GYMN-L Digest - 12 Mar 1996 to 13 Mar 1996 - Special issue

There are 11 messages totalling 644 lines in this issue.

Topics in this special issue:

  1. 1996 France Telecom Women Finals results
  2. 1996 France Telecom RSG Finals results
  3. 1996 France Telecom Men Finals results
  4. 1996 France Telecom report (1/7)
  5. 1996 France Telecom report (2/7) Men Semis
  6. 1996 France Telecom report (3/7) Women Semis
  7. 1996 France Telecom report (4/7) Men's Finals
  8. 1996 France Telecom report (5/7) Women's Finals
  9. 1996 France Telecom report (6/7) Rhythmic
 10. 1996 France Telecom report (7/7) Other notes
 11. Memories of 93 American Cup - long

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Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:01 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom Women Finals results

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


WOMEN'S HORSE VAULT FINALS
--------------------------
                                  1st V   2nd V     Aver.
 1. Rozalia Galieva         RUS   9.775 + 9.700  =  9.737
 2. Marilou Cousineau       CAN   9.637 + 9.612  =  9.624
 3. Simona Amanar           ROM   9.812 + 9.362  =  9.587
 4. Cecile Canqueteau       FRA   9.675 + 9.337  =  9.506
 5. Yelena Piskun           BLR   9.000 + 9.575  =  9.287


WOMEN'S UNEVEN BARS FINALS
--------------------------
 1. Lilia Podkopayeva       UKR  9.887
 2. Elvire Teza             FRA  9.862
 3. Dina Kochetkova         RUS  9.850
 4. Yelena Piskun           BLR  9.812
 5. Simona Amanar           ROM  9.737


WOMEN'S BALANCE BEAM FINALS
---------------------------
 1. Gina Gogean             ROM  9.762
 2. Lilia Podkopayeva       UKR  9.262
 3. Ludivine Furnon         FRA  9.250
 4. Rozalia Galieva         RUS  9.075
 5. Zhu Suiting             CHN  8.987


WOMEN'S FLOOR EXERCISE FINALS
-----------------------------
 1. Gina Gogean             ROM  9.712
 2t Lilia Podkopayeva       UKR  9.700
 2t Dina Kochetkova         RUS  9.700
 4. Cecile Canqueteau       FRA  9.637
 5. Annika Reeder           GBR  9.537

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:08 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom RSG Finals results

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


RHYTHMIC ROPE FINALS
--------------------
 1t Yanina Batyrchina         RUS  10.000
 1t Larissa Lukyanenko        BLR  10.000
 1t Ekaterina Serebrianskaya  UKR  10.000
 4. Diana Popova              BUL   9.833
 5. Eva Serrano               FRA   9.766


RHYTHMIC BALL FINALS
--------------------
 1. Larissa Lukyanenko        BLR  10.000
 2. Yanina Batyrchina         RUS   9.933
 3. Elena Vitrichenko         UKR   9.900
 4. Almudena Cid Tostado      ESP   9.800
 5. Eva Serrano               FRA   9.783


RHYTHMIC CLUBS FINALS
---------------------
 1t Ekaterina Serebrianskaya  UKR  10.000
 1t Amina Zaripova            RUS  10.000
 3. Eva Serrano               FRA   9.950
 4. Diana Popova              BUL   9.750
 5. Almudena Cid Tostado      ESP   9.733


RHYTHMIC RIBBON FINALS
----------------------
 1. Larissa Lukyanenko        BLR  10.000
 1. Ekaterina Serebrianskaya  UKR  10.000
 3. Amina Zaripova            RUS   9.933
 4. Diana Popova              BUL   9.916
 5. Eva Serrano               FRA   9.800

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:17 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom Men Finals results

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


MEN'S FLOOR EXERCISE FINALS
---------------------------
 1. Grigori Misutin         UKR  9.712
 2. Thierry Aymes           FRA  9.625
 3. Alexei Demianov         CRO  9.550
 4. Vitali Sherbo           BLR  9.325
 5. Evgeni Podgorni         RUS  9.300


MEN'S POMMEL HORSE FINALS
-------------------------
 1. Eric Poujade            FRA  9.800
 2. Marius Urzica           ROM  9.737
 3. Yoshiaki Hatakeda       JPN  9.712
 4. Li Donghua              SUI  9.662
 5. Valentin Mogilny        INV  9.650


