AMERICANS STUMBLE, BUT IN RUNNING FOR GOLD.Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer ATHENS, Greece - Their body language told tales of frustration and disappointment. But the fact remains the U.S. women's gymnastics team qualifiedbehind only Romania for the Olympic team title, and CarlyPatterson established herself as the favorite for the all-aroundchampionship. ``We have some things to work on,'' team coordinator Martha Karolyisaid, after a performance in which all the Americans aside fromPatterson suffered a serious lapse. ``I think they've got some jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics ,'' coach Kelli Hill said. ``Ithink they'll be much stronger (Tuesday). A day of break, and back tothe gym to work on the little things.'' Patterson, 16, led all gymnasts with a score of 38.337 points,followed by the Romanian pair of Daniela Sofronie and Oana Ban Oana Mihaela Ban (born January 11, 1986 in Cluj-Napoca) is a retired Romanian gymnast. Ban first rose to prominence as one of Romania's top junior world-class gymnasts. .Russian standout Svetlana Khorkina Svetlana Vasilievna Khorkina (Russian: Светлана Васильевна Хоркина was fifth. Courtney Kupets Courtney Anne Kupets (born July 27, 1986 in Bedford, Texas[1]) is an American gymnast. She is best known for her 2003 and 2004 all-around national championships (with Carly Patterson as co-champion in 2004); her membership on the 2002 and 2003 World Artistic Gymnastics also qualified for the individual all-around title, ranking fourth overall. The Americans have six shots at individual-apparatus medals. AnniaHatch is a finalist for vault gold; Terin Humphrey Terin Marie Humphrey (born August 14, 1986) is a United States gymnast. She was a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team in Athens, Greece where she helped the team to a silver medal. This was the best ever result achieved by an American Olympic gymnastics team away from home. and Kupets arealive in the bars; Mohini Bhardwaj Mohini Bhardwaj (मोहिनी भारद्वाज) (born September 29, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American gymnast. (UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX ) is a finalist in floor exercise and Patterson and Kupets can win the beam gold. Not bad, for such a glum glum adj. glum·mer, glum·mest 1. Moody and melancholy; dejected. 2. Gloomy; dismal. n. 1. set of little women. Courtney McCool wore the longest face on the U.S. team after shestumbled to subpar sub·par adj. 1. Not measuring up to traditional standards of performance, value, or production. 2. Below par in a hole, round, or game of golf. scores across the board. She was consoled byteammates after a 9.112 disaster on the balance beam. McCool had hoped to compete for the individual all-around, but theteam title is her best hope now. The team gold shapes up as a struggle between the U.S., Romania,China and Russia. The Americans are the world champions andRomania is the defending Olympic champ. Depth of talent means more in the qualifying session. Five athletes from each team compete and four scores count toward the team total. In the team final, only three compete and all three scorescount. Depth was thought to be an American strength before the meet, butonly Patterson and Kupets were solid in more than two eventsSunday. Humphrey struggled in the floor exercise, as did McCool; both areusually strong in the event. Veterans Mohini, 25, and Hatch, 26, considered vault specialists,contributed little there. Mohini's vault score, in fact, was thrownout as the team's lowest. The higher of Hatch's two vault scores gother into the individual final, but her average was only 9.387. When it was over, the Americans seemed to act as if it were worsethan it really was. They are in position to win the team title, and abatch of individual medals. ``We had a little bit of trouble, but it won't happen again,''Humphrey said. ``We tried to do the best we could without thinkingabout our nerves. ``We'll be more prepared (Tuesday) and get ourselves pumped up.'' Said Bhardwaj: ``Going into the finals wipes the slate clean. Westart over.'' Paul Oberjuerge, (909) 386-3865 paul.oberjuerge(at)sbsun.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The U.S. women's gymnastics team warms up before the balance beam competition. Despite a lackluster day, the Americans have a shot at team gold. Amy Sancetta/Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion