Friday, The Women's Meet: - The USGF originally invited 11 countries to participate in the second International Invitational. However, only eight accepted. In that vacuum, the USA quickly decided to enter an additional team in order for four more USA girls to gain international experience. The U.S. North and South Teams would be up against competition from the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. Canada, West Germany, Japan, Italy and Norway were not likely to be able to push into the top four team spots. The Soviets only brought three gymnasts to compete - all scores would count for them, but alike the men it was apparent they were not here to win. Natalia Yurchenko and especially Alla Shishova are talented gymnasts, but consistency has been a problem. Shishova may well be an '83 World Championships competitor once she gains a little more international experience. Primarily the Russian men and women came to scout, but the women also came prepared to compete a new vaulting technique - round-off onto the vaulting board, back handspring onto the horse, then into a tsukahara family vault. Yurchenko and Shishova performed these vaults (rated at 9.90 values!?) - round-off layout tsuk, round-off tuck tsuk-full and round-off layout tsuk-full. These vaults are not included in the FIG Code, and realistically the Soviets came to Ft. Worth to show off this style to the western world rwo weeks before the FIG meetings began in Switzerland. On the other hand, the Chinese came to win. Their team included three '81 World Championships competitors - Ma Yanhong, Chen Yongyan and WuJiani. Some say three of the most elegant gymnasts in the world - in Moscow, Ma was fourth in the all-around and Chen 11th, and Wu finished fourth in balance beam finals. They were considered the favorites to win. Michelle Goodwin (left) won balance beam, tying with Ka.thyJohnson and \Vu]iani (PRC). (Below) Canada 's Leanne Gallant on beam. (Right, below) Ka.thy Johnson scored 38.90 to win d1e Invitational All-Around Championship. (Right, above) Russia's Natalia Yurchenko dismounting uneven bars with a double-twisting flyaway.
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.