MEN'S STILL RINGS FINALS
------------------------
 1. Yuri Chechi             ITA  9.812
 2. Alexei Demianov         CRO  9.687
 3t Ivan Ivankov            BLR  9.675
 3t Andreas Wecker          GER  9.675
 5. Sebastien Tayac         FRA  9.450


MEN'S HORSE VAULT FINALS
------------------------
                                 1st V   2nd V     Aver.
 1. Samuel Dumont           FRA  9.500 + 9.637  =  9.568
 2. Grigori Misutin         UKR  9.300 + 9.675  =  9.487
 3. Vitali Sherbo           BLR  9.350 + 9.562  =  9.456
 4. Qiu Sui Rong            CHN  9.600 + 9.225  =  9.412
 5. Dmitri Karbonenko       RUS  9.175 + 9.375  =  9.275


MEN'S PARALLEL BARS FINALS
--------------------------
 1. Ivan Ivanov             BUL  9.700
 2. Rustam Charipov         UKR  9.662
 3. Alexei Voropayev        RUS  9.612
 4. Yuri Chechi             ITA  9.512
 5. Eric Poujade            FRA  8.975


MEN'S HORIZONTAL BAR FINALS
---------------------------
 1. Aljaz Pegan             SLO  9.825
 2t Yoshiaki Hatakeda       JPN  9.787
 2t Samuel Dumont           FRA  9.787
 4. Andreas Wecker          GER  9.737
 5. Ivan Ivankov            BLR  9.725

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:21 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (1/7)

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************

La Federation Francaise de Gymnastique (FFG) and their major sponsor,
France Telecom, took on the task of the 7th Internationaux France
Telecom competition.  The venue for the event was the impressive
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (POPB) which included the training
gym, meal and banquet facilities, and press facilities all within
the building.

A unique competition format was used for the two days of competition
which was event finals only.  Saturday afternoon, semi-finals for half
of the apparatus took place (M - FX,PH,R / W - V,UB / R - Rope,Ball).
Then, after a two hour break, the balance of the events were competed.
This was perhaps a bit taxing, particularly for athletes competing all
events, however the athletes seemed to be in continued good spirits
when the competition finished at 11:00pm.

The apparatus finals on Sunday featured the top 5 athletes on each
apparatus --- one per country including one French athlete on each
event.

Most of the competition was run one routine at a time, with only a
select number of exercises occurring at the same time.

The event finals featured $100,000 US in prize money being divided
as follows over 14 events (6 M, 4 W, 4 R):
     1st - 20,000 French Francs (FFR)
     2nd - 10,000 FFR
     3rd -  5,000 FFR

This kind of prize money attracted most of the world's best gymnasts,
with event medalists from Brisbane and Sabae being personally invited,
plus several event specialists.

The semi-finals used Competition II rules while Sunday's finals were
Competition III.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:27 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (2/7) Men Semis

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


MEN'S SEMI-FINALS
-----------------

FLOOR EXERCISE
Grigori Misutin (UKR) topped the floor prelims with a 9.675
routine which opened with a double layout.  Vitaly Sherbo (BLR)
dismounted with a double layout for a 9.637, tied with Evgeni
Podgorni (RUS).  Thierry Aymes of France included a tucked
double-double (9.562) for 4th.  Also worth noting is Brisbane floor
medalist Ioannis Melissanidis (GRE) who mounted with RO whip double-
layout punch-front.  However, his double layout dismount took off
low, forcing him to put his hands down.  He sustained a slight foot
injury on the landing but assures it is nothing serious and that he
will compete at the Cottbus International at the end of March.


POMMEL HORSE
1995 World Champion Li Donghua (SUI) hit a 9.775 pommel horse routine
to tie for first in prelims with France's Eric Poujade.  Marius Urzica
(ROM - 9.725) was in third, following by Valentin Mogilny (9.700)
competing on an independent invitation.  Eric Casimir (FRA), Patrice's
younger brother, was 5th with 9.675 but unable to compete finals due
to the one-per-country rule.  Yoshiaki Hatakeda of Japan was next in
line at 9.587.

STILL RINGS
Italy's Yuri Chechi rocked his legendary rings routine for 9.762 and
first place.  He was following by another rings-master, Andreas Wecker
(GER - 9.637).  1994 World All-Around Champion Ivan Ivankov (BLR) hit
a 9.612, following be Croatia's Alexei Demianov (inverted, iron, and
Olympic crosses - 9.575) and Alexei Voropaev (RUS - 9.562) who was
replaced by Sebastien Tayac of France in finals.

