"They have all of the big three: power, strength and flexibility. When they perform it is a perfect blend of those three qualities. They know how to show every phase of a movement to the utmost." .That is the way Jackie Fie, vice president of the FIG Women's Technical Committee, describes the Soviet Union.
Melissa Marlowe began this meet with a flair, completing her '0 ' vault for a 9.850 to tie for top spot with Soviets Baraksanova, Svetlana Lebedinskaya, Eka Zeturidze, Natalia Frolova and Kolensnikova . After the first event the United States was within .45 a ~ ~ World Champions going into uneven bars.
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Bars turned out to be a true highlight for the Americans. Marlowe won the event, beat all six Soviets with her 9.900 routine. Going into this event, Coach Oon Peters' strategy was to keep close and hope the Soviets would falter - which is close to the way it happened. " When I saw Baraksanova fall, I thought: 'Here we go.' But they regrouped nicely after that and didn' t fall again," said Peters. " After that point, the kids started believing that we could beat them." Gunthorpe followed the stricken Baraksanova with a strong 9.800 routine. That was the only time during the competition the United States would enjoy a lead . Hope Spivey continued applying pressure with a 9.850 routine and Roethlisberger ended the strong bars performance with a very high reverse hecht and a 9.850. Led by these performances, the Americans defeated the Soviets on bars 49.150 to 48.900 and cut their overall lead to .20. "I feel pretty good that we beat them on bars," said Peters. "That was a big boost for our kids. After all, the USA Gymnastics
(Above) Melissa Marlowe has elller ~ed as aile of All ierica's brightest stars. Besides scori;"lg a 9.600 all beaIII , Marlowe wall ti,e unevell bars coli/petition with a 9.900. (Below) Vern Kolensll ikova provided III I/ch of the experience for the Soviets as she allchored the tealii. 011 bars she placed secolld to Marlowe scorillg a 9. 850. (USGF photos<l 1986 by Dave Black). .
Soviets are the World Champions." The Soviets weren't without high points . Zeturidze, during her 9.800 routine, did a picture perfect fulltwisting pirouette into a reverse hecht. Kolensnikova's reverse hecht into a mixed grip one-and-one-half roll to low the bar scored a 9.850. With beam, the Soviets' strength in dance started to show. "The Soviet women exemplify virtuosity with every movement," said Fie. "They have excellent posture, perfection in body alignment and their height and toe work throughout is strong. They use their heads and arms for strong, confident poses.