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Olympic Artistic-Gymnastics Recaps - 23 July (Day 4)

Women's Optionals/Team Final

USA Wins First Women's Team Gold:

The United States women's gymnastics team won its first-ever Olympic team gold medal, overtaking Russia on the first event and then holding off the Russian and the Romanians in the final rotation. Kerri STRUG scored a 9.712 on the USA's final vault, landing it solidly before falling to the ground, unable to leave the mat under her own power. Her effort allowed the USA to maintain its lead, scoring 389.225 to Russia's 388.404 and Romania's 388.246.

STRUG injured her left ankle, appeared at the awards ceremony to receive her medal, then was taken to the hospital for x-rays.

In the battle for the individual all-around, Lilia PODKOPAYEVA (UKR) is the top qualifier at 78.016, followed by Shannon MILLER (USA) at 78.028 and Dina KOCHETKOVA (RUS) at 77.986. The top 36 qualify for the individual all-around championship, to be decided 25 July.

Final Team Score: 1. USA 389.225, 2. RUS 388.404, 3. ROM 388.246, 4. CHN 385.867, 5. UKR 385.841, 6. BLR 381.663, 7. ESP 378.081, 8. FRA 377.715, 9. HUN 377.464, 10. AUS 375.415, 11. GRE 371.291, 12. JPN 367.062.


Women's Gymnastics Optionals/Session 1 of 2

France Leads Team Performance:

France placed first among the four teams in the morning session of optional exercises in women's gymnastics and livened up the atmosphere in the Georgia Dome with outstanding choreography on the floor exercises. The French scored a team total of 190.621 in the optionals, including a high of 48.161 on the floor exercise, and leads the competition at 377.715 heading into the afternoon session. Isabelle SEVERINO (FRA) stands in second among the individuals with a score of 76.173. Her teammate Elvire TEZA, she of the dazzling twists on the beam and floor, is in fourth at 75.797. SERVINO, TEZA and their teammate Ludivine FURNON are all in the top five individuals in the floor exercise.

Leading the way among the individual competitors is Vasiliki TSAVDARIDOU (GRE) at 76.249. In third, behind SEVERINO, is Oksana CHOUSOVITINA (UZB) at 75.822. CHOUSOVITINA was a member of the Unified Team's gold medal-winning effort in 1992. Team Score (after one of two sessions): 1. FRA 377.315, 2. AUS 375.415, 3. GRE 371.291, 4. JPN 367.062.

"Our choreographers are excellent," said Isabelle SERVINO (FRA). "We try to do more choreography because when there is not choreography it is not as pleasant for the public. The way we do it, there is more show. We did much better in the optionals than in the compulsories. For the team, we had a goal of sixth or seventh, but after the compulsories we wanted to do much better."


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


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