HORSE VAULT
Dmitri Karbonenko threw a 9.637 handspring 2.5 tucked front for Russia
(small step forward).  The balance of finalists was composed of Samuel
Dumont (FRA), Qiu Sui Rong (CHN), Vitaly Sherbo (BLR), and Alexei
Voropaev (RUS).

PARALLEL BARS
Yuri Chechi (ITA) surprised many with his first place (9.612) in the
parallel bars prelims.  He was following closely by Ivan Ivanov (BUL)
who showed a fast paced routine with original elements.  Ukraine's
Rustam Charipov hit for 9.587 and third place.  Voropaev also showed
an original routine and a 4th place 9.575.  Eric Poujade (FRA) tied
for 5th (9.550) ith Evgeni Podgorni of Russia (double front half
dismount off the side).  Poujade was clean with his long legs and
arms and also threw a double front dismount.  Jesus Carballo (ESP)
must be commended for his incredible shoulder flexibility.  His two
back tosses, which nearly dislocated his shoulders before releasing,
drew gasps of appreciation from the knowledgeable audience.

HORIZONTAL BAR
Aljaz Pegan (SLO) rocked his amazing HB set for a 9.712 which included
a tucked Gaylord half out.  Ivan Ivankov was clean and polished in 2nd
at 9.687, ahead of Wecker and Hatakeda (9.650 each) and Samuel Dumont
(FRA) - 9.612.  Voropaev peeled on a Kovacs for 8.100 and 20th.  Vitaly
Sherbo's four release combination (hop full to 1 arm piked Tkatchev
repeated) was a bit laboured, dropping his score to a 7th place 9.525.
Charipov threw a piked Gaylord, two mile-high Tkatchevs, and a triple
back dismount, but with no connected releases he had to settle for
9.437 and a tie for 11th place with Chechi.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:33 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (3/7) Women Semis

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************

WOMEN'S SEMI-FINALS
-------------------

HORSE VAULT
Simona Amanar (ROM) won the vault prelims with Yurchenko double fulls
and a 9.849 average.  Rozalia Galieva (RUS) threw RO half-on piked
front-half off two times netting 9.812 (2nd), ahead of Gogean (9.806)
who took a hefty step back on her first Yurchenko 1.5 twist.  Gogean,
along with Dina Kochetkova (RUS) in 4th (9.675) were also victims of
the one-per-country rule and had to stay out of finals.  Yelena Piskun
(BLR) seemed a little off but pulled Yurchenkos (full and double full)
earning a 9.668 average and spot to finals.  With Cecile Canqueteau
going to finals for France, the next spot went to Marilou Cousineau
(CAN) who vaulted clearn Yurchenko halfs in semi-finals (9.581).

UNEVEN BARS
Lilia Podkopayeva (UKR) scored a 9.850 in UB prelims despite her usual
minor split legs on her hopfull-hopfull-Gienger combintation.  She was
followed closely by Elvire Teza (FRA) who pulled off an incredible and
lengthy combination:  giant-half to invert to piked Jaeger, stoop through
to rear circle, German giant to reverse hecht.  Piskun rocked her usual
set (2 hopfulls to Deltchev to shoot half to handstand and a stuck double
layout) for a 3rd place 9.812 tied with Kochetkova (wrong-way giant full
to Tkatchev to layout Pak).  Simona Amanar (6th tie) was next in line for
finals since Galieva (5th) and Isabelle Severino (FRA - 6th tie) had
teammates ahead of them.  Amy Chow (USA) hit an incredible set with
several amazing combinations and elements (Endo-full to Endo-half to
Staldered-Shaposhnikova with a half (!) and a tucked double-double
dismount).  Unfortunately, Amy was the first gymnast up in and this kept
her score down to 9.637 (12th).  Adrienn Nyeste's (HUN) straddled
Gienger is always worth mentioning.

