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[Dec 1st] US
media get drunk with plain water...again
U.S.
women's gymnastics early favorites (AP story)
Too bad the Beijing Olympics aren't for another three
years. After their showing at last week's gymnastics world
championships, the American women look ready to go right now.
The U.S. women dominated the rest of the world in Melbourne,
Australia, winning nine of the 15 medals available, and finishing
1-2 in the all-around, uneven bars, balance beam and floor
exercise. They also won a bronze on vault, giving them a medal
in every event.
"Gaining nine medals in one single competition probably would
be the dream of any strong gymnastics nation all over the
world," Martha Karolyi, the national team coordinator, said
Wednesday. "These results showed the confidence that everything
can be done through hard work and discipline, and we are determined
to work even harder to maintain the supremacy of what we achieved
at these world championships." The American women had never
won more than five individual medals at a world championships,
and their nine medals matches the best showing ever by any
country. Romania also won nine medals in 1987, taking home
four golds, one silver and four bronze.
Romania, gold medalists at the last two Olympics and winner
of five of the last six world team titles, is in disarray.
The team was briefly disbanded last summer after a series
of discipline problems, and head coach Octavian Belu said
he and assistant Mariana Bitang are considering going to China
to coach.
While a lot can happen in the next three years, the U.S.
showing at worlds establishes the Americans as the early favorites
in Beijing.
[romanian-gymnastics.com comments:]
...Really? US media have a long tradition of "getting
drunk with plain water" ; it has something to do with
the long commented Americans overconfidence. If you have too
much of it, it's almost dangerous.The above article reminds
me of another (moron) article written by the IG magazine,
before Worlds: it said like that because Khorkina is so appreciated
(or something), she almost deserve to get medals at Athens
Olympics; the idea was like they have to give her the medals
simply because she is such a big star. Such "talented"
writers made the sport press being so low.
I like the US gymnastics and they did a great job in Melbourne;
I respect Martha's work on team and the way she handle the
girls moral. But ...It's still a long way to Beijing and there
it wouldn't be like in Los Angeles (without many gymnastics
powers being present) or Worlds-with Romanian gymnastics in
turmoil of changing generations and no national coaches.
Neverless, let's see what a US gymnastics fan
have to comment:
Romanian
Gymnastics fans COMMENT OF THE WEEK
The Romanian for the last 2 quads have done poorly individually
for the last to worlds and overall are very practical!!! The
majority of the team does the minimum to get by with decent
score, which is why they lost in Atlanta, which they performed
the same as they always did, just the US and Russia had a
better day of hitting all the big skills.
Look, 1997: Team gold, but can any of you name all six members
in 10 seconds...NO. Why, because the whole team doesn't stand
out. AA- no medal; Vault, gold and bronze, BUT the Phelps
is worth $H1T!!! and they were over scored, so I question
that. Beam, don't get me started. Kui, KHorkina, and Ludivine
Furnon (spelling). Ludivine was underscored, as was Kui (big
time). So maybe a bronze for Gogean. As for floor, Fair. BUT
WERE THERE ANY NEW FACES THAT WON AN INDIVIDUAL MEDAL...no!
Same for 2001, team gold, But had Raducan retired, no individual
medals.
Now in 2005, they get one individual medal, but had Daniela
Sofronie stayed... medal in the AA, and Floor. If there was
a team competition, I believe they would be top 3. Again,
if you disagree, name all the team members from 2001 in 9
seconds... YOU CAN'T!!!.
So a bunch of unknowns would have earned another team medal.
Everyone believes Belu was the best, I think he was another
Archiave (spelling) of Russia, who (if you have IG mag) would
see how he killed off other coaches so he could have all the
glory, common Archeiave, you can't be that good of a coach,
besides none of your personal gymasts were the back bone a
the team.
So with Belu gone, I think Romanian will produce more artistic
gymnasts. Remember Alexandra Marinescu? She had big skills,
but since she was from the Bucharest Team, Belu took her out
of the AA a few times and put her on the back burner, I am
sure there are other gymnast out there who come from Alexandra
gym, but have been ignored because of Belu.
Romania's priority is winning gold a big competitions, that's
why they skipped the 2002 Euro team comp. They have done this
before. Imagine if they try real hard, you think in 2008 everyone
will be like "Romania is good, after all they are the 2005
team champs" ...NO. No one cares who won worlds the year after
the Olympics, It's mainly scavengers, which is how khorkina
picked up to AA titles (except 2003, the best).
I am not degrading Khorkina or the Romanians, I am just explaining
their tactics. So, everyone get off your high pony, Romanian
cannot be judged by this one competition.
I am not saying that they will be the 2008 Olympic Champs,
but they are not doomed because of Belu. Don't forget, programs
peak at different times (EXCEPT FOR CHINA, they will never
peak, or hit when it counts.
P.S. Whoever thought china would be awesome at this worlds
cuz of the Asian Games is as $tupid as the people who base
their World/Olympic predictions on the American Cup. Both
competitions are fixed!!!!! Nuff Sed!!!! JUDGING 101
Romanian Gymnastics News Archive.
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