
from it greatly. But it does nothing for the progress of gymnastics.

SE: And may this nonsense be because of the disintegration of the Soviet
sports school?

GL: Look at our current history. You can see that a country can be
spoiled in a day, but not a gymnastics school. It will survive as long
as its representatives are alive. By the way, Lilia and I were the
first to get an invitation to train with the USSR national team in
November 1991, but the country ceased to exist in December.

SE: Lilia, was the disintegration good or bad for you?

LP: It was good for me. It was very difficult to join the USSR national
team because there was so much competition for a spot. Now, even though
we are on different teams, we can compete together at European or
world championships. In other words, our problems are now decided on
an international dais whereas before we decided them at Krugloe.

GL: I think that the international referees have found themselves in a
tough spot. When the USSR broke up, they believed that somebody else
would become stronger in gymnastics. But they made a mistake. Though
the USSR has disappeared from the map, gymnastics has not.

SE: Does the girl who brought home the richest collection of European
medals feel like the new leader of the Ukrainian team?

LP: I can't feel like a leader beside gymnasts like Natalia Kalinina and
Tatiana Lysenko, who are older and more experienced than I. True, they
have received invitations to study in the US. Lysenko received one
after Brisbane and Kalinina after the Europeans. One day I may become
a leader.

SE: But can Tatiana Gutsu also be considered a leader?

GL: I can answer this question. I think that Tatiana does everything she
can to not become a leader. After her Olympic triumph in Barcelona she
took gymnastics less seriously. She doesn't come to workouts at
Kontse-Zaspa any more, even though she can lead the Ukrainian team if
she wants.

SE: What are you going to do to win the AA?

GL: We [Lilia and her coach] shall be able to master all 4 disciplines. I
think that we shall surprise the audience. And we know how to do it.

SE: How long are you going to go in for gymnastics?

LP: I can say that I shall go in for it until the Olympics in Atlanta.

SE: Will you become a trainer?

LP: I shall never be a trainer.

SE: Why have you answered so categorically?

LP: Though I'm a Leo, every time I train I'm afraid of something. And I
don't like to see others fall from the apparatus; it's unbearable for
me. So I don't want to be a trainer.

SE: Galina Ivanovna, do you think Podkopayeva is a trainer's dream come
true?

GL: It's the truth to some extent. I won't conceal the fact that I've
worked with girls more talented than Lilia in the last 25 years.
Sometimes a person has talent but a weak work character. Every day
Lilia and I train for 7 hours. It's good if we can train in our
hometown. When we have to prepare for a big meet, we speed things up
at the training camp so that we can return home sooner. It's hard for
15 and 16 year-old girls to stand it.


Debbie


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

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 95 13:59:01 -0500
From: ***@a1.csoc.umc.dupont.com
Subject: Question about gym tuition

[This message is converted from WPS-PLUS to ASCII]

Hi everyone,

I thought that I would throw out this question and see if anyone
has any information they would be willing to share on this topic.
We recently had the idea to offer scholarships/sponsorships to
cover tuition for qualified students in our gym. I feel that
there are a lot of kids out there who would benefit from exposure
to gymnastics, but will never have the opportunity due to family
circumstances.

Our idea is to approach groups such as the Lions or Elks and
convince them to establish a scholarship and allow us to help
them find an appropriate recipient. We would develop
relationships with athletic directors in local school systems to
assist in finding applicants.

Now, I realize that everyone can see that our motives are not
purely altruistic, but I do believe that this program would have
benefits for all of the participants, not just the gym. My main
concern is the legality of a profit making (wishful thinking):^)
business getting into the scholarship business. The other thing
I wonder about is whether or not there are strange tax
implications involved in doing this.

So, my question is: has anyone out there had any experience with
this sort of thing in their gym, and would you be willing to
share it with us? On a similar note, if anyone would be
interested in discussing gym marketing ideas in general, please
feel free to email me. Thanks.

