GYMN-L Digest - 24 Apr 1996 to 25 Apr 1996

There are 5 messages totalling 145 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Intro
  2. Healy
  3. Olympic Wildcards Explained
  4. Re-introduction
  5. predictions, and bit of trivia

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Date:    Wed, 24 Apr 1996 21:55:04 -0600
From:    ***@CABLEREGINA.COM
Subject: Intro

My name is Marg. I have been involved in gymnastics since 1981 as
parent, volunteer, and Physical Therapist.  My role as a parent has evolved
from Recreational to National level, my daughter competed at 6 Canadian
National Championships until a torn ACL ligament on a 2 1/2 twist whilst
training for Canada Games ended a promising career. Life goes on, both my
daughters now coach, one recreational the other in the STEP program.
(Saskatchewan Talent Evaluation Program). My role as the physio has allowed
me to work closely with athletes and coaches at all levels of the sport. My
reason for subscribing to Gymn is to learn more about the NCAA program as
this year 2 of our former Saskatchewan team members and good friends are
doing well in their first year of college gymnastics. Watch out for Lisa
Simes at Michigan and Erin Chenier at SE Missouri who almost made the
individual cut for NCAA champs. Dory, can you imagine how powerful an all
Canadian team would be at NCAA's.
Marg.

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Date:    Thu, 25 Apr 1996 06:45:46 PDT
From:    ***@AMDAHL.CO.ZA
Subject: Healy

please can someone explain to me what a healy looks like on women's bars?
thanks.
Helen.

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Date:    Thu, 25 Apr 1996 00:52:11 -0400
From:    ***@CAPITALNET.COM
Subject: Olympic Wildcards Explained

In FIG President Yuri Titov's opening address to the Press at Worlds, he
talked about the composition of the Olympic field for this summer's Games
in Atlanta.  The concept of "wildcards" was mentioned, and my curiosity was
triggered.  If Canada was not successful in placing a man and a woman in
the top 18, they might have to apply for a wildcard?  Thankfully, not only
did a Canadian man and a woman place in the top 18, but 3 men and 3 women
made the grade!  So we don't need to ask for a wildcard entry.  But many
other countries' delegates were wondering and pondering...

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has alloted 5 wildcard positions
for the men's competition and 3 wildcard positions for the women's
competition.  Originally, 10 positions were alloted to gymnastics, but two
were used up by RSG groups (like China & 1 other country).  So this is why
there are more wildcards for men's artistic than for women's artistic.

Nominations for wildcards must be submitted by countries' National Olympic
Committees (NOCs) to the IOC.  The IOC may do some screening and asks the
International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to make recommendations of the
athletes based on performances at the last two World Championships (WC -
Sabae & San Juan).

The criteria for wildcard selection by the IOC are:
- firstly, Continental representation -- i.e. what continent is the
wildcard from?  Someone from South Africa or New Zealand might be more
likely to get in than someone from Europe.  (Perhaps, think of how you put
your armies out on a Risk game board, eh?)
- secondly, performance results of the athlete at WC -- now we're talking
below top 24 AA or on an apparatus

Now, likely wildcard applicants would be Cuba and North Korea.  Cuba had
qualified in Sabae but withdrew and their place was replaced by Mexico and
Slovenia.  If re-instated, they could enter wildcards.  An ideal wildcard
would be Cuban vault medallist Annia Portuondo.  North Korea's submission
of pommel horse king Pae Gil Su is not clear.  I thought I heard the ACOG
folks say that PRK's NOC had submitted him, but Pae and his coach told me
(at the mall later that same day) that they hadn't decided whether to
submit for a wildcard or not.  >Shrug<.

Other countries that competed in San Juan which could apply for wildcards
may include Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Austria, Belgium, The
Netherlands, Lithuania, Iran, Turkey, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Barbados,
Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico,  New Zealand, Indonesia, Chinese
Taipei (Taiwan), and Hong Kong.

The wildcards are distributed throughout the draw as follows:

Men: 2 in Mixed Group #1 and 1 in each of Mixed Group #2, 3, and 4

Women: 1 in each of Mixed Group #1, 2, and 3

We should be able to hear within a month or so who the wildcards will be.
I would think they'd decide sooner rather later so these athletes can know
whether they should bother training compulsories.

Regards,

Grace

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Date:    Thu, 25 Apr 1996 01:46:31 -0400
From:    ***@CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re-introduction

        Hi, I'm Simon, a Cornell sophomore, and I've been on this group
for a little over a year now, mostly lurking.  I'm just a "fan" (read:
Non-participating in sport) but I have learned quite a bit more about what
I'm watching from the group.  As for particularly favored gymnasts, I have a
general soft spot for all the "old hands" who have been around since, say, 1990.
        That's it for now.


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Date:    Thu, 25 Apr 1996 16:39:17 +1000
From:    ***@OZEMAIL.COM.AU
Subject: predictions, and bit of trivia

The person who will win the Olympics is the person who will do well in the
competitions right before.  In other words, wait for the Europeans and US
Nationals.

I've got my ideas about who might win, but I'll keep them to myself until
mid-June, when I find out who's in form.

BTW, does anyone else realise that since 1983, a Romanian has finished 3rd
at Worlds the year before the Olympics?  And if I recall correctly, Melita
Ruhn was 3rd in 1979???

Simone

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End of GYMN-L Digest - 24 Apr 1996 to 25 Apr 1996
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