BALANCE BEAM
Podkopayeva also led the balance beam after prelims.  A 9.800 routine
included brand new choreography; more flowing and graceful with less of
the flexed-feet type poses.  Acrobatics included a punch front mount,
ff ff piked-Chen, and a double tuck dismount.  Gogean hit a token set
for 9.787 in front of Ludivine Furnon of France (9.737 - punch front
mount; ff layout layout Korbut; double tuck dismount).  Amanar in 4th
(9.725) and Laetitia Begue in 6th (9.550) were bumped from finals,
while Galieva (5th - 9.550) and young Zhu Suiting (CHN - 7th - 9.500)
went on to Sunday.  Must-mentions are Severino's front aerial 1.5 twist
to straddle down, Teza's full-twisting Yurchenko loop, and Vasiliki
Tsavdaridou's (GRE) RO Rulfova mount and switch side leap immediate
Yurchenko loop.

FLOOR EXERCISE
It was Gina Gogean who led the floor prelims (double layout mount) with
a 9.775.  Cecile Canqueteau hit RO whip ff triple-full mount and a triple
full dismount along with intricate choreography (9.687 - 2nd).  Kochetkova's
9.612 (also a double layout mount) put her in third, whilt 4th place (9.600)
Laetitia Begue's new routine (whip to full-in mount) was bumped from finals.
Podkopayeva (also a new FX, to ethnic music) and Annika Reeder (GBR) went on
to Sunday with a 9.575 and 9.500 respectively.  Also sporting new routines
were Yelena Piskun (same music as Podkopayeva!) and Ludivine Furnon, who
unfortunately fell to her knees on her opening double layout.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:37 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (4/7) Men's Finals

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


MEN'S FINALS
------------

FLOOR EXERCISE
Misutin retained his first place ranking from the semi-finals to win
the floor final (9.712).  France's Thierry Aymes had only a slight hop
on his tucked double-double and merited a 9.625.  Third and fourth went
to Demianov and Sherbo respectively, while Podgorni claimed 5th at
9.300.  Podgorni nailed his triple back in warm-up, but come competition
he put his hands down.  Interestingly, he used the triple as his second
tumbling line (first pass being front-layout front-layout front-full)
which perhaps affected his energy level for the triple.

POMMEL HORSE
The five pommel horse finalists were definitely specialists and the
competition would be close.  A variety of different styles were on
display ranging from Mogilny's long, clean lines to Li Donghua's
marathon-long routine, to Hatakeda's rapid elements and connections.
Mogilny had a marathon routine of his own, which caught up to him in
the end as he had to muscle up into his handstand dismount.  The same
happened to Li Donghua as well, leaving him in 4th (9.662) ahead of
5th place Mogilny (9.650).  Eric Poujade nailed a fantastic exercise
for 9.800 and first place, much to the delight of the home fans.
Romania's Marius Urzica displayed some difficult elements and
combinations, but lacked a bit on the execution side, thus a 9.737
and second place.  Yoshiaki Hatakeda whipped through a fast-paced
difficult routine for 3rd (9.712).

STILL RINGS
The rings final also featured some specialists, most notably Chechi,
Demianov, and Wecker.  In the end, it was Chechi who rocked his
routine the most and his 9.812 was comfortably ahead of Demianov's
9.687.  Close behind Demianov were Ivan Ivankov and Andreas Wecker at
9.675, followed by Sebastien Tayac of France (9.450).

HORSE VAULT
The vault final surprisingly went to France's Samuel Dumont with a
9.568 average.  Misutin followed in the ranks at 9.487, narrowly
ahead of Sherbo (9.456) and Qiu Sui Rong of China (9.412).  Russia's
Dmitri Karbonenko faultered in 5th (9.275).

PARALLEL BARS
Bulgaria's Ivan Ivanov hit a 9.700 routine in the parallel bars final.
His routine moved quickly and featured several exciting elements.
Charipov was as clean and precise as ever, but only merited a second
place 9.662.  Alexei Voropaev grabbed 3rd (9.612) over Chechi (9.512)
and Poujade (8.975).

HORIZONTAL BAR
Retaining his first place prelims finish, Aljaz Pagan nailed his routine
for 9.825, first place, and 20,000 French francs.  His exciting tucked
Gaylord half-out plus triple back dismount earned the reward.  Hatakeda
also hit, but with slightly less pizazz than Pagan, thus a 9.787 tied
with Samuel Dumont.  Dumont's exercised included a wild layout Tkatchev
full to Gienger and a Markelov to Gienger.  Wecker (two Kovacs) was not
far behind in 4th at 9.737.  Ivan Ivankov showed good lines and form,
but lacked on the difficulty side (tucked Kovacs, layout Tkatchev)
resulting in 9.725 and 5th place.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:41 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (5/7) Women's Finals

