USSR Gymnastics Team USA Summ(lr Tour 1975 SEVEN DAYS - SIX NIGHTS, A Russian Gymnastics Tour by Dick Criley San Diego sportswriter Wayne Lockwood, a man not easily impressed unless his subject can dribble, putt, kick, throw or hit a ball, was turning ca rtwheels over the performance of a touring Russian gymnastic team . Not only cartwheels, but he was also tossing out terms such 路as triple flyaway and full twisting gainer dismoun t, while mistaking gymnastic chalk for resin. What did it take to turn this man into an enthusiast for gymnastics, to write words not as complimentary since Jim Murray 's 1968 paen to the Olympic trials? Olga Korbut wasn't there nor was Liudmilla Turishcheva. In fact, a few of the projects gymnasts weren't there as the Soviet government had whisked them back to Moscow following the pre-Olymp ic me et in Montreal, and some new faces suddenly turned up in Tucson for the sta rt of the 7-day, 6-stop tour. Lockwood wrote, "The Russian performance was notable not because this was their best team, but because it wasn't. .. Th e Soviets showed up with a young, relatively inexperienced 13-member team that demon strated it is prepared to carryon quite well, thank you, should Olga defect tomorrow." The female gymnasts included '72 Olympian Elvira Saadi, Riga Invitational and Chunichi Cup winner Nina Dronova, Moscow News Champ and European Championship Silver medalist Nelli Kim (who was also carrying 3 gold medals from Montreal) and two exciting youngsters Antonin a Lebova and Lydia Gorbik. The men were '72 Olympian and '75 European Champ Nikolai Andrianov, USSR Leningrad Trophy winner Alexander Dityatin, '73 Champions All winner and '74 World Games team member Paata Shamugia, and Gurin Kholexi sov an d Vladimir Tikhanov. In addition, a rea l treat was provided by the presence and performances of Irena Derjuqina, whose modern rhythmic gymnastics almost stole the show, and one of the USSR's top men 's pair in acrobatics, Vladimir Makarchenko and Sergei Antonov, who were so well received that they were called back to encore performances. The polished format of the previous successful USSR tour was evident again on this tour. The gymnasts were introduced individually and were spot lighted as each performed a tumbling or FX pass. The acrobats showed a mini-routine which included a backward roll by Makarchenko while Antonov held a handstand on his feet. Following a mass warm-up by the women, variety was the key as subsequent performances a lte rn ated men 's and women 's events. Television commentator Gordon Maddux introduced the gymnasts with flair and enthusiasm and filled in the few slow spots with background information. I travelled a ll the way from Hawaii to catch this appearance and want to note a few of the interesting performances and moves. MFX: double backs from Kholexisov, Shamugia, and Andrianov and a double twister from Tikhanov for mounts; Shamugia, and Andrianov and a double twister from Tikhanov for mounts; Shamugia's back somie to back roll exte nsion with straight arms and snap down to splits; Kholexi sov's arabian dive roll with straight leg roll out to straddle stand; double leg circles from Kholexisov and Andrianov; Andrianov 's pike front, handsprin g, fu ll twisting dive roll and his double twist dismount. Just about all the tumbling had good height. WV: Saadi 's hal f-on half-off handspring and Lebova's handspringwith 11;1 saltos (albeit to her seat). 8
Warm-up
GYMNAST Sept. '75