BOY GYMNAST LEFT DANGLING DURING OLYMPIC QUEST; ATHLETE OFF TEAM FOR LACK OF CITIZENSHIP.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. His 67-pound frame flies effortlessly ef·fort·less adj. Calling for, requiring, or showing little or no effort. See Synonyms at easy. ef  fort·less·ly adv. between the suspended rings. On wiry wir·yadj. 1. Resembling wire in form or quality, especially in stiffness. 2. Sinewy and lean. 3. Filiform and hard. Used of a pulse. arms he holds his 4-foot-7-inch body high above the ground before dropping into a spin. At 12, he's the best in this country for his age group. But because he's from another country, the title and trophy are not his. Alexander ``Sasha'' Artemev, son of the Soviet Union's 1981 national champion, Vladimir Artemev, recently placed first at the 1998 boys junior national championships in Michigan. Because he is not a U.S. citizen, however, he was denied the title and a spot on the national team. ``I didn't have citizenship yet so I didn't get it,'' Sasha said quietly in accented English. He wasn't surprised when he found out he was eligible to compete but ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. for a ranking or a spot on the U.S. team. Sasha and his father left their home in Minsk in the former Soviet republic of Belarus in 1994. Speaking little English, Vladimir Artemev took a job coaching at the Monarch Training complex in Agoura Hills and Sasha continued his practicing there. They are here legally on a working visa, but have not applied for citizenship. Vladimir Artemev is very protective of his limber boy - he keeps a watchful watch·ful adj. 1. Closely observant or alert; vigilant: kept a watchful eye on the clock. See Synonyms at aware, careful. 2. Archaic Not sleeping; awake. eye over his studies and practice, making sure to leave time for other activities such as basketball and pingpong. Artemev sees in Sasha an opportunity for the gold he missed. A sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. kept him from competing with the Soviet team in the 1978 Olympics. But for Sasha to jump, vault or tumble for Olympic gold Olympic Gold is the official video game of the XXV Olympic Summer Games, hosted by Barcelona, Spain in 1992. It was released for the Sega consoles, Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System, and Sega's handheld, Game Gear. , he would have to return to Russia, where competition for spots on the team is tough. ``I can compete for Russia but I don't think they'll let me on the international team,'' Sasha said. ``I want to compete for the USA.'' Father and son have several years to decide how to turn a second-generation dream into gold. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Gymnast Alexander ``Sasha'' Artemev resides in Agoura Hills. (2) Twelve-year-old Sasha, who practices at the Monarch Training center, placed first at the 1998 boys junior national championship in Michigan but was denied the title and a spot on the team because he is not a U.S. citizen. Reed Saxon/Associated Press |
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