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


WOMEN'S FINALS
--------------

HORSE VAULT
Women's vault featured five strong finalists.  If memory serves correctly,
Galieva hit a RO half on piked-front-half off and a handspring piked-
front-half for a 9.737 average.  Marilou Cousineau (CAN) hit a clean
Yurchenko half and handspring piked front, both with minimal landing
deductions, which were rewarded with a silver medal (9.624).  Simona
Amanar incurred a 0.3 wrong vault deduction for tucking her Tsukahara
layout half, leaving her with a 9.587 average and 3rd place.  Cecile
Canqueteau hit a neat Yurchenko half (9.675) but her layout Tsukahara
second vault (9.337) kept her average down to 9.506 (4th).  Yelena
Piskun had an off day in 5th (9.287).

UNEVEN BARS
Podkopayeva won the bars title with a 9.887.  Teza was close in second
at 9.862 and perhaps should have won, having more difficulty and
originality than Lilia.  Although Teza does not exhibit Podkopayeva's
toe point and form, Lilia did have obvious form breaks on her hopfulls
and Gienger, whereas Teza had no serious form breaks.  Kochetkova hit
for 3rd (9.850) followed by Piskun (9.812 - 4th) and Amanar in 5th (9.737).
Interestingly, all five routines had a 10.0 start value and all five
gymnasts hit, so the deciding factor was execution.

BALANCE BEAM
Gina Gogean won beam as she was the only gymnast not to fall (9.762).
Podkopayeva (9.262), Furnon (9.250), Galieva (9.075), and Zhu Suiting
of China (8.987) placed second through fifth, respectively.

FLOOR EXERCISE
Gogean won the floor finals as well again relying on the mistakes of
others, despite stepping out of bounds herself on her opening double
layout.  Podkopayeva also incurred the 0.1 out of bounds deduction,
this time for standing in the corner for her last pass [note - not
visible from my view].  When the line judge raised the flag, the
crowd jeered with disapproval.  While they silenced themselves to
let Lilia complete her final tumbling run, after she finished the
routine the jeering and booing recommenced when the line judge got
up to deliver the note to the head judge.  The noise reached a peak
when the line judge placed the note in the hands of the head judge,
much to the disapproval of the audience.  Lilia's final score, a
9.700, tied for second with Kochetkova .  Canqueteau showed a dramatic
routine, but lacked the really big tumbling.  A 9.637 put her in 4th
over Annika Reeder of Great Britian (9.537).

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:45 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (6/7) Rhythmic

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************


RHYTHMIC SEMI-FINALS
--------------------
The rhythmic scores went much higher than the artistic, even with
slight errors in some exercises.  It was obvious that the former
Soviet Union would dominate, with Serebrianskaya and Vitrichenko
from Ukraine, Zaripova and Batyrchina from Russia, plus Larissa
Lukyanenko from Belarus.  Bulgaria, Spain, and France were slightly
overshadowed but showed many excellent exercises.  However, even
the ex-Soviets were not without errors having the odd drop or two.

Serebrianskaya was in fine form, taking first place outright with
clubs and ribbon (9.966 and 9.983 respectively) and sharing first
with rope (9.95 with Batyrchina and Lukyanenko) and ball (9.95 with
Batyrchina and Vitrichenko).  Ekaterina seemed to attract the most
crowd support, along with Eva Serrano of France.  Although, every
routine was appreciated by the crowd.


RHYTHMIC FINALS
---------------
After the very first routine of the rhythmic finals scored a 10.000,
one knew what kind of day it was going to be score-wise in the
rhythmic finals.  Every apparatus was won with a 10.000 and the
lowest medalling score was 9.900.

Lukyanenko won every final she entered, taking the ball title outright,
sharing rope with Batyrchina and Serebrianskaya, and ribbon with
Serebrianskaya.  Zaripova and Serebrianskaya both won the clubs title.

The most innovative routine would have to be Diana Popova's (BUL)
ribbon exercise.  With a green ribbon, she performed to "Standing
in Motion" from Yanni's 'Live at the Acropolis' album.  She created
very distinct and unique patterns with the ribbon combined with her
smooth, silky choreography.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:57:48 -0600
From:    ***@SASKNET.SK.CA
Subject: 1996 France Telecom report (7/7) Other notes

****************************************************
* 7th INTERNATIONAUX FRANCE TELECOM DE GYMNASTIQUE *
*       PARIS, FRANCE  -  MARCH 2 & 3 - 1996       *
*         PALAIS OMNISPORTS DE PARIS-BERCY         *
****************************************************

OTHER NOTES
-----------

-Elvire Teza (FRA) trained ff 4 layouts, with room for more.

