OLYMPIC RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
LEAPS TO GO LD By Susan Polakoff Photography By Dave Black
iane Simpson and Michelle Berube found a large stop sign at the end of that "Road to Seoul." Earlier in the summer, the two friends earned their trips to Seoul by tying for first place at the Olympic Trials in a contest that was as nerve-racking as a cab ride in Seoul rush hour traffic.
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The talented duo, coached by Irinia Vdovets at Illinois Rhythmics, arrived at the Games in top condition, anxious to compete. Both believed they could realistically finish in the top ten. "I felt really off. Normally, I have to calm myself down before a competition, but here, I had to push myself to get going," Berube said. The two-time Olympian finished in 22nd place. Teammate Simpson finished in 24th. "Technically, I don't know what was wrong. I'm happy with the way I executed my big elements, but I made more mistakes than I should have," Simpson said. 54
Both Simpson and Berube had minor drops - but a drop is a drop, especially when Soviet Marina Lobatch is scoring perfect 10.00 after perfect 10.00. "I thought Lobatch's ribbon routine was breathtaking. It was done to Swan Lake and I think that's what rhythmic gymnastics is supposed to mean. Her amplitude, flexibility and coordination is unbelievable," Simpson said. After three days of competition at Seoul's Gymnastics Hall, Lobatch took the gold , upsetting current Wor ld Champion Bianka Pan ova, from Bulgaria. Lobath scored four perfect 1O.00s. Bulgaria's Adriana
Dounavska won the silver and collected three perfect 1O.00s in rope, club and ribbon. The energetic Dounavska scored a 9.9 on clubs. Alexandra Timochenko won the bronze with three 1O.00s and a 9.7 in clubs. Panova, who finished fourth, couldn't seem to get in the judges' good graces after a disastrous club drop. During one of the most risky moves of the entire competition, Panova's clubs rolled out of bounds on her very first routine. She was attempting to catch the clubs while posed in an arched swan position. "The trajectory of her clubs has to be perfect or she has no chance ," exp lained one
rhythmic official. Simpson couldn't seem to crack a 9.4 and Berube couldn't break a 9.5 on any routine. Grumblings about judging cou ld be heard through Gymnastics Hall, but, as Berube said, "There is nothing we can do about judging. I tried my best and that's all that counts." Although h er students were disappointed, coach Vdovets was proud of her proteges. "I'm very pleased with my gymnasts. They tried very hard. We were a little disappointed after the first day, because I thought the scores should have been higher. I want Diane and Michelle to be satisfied with themselves, that is the most