--Jim

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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 1995 02:34:59 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: question on low bar dismo

>>OK, according to the Code, the Mukhina (hip circle on LB or HB - hecht with
salto back tucked) is a D.<<

>That surprises me, as I would think it would be significantly harder to
complete it in time off the low bar. Maybe the swing down from the high bar
provides more speed, though...any thoughts out there?<

After I thought about it, I decided that the reason we have seen a
deluge of Mukhina's is that virtually no gymnast nowadays is able to perform
it. The bars are simply too far apart. "Wrapping" and "beating", like we
used to see in the sixties and seventies, (well, like some saw in the 70's- I
saw only Romper Room :-)) is virtually impossible now. Some could manage to
hit their shins on the low bar while swinging on the HB, that's about it.
Now that we're on the subject of tricks on the LB, what are some tricks
that anyone may have seen people doing that are out of the ordinary? Gutsu
used to do a 3/4 giant (facing HB) to swing and catch the HB (like the Lu Li
but no pike or straddle). Of course, that was when she was 12 and about 4'
tall. Olga Kim of Kazakhstan once did a vault catch (ie release!) on the LB
but it didn't turn out too well so I don't know what she had in mind. Mostly
we just see standing (yuk!) and maybe a Stalder if we're lucky.
Anyone?

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 95 00:08:00 UTC
From: ***@genie.geis.com
Subject: Question on UB Dismounts

>How does the current Code treat UB dismounts off the *low bar* such as
>Mukhina's back tuck?

OK, according to the Code, the Mukhina (hip circle on LB or HB - hecht with
salto back tucked) is a D. Some other LB dismounts (there aren't many) are:

1. Hip circle backward on LB or HB - hecht to salto backward
with full twist: E

2. Hip circle backward on LB or HB - hecht with 1/2 twist to
salto forward with 1/2 twist: E

3. Hip circle backward on LB or HB - hecht with 1/2 twist to
salto forward: E

4. Hip circle backward on LB - hecht: A

5. Hip circle backward on LB or HB - hecht w/ full twist: B


Debbie


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

Date: Sat, 7 Jan 1995 01:24:18 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Question on UB Dismounts

>OK, according to the Code, the Mukhina (hip circle on LB or HB - hecht with
salto back tucked) is a D.

That surprises me, as I would think it would be significantly harder to
complete it in time off the low bar. Maybe the swing down from the high bar
provides more speed, though...any thoughts out there?

Mara

PS Debbie, you are a whiz!

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 18:52:46 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: SELF-INTRO

This is my self intro: I`m 10 years old my name is Amanda I live in
Woodbridge VA I am a level 4-5 in Gymnastics I have been in one competition
and one expedition.I`ve been in Gymnastics for 2 years and my favorite event
is beam. I am a girl and interested in gooing to the olypics of the year
2000.

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

Date: Fri, 06 Jan 1995 01:18:53 -0500 (EST)
From: ***@delphi.com
Subject: Shannon and the team

>>Coach Seifert (of the 49'ers) to Rice and Young: Okay, guys, we're
up 94-3. This game doesn't mean anything anyway. So why don't you two come
out and rest up for the palyoffs? We need to give Elvis
some game time, anyway.<<

>Well, I like the anology (where are you Adriana?) but it's a little far off
considering what actually happened.<

Actually I think the analogy is a bit off. I don't think you can compare
team responsabilities between a team in an individual sport like gymnastics
and one in a team sport like football very well. A team like football trains
and works together for a long time with little personell changes going on.
They are trained from the start to function as a unit to achieve their goal,
where as our National Team is a group of individuals who function as
individuals to reach their goals. Personell changes are fairly frequent.
Heck, you have to be a darn good individual performer just to make the
team! Then we throw them all together for a 2 week training camp and say
"now your a team!" Well, sort of. They have been trained from the beggining
to rely on themselves. College teams may be teams in the 'football' sense of
the word, but our National Team?