-Adi Peer (ISR) mounted beam with a piked front salto (fell in
competition) and has an amazing facial resemblance to former
Canadian team member Lisa Simes.

-Krisztian Jordanov (HUN) performed a tucked Guczoghy to tucked
half-in-half-out off rings.

-In the press conference, Vitali Sherbo (BLR) apologized for his poor
performance saying that because of his wife's December car accident
he was only able to train for one month prior to the meet.  He advised
he will be training in Belarus with his teammates for 4 months before
Atlanta.

-Valentin Mogilny is still waiting to find out if he will compete for
France at the Atlanta Olympics.  His passport has been accepted but he
is not sure if he will receive it in time for the Games.  Mogilny's
coach, former French team member Laurent Barbieri, assures that Valentin
would compete all-around but that he is lacking slightly on rings.

-For French gymnast Samuel Dumont, this was one of his first major
events after back surgery.  The French Federation was pleased to
prove that even after major surgery, an athlete can return to the
top level of the sport.

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

Date:    Tue, 12 Mar 1996 22:20:41 EST
From:    ***@COMPUSERVE.COM
Subject: Memories of 93 American Cup - long

Hello to all,

With all the commentary concerning the 1996 American Cup, I took a look at a
tape of my favorite American Cup - 1993. I admit I have only seen four A.C.
competitions (93, 94, 95, 96) so there may have been better, but this one still
is a stand out. If for no other reason it is the best just because of the
competitors: Shannon Miller, Kerri Strug, Louisa Portocarrerro, Elena Piskun,
Mari Kosuge, He Xuemei for the women and Vitaly Scherbo, Lance Ringnald, Andreas
Wecker, Rustam Sharipov, Chris Waller, Marius Gherman, and Zoltan Supola for the
men.

And there was a lot more balance of coverage in this American Cup: 11
performances by the women and 13 performances by the men were shown. Also, there
was a bio feature of one woman (Shannon) and one man (Vitaly).

Some highlights in the 93 American Cup include:
1.Shannon Miller's dismount from the beam - full twisting double back in a pike
position
2.Vitaly Scherbo's totally perfect pike double back dismount from the p-bars
3.Louisa Portocarrerro doing the Portocarrerro on the beam

Other memorable things about the 93 American Cup:
1.Very good explanation of the new code of points at the beginning of the
program
2.Both Elfi Schlegel and Tim Daggett did a very good job of pointing out where
the D and E elements were in the routines
3.The commentators kept quiet during Shannon's floor routine
4.There was a good level of camaderie among all the competitors. It seemed
pretty laid back since it was a post Olympics competition. Lance Ringnald and
Vitaly Scherbo were very chummy, which was good to see.
5.In an interview, Mary Lou Retton expressed her concerns about the new code of
points saying it was making the sport more dangerous.

More noteworthy things about the 93 AC:
1.Scherbo's wife, Irena, had given birth to their daughter Christina only a day
before the American Cup (March 3 I believe).
2.The commentators mentioned the engagement of Chris Waller and Cindy to be
married in June of 93.
3.Poor Kerri kept her stone-faced expression throughout the competition. I don't
think she smiled once while on camera. I'm glad to see her smile in 96!
4.Scherbo had his, fortunately, short-lived mustache. And in an interview he
described babies as pieces of beef and pork. I don't know what idea he was
trying to get across.
5.Dare I say it, no feature on Karolyi.

Glitches in the '93 broadcast:
1.On the current standings tote board that was posted on camera He Xuemei was
identified as a Guatemalan, Mari Kosuge was identified as French, and Andreas
Wecker was identified as Romanian.
2.Athletes were made to wait between routines while the commentators in the
studio announced upcoming basketball games.
3.Commentary could not be heard during Shannon Miller's uneven bar routine.
4.No picture transmission during Scherbo's hi-bar routine.
5.Lance Ringnald had to motion for a cameraman to move out of his way so he
could mount the parallel bars!

Sorry this is so long, but there was a lot happening in this broadcast of the
'93 American Cup which made it memorable.

Dana

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End of GYMN-L Digest - 12 Mar 1996 to 13 Mar 1996 - Special issue
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