ACOG - News - IBM

(23 July 1996; Day 04)

Momentum Carries USA to Gymnastics-Artistic Team Gold

As early as the first event of the first rotation, the U.S. women's gymnastics team served notice that it intended to win the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. One minute into the session, the United States had discovered its momentum.

Team USA trailed Russia by .027 after Sunday's compulsory exercises, but Jaycie PHELPS, the first USA athlete to compete in the optionals, scored a 9.787 on the uneven bars to put the United States ahead for good.

"Everyone on this team contributed," said U.S. coach Mary Lee TRACY. "Jaycie started us off on bars. First may not be the best place to start, but it can be the most important."

Momentum is not always positive in gymnastics. Successful gymnasts are always in control. However, as the United States uneven bar routines earned scores that were higher and higher, up to a 9.837 by Amy CHOW and a 9.850 by Dominique DAWES, it became evident that momentum was playing a positive role.

"We were excited from the beginning," said Shannon MILLER, one of three U.S. athletes who will compete in the individual all-around. "We knew we had to stay focused, but we felt it on bars and let the feeling carry us throughout the competition."

"From the beginning, it was right there," said Amanda BORDEN (USA).

"It" was momentum, and it almost took the team out of control. With a slim lead over Russia, Dominique MOCEANU missed her landing on both vault attempts, scoring only 9.200. The final U.S. gymnast on vault, Kerri STRUG, fell on her first try as well. Although they didn't know it then, team USA had the gold medal wrapped up.

"To lose focus for just a moment to see what the others are doing, that is the worst advice to give to a coach," said U.S. coach Martha KAROLYI.

In the heat of the battle, the U.S. team was not aware of its comfortable margin, and STRUG vaulted again.

On her second vault, STRUG executed and landed securely, but on the landing injured her left leg so badly she could not walk off the mat. She crawled to the side in obvious pain and was carried off the competition floor. Her second vault scored a 9.712, allowing the United States to drop MOCEANU's low score. That was the point when the United States knew the gold medal would stay at home. It was the first team gold for the U.S. women's gymnastics program.

"You never know until the last moment," said MOCEANU. "We just kept at our routines, just kept going."

STRUG, her left leg tightly wrapped below the knee, was carried to the awards platform to receive her gold medal with her teammates. She was later taken to the hospital for x-rays.

"We're not sure exactly about Kerri," said U.S. team coach Martha KAROLYI. "We suspect it may be a stress fracture. We are proud of Kerri. I thought her leg was hurting her on her first vault, but because of team spirit, she knew she had to do that vault."

"We didn't know if we needed Kerri's vault," said MILLER. "We just kept going. When it was all over we couldn't believe we've come so far. We congratulated each other for competing as a team."

And were proud of the way they found and controlled their momentum.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Theresa Kelly Gegen.


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).