>The team needed Shannon and she turned her back on them. Whether or not it
was her coaches decision or not and whether or not she has any spine or has
any input about her career remains to be seen but in the long run it is her
that will be hurt by this. Imho it is the team that comes first over
personal glory and any athlete that has ever competed on a team will tell
you this.<
I'm sorry, but this is just garbage. A gymnast in training does what her
coach, (who is in charge of her training,) tells her or finds another coach.
It has nothing to do with Shannon having any 'spine'. Coaches do NOT always
make correct decisions, but they are the ones who have to make them and it's
the gymnasts responsability to follow them. If you want to talk about the
real team here, it's a gymnast and their coach, not some thrown together in
a few weeks, only for this meet group that may change the next time around.

I found Shannon's absence was very regretable, as I'm sure the other
gymnasts, her friends, did also. But calling her character or dedication
into question over this and basically accusing her of deserting her friends
is unfair.

>>(i.e. Wouldn't happen! My apologies for talking football. I
pick the '9ers and Steelers. ;^)<<

>And I pick the niners.<

By 2 touchdowns.

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

Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 20:16:07 -0500
From: ***@aol.com
Subject: Trivia Quiz #25: Unexpected Victors

I known it's been a while, but here's some trivia to start off the new year.


******
The topic is Unexpected Victors, and credit (or blame <g>) for thinking up
the questions goes to:

1-Brian
2-Mara
3,4,5-Cara
6-Brett
7-Karen
8,9-Cole
10-Cara

1. Which team jumped from 16th to 6th at '91 Worlds?

2. Which team jumped from 19th to 7th at '89 Worlds?

3. Which 1976 event final alternate won a bronze medal? Which event?

4. In 1987 in Rotterdam, this gymnast won a silver medal. It was such a
surprise that the officials didn't even have a full-size flag of the
athlete's country on hand, and used a half-size flag. Name the athlete,
event, and country.

5. What gymnast broke a femur at 1985 Worlds, then returned to win the 1986
US title? Bonus: What rule change was made as a result of the 1985 injury?

6. This athlete entered a 1985 Worlds event final in 8th place, only to
leave with the bronze (this was before new life). Name the gymnast and the
event.

7. Who was the surprising winner in the women's team competition at the 1994
Commonwealth Games and what teams placed 2nd and 3rd (when they had been
expected to fight it out for top spot)?

8. She won her only all around title in 1980 in Moscow, though many felt
that the crown should have been awarded to Comaneci. Do you remember her?

9. This gymnast thrilled the home crowd by making it on the podium at the
1975 Champions All tournament, an event that was won by 13 year-old Nadia
Comaneci. Who was she?

10. (This one's for you, Susan) Which 'bionic athlete' returned from a
serious car crash to regain his World title in 1987?

Answers tommorrow!

Mara

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Date: Fri, 6 Jan 1995 12:02:48 -0800 (PST)
From: ***@leland.Stanford.EDU
Subject: WSG article on Men's Gymn & NCAA

Those interested in the upcoming NCAA vote might be interested in
an article in the _Wall Street Journal_ today titled "Gymnastics and
NCAA Gender Wars," by Frederick C. Klein. It is on page B10.

Richard Aronson, former coach at U. Mass.-Lowell and current executive
director of the National Association of Gymnastics Coaches, is quoted
as saying: "If [Prop. 104 fails], I think we'll lose 10 or 12 more
teams quickly, and you can pretty much kiss the sport goodbye at our
level."

It also mentions insurance costs as an excuse for cutting programs, both
at the high school level (therefore cutting into the recruiting pool), as
well as at the college level.

It goes on to look at the bigger picture of "minor" men's sports getting
eliminated in the name of Title IX gender equity while football gets to
keep 85(!) players on full scholarship.

This is not at all what Title IX was meant to encourage!

As T.J. Kerr, wrestling coach at Cal State-Bakersfield and president of
the National Wrestling Coaches Association, points out, "When you talk about
student-athletes, you really mean the minor-sport kids, who compete for
the love of it instead of as a means to a big-money pro contract. We're
what college sports are supposed to be about."

I think that view might go to a bit of an extreme, but it is still a good
point.

-Patrick

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End of gymn Digest
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