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Olympic Artistic Gymnastics Recaps: 21 July (Day 2)

Women's Team Compulsory Exercises/Morning Session

Strong and Deep, Romanians Take the Lead: Three Romanian gymnasts placed in the top five as their strong and deep team, favored to win the gold medal, established a large lead after the morning's team compulsory competition. Romania scored 193.138, ahead of Ukraine at 192.308 and Belarus at 191.569. Only on the bars did the Romanians falter, scoring a team total of 48.317, but their other compulsory event scores were impressive: a 48.799 on the vault, 48.911 on the uneven bars and 48.317 on the floor exercise.

Leading the individual competition is Alena POLOZKOVA (BLR), who scored 9.550 or better on each apparatus to stand at 39.149. Romania's Lavinia MILOSOVICI is second, scoring 9.837 on the vault and 9.850 on the bars to stand at 38.730. She is followed by her teammates Gina GOGEAN at 38.723 and Alexandra MARINESCU at 38.712.

Team Scores (after 1 of 2 sessions): ROM 193.138, UKR 192.308, BLR 191.569, HUN 188.520, AUS 186.845, GRE 183.352, JPN 183.48

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"It was OK," said five-time medalist Svetlana BOGUINSKAIA (BLR), 24, who missed on a release move in her routine but did not fall from the bars. "I'm very relieved now. I did not fall, so I only lost three-tenths or so. If I had fallen, the score would have been eight-something. In workouts, I can hit five-of-five of those routines, but here, not one. I was surprised for our team, because we did very well but we are very young. I am 24, they are the kids -- you know, they call me 'Mommy Svetlana."


Women's Team Compulsory Exercises/Subdivision 2 of 2

Russia Takes the Lead After Compulsories: The United States women's gymnastics team made up 1.869 points over the final two rotations to over take Romania, then watched as the Russian team also came from behind to take first place from the USA after Sunday's team compulsory competition at the Georgia Dome. In the day's final session, the Russian team finished strong on the floor and vault to stand at 193.796 points; head of the USA at 193.669 and Romania at 193.13.

The Russian effort was balanced, as four athletes scored 38.375 or better. Dina KOCHETKOVA is ranked third among the individuals with 38.974 points, her teammate Rozalia GALIYEVA ranked fourth at 38.924.

For the USA, Kerri STRUG anchored the final two rotations, scoring 9.825 on the floor and 9.812 on the vault to propel the USA into the lead and stand in ninth place overall with 38.662 points. Ahead of her are her USA teammates Shannon MILLER, in second at 39.061 and Dominique MOCEANU in fifth at 38.824.

Leading the individual competition after compulsories is Lilia PODKOPAYEVA (UKR), with an all-around score of 39.149, including 9.850 in the floor exercise and 9.837 on the uneven bars.

Team Scores After Compulsory Exercises: RUS 193.796, USA 193.669, ROM 193.138, UKR 192.308, CHN 191.933, BLR 191.569, ESP 189.458, HUN 188.520, FRA 187.094, AUS 186.845, GRE 183.532, JPN 183.418

"We are pleased," said USA coach Martha Karolyi. "It was a good compulsory test. We placed Kerri [Strug] specifically last on floor and vault because she does well there and we feel she can live up to the expectations that have been built before her. Certainly the beam is where nerves can play a part; it is less so with floor and vault and that is where we finished and finished with confidence. We were successful because of our consistency. We don't need to do anything more special. If we do like we did today, we will win the gold medal."


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


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