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Olympic Artistic Gymnastics Recaps: 30 July (Day 11)

The Artistics Gymnastics Gala

First-Ever Gymnastics Gala is a Celebration of Champions

Although the competition officially ended 28 July, the performances continued 30 July with the first-ever Gymnastics Gala, which featured performances by the medal winners as well as exhibitions from representatives of the gymnastics family: sport aqrobatics, sport aerobics, trampoline and tumbling.

In addition, as a preview of the rhythmic gymnastics competition which begins 1 August in Athens, Georgia, several individual and group rhythmic exhibitions were performed as well.

With music, lighting and a lack of judges making the gala distinct from any competition, the athletes got into the spirit of performance as well. Dan BURINCA (ROM) bicycled his way up the still rings, Svetlana CHORINKA (RUS) added a swinging jazz step to her dismount on the uneven bars. Alexei NEMOV (RUS), who stole the show in the competition by winning six medals, stole center stage at the gala as well, encouraging the audience's applause during his floor exercise and baring his chest for his pommel horse routine.

A farewell to the compulsory exercises was performed by Jair LYNCH and Amy CHOW of the USA, who switched places on the high bar and parallel bars before returning to their more familiar routines. The USA's Shannon MILLER and Dominique DAWES teamed with Lavinia MILOSOVICI of Romania to demonstrate the compulsory floor exercise, while the Russian men's team each took a turn with a segment of the men's compulsory floor exercise.

The gala, with more than 32,000 people in attendance, proved once again why gymnastics is one of the most popular events in the Olympic Games.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.