USGF Gymnastics - July/August 1982

1rn1--------------Vidmar and Gaylord each scored 9.90 on HB to solidify their placement. Hartung's mistake on HB allowed him to score only 56.80 in optionals, eighth that night and 1.20 behind Peter Vidmar's 58.00. Gaylord scored 57.85 in a strong optional showing. His only mistakes came with a little trouble on his PH mount and a change on rings to dismount half-in half-out instead of triple-back.

Two other gymnasts charged hard during optionals - Mario McCutcheon and Roy Palassou. However, as Hartung, Mario missed his fourth event to kill his momentum with a 8.90 PB. On the other hand, Palassou perhaps may have had one of his best nights ever in optionals finishing fourth at 57.15 and seventh overall at 113.35. Hard tumbling, solid landings and a new HB dismount were all done with a bad wheel.

The name of the game for ScottJohnson, Phil Cahoy and Tim Daggett was consistency. It insured their sixth, fifth and fourth finishes. Each have had better days, but their minor mistakes were absorbed by the fact that almost everyone including Vidmar missed at least one event.

The most significant happening in event-finals on Saturday night was the message sent by James Hartung. He might have finished third all-around and eighth in optionals, but he demonstrated that he didn't win the 1981 NCAA and USGF's with card tricks and black magic ... Hartung won the gold medal in 4 of the 5 events he qualified for - FX, PH, R and V (tying for first with Vidmar on rings and Mikus on vaulting) - Jim gave the kind of performance which typifies that now when the top U.S. men gymnasts get together for a meet it's said to be - "On any Sunday ... " Phil Ca/Joy using a one-arm giant combination (above), Mitch Gaylord (below) was runner-up to Vidmar in the all-around and is the USA Champion on HB. Tim Daggett (rigln) was fourth overall as well as finishing fourth in both the optionals and compulsories.