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attend the 3rd Olympic Development Camp. In the past, qualifying high school seniors who attended the National USGF Jr. Olympic Championships were not permitted to attend the Olympic Development Camp. This year, however, due to special petitioning through the NCAA, high school seniors who qualified in the Jr. Olympic meet were allowed to participate in the Olympic Development Camp. Unfortunately this petition, (which must be submitted annually), was not passed until the regional qualifying meets in May were over. Many high school seniors did not attend the National Jr. Olympic Championships because they were unaware of the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Development Camp. The three year old National USGF Jr. Olympic Championships and subsequent Olympic Development Camps have been very successful. Kurt Thomas, who attended the first National USGF Jr. Olympic Championships and subsequent Olympic Development Camps have been very successful. Kurt Thomas, who attended the first National USGF Jr. Olympic Championships, Bart Conner, who attended the same meet and the first Development Camp, and Tom Beach, who attended the first Development Camp, represented the United States in the 1976 Summer Olympic gymnastics competition. The Jr. Olympic meet and the Olympic Development Camp should definitely be among the goals of aspiring young gymnasts. The 1976 Olympic Development Camp was run very much like the development camps of 1974 and 1975. (For information on the exact format of the 1975 Olympic Development Camp, see the February, 1976 issue of the International Gymnast Magazine). All expenses for the Olympic Development camp were paid for by the USGF and the Olympic committee. The following gymnasts participated in the two week Olympic Development Camp: 12-14 Age Group Philip Cahoy Nebraska Peter Stout Florida Jeff Beason Pennsylvania Tom Pace New York Jose Aguero Florida
15-18 Age Group Jim Hartung Nebraska Stu Domire California Percy Price Pennsylvania Tony Hampton North Carolina Scot Wilce Kentucky Rod Hom Utah Mike Hicks Connecticut
STU DOMEIER 2nd All-Around - 15-18
Barry Cook Illinois Tom Ryan Florida Matt Biespiel Texas The staff consisted of: Mr. Paul Ziert; Gymnastics coach, University of Oklahoma Mr. Dick Foxal; Assistant gymnastics coach, University of Washington Mr. Waichiro Miki; Santa Clara Gym Club, California Mrs. Masayuki Watanabe; Assistant gymnastics coach, University of California - Head Instructor Mr. William Meade; Gymnastics coach, Southern Illinois University - Coordinator for the Camp. The Olympic Development Camp was a total gymnastics experience. The gymnasts were divided into three groups; each with its own instructor. Lectures on techniques were given in the morning, workouts in the S.l.U. arena were held in the afternoon, and gymnastics films were analyzed in the evening. Gymnastics occupied one hundred percent of the gymnasts' waking hours and very probably their dreams also. One might say that they had gymnastics for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The object of the Olympic Development Camp is to teach basics and techni-
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cal execution to young, promising and dedicated gymnasts, by using progressions in basic skills with the aid of systematic workouts. The camp also stressed "mental awareness;" the understanding of technique in such a manner that the gymnasts would not only be able to execute moves with proper technique, but would also know why they were executing that move so. The gymnasts were taught to exercise the self-control, in both the physical and mental aspects of gymnastics, which produces a well rounded individual. They also learned that when physical perfection is ones goal, the most important tool to use is discipline. All the gymnasts worked exceptionally hard to accomplish the goals which were set for them. Of the gymnasts who attended last year's camp, half returned and their understanding of the program added greatly to the atmosphere in the gym. It is interesting to note that even though the 1976 Olympic Development Camp lasted only two weeks, it is the opinion of Mr. Watanabe that as much was accomplished gymnastically as in the four week clinic of 1975. This is good evidence of the importance of teaching young gymnasts basic technique in a systematic manner. The success of the Olympic Development Camp indicates that the United States can become a world power in gymnastics soon.