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(c) 1997 Copyright Nando.net
(c) 1997 Associated Press
CATANIA, Italy (Aug 22, 1997
- 16:52 EDT) -- A steady Russian team capitalized on a mistake
by Olympic champion Shannon Miller and defeated the United States
for the gold medal in women's gymnastics at the World University
Games Friday.
Russia increased a slim lead
during the final apparatus rotation to total 110.537 points, to
108.986 for the U.S.
The title was essentially decided
on the balance beam, where the U.S. had its lowest team score
on any apparatus, 26.300. Two Americans -- Miller and Kirsti Lichey--
slipped during their routines. Miller's disappointing score of
8.575 was the lowest of the day for the seven-time Olympic medalist.
"I just lost concentration
a little. It's just a mistake. It happens. I'll have a chance
to redeem myself tomorrow," said Miller, who'll compete for
the all-around individual title Saturday. Miller helped the U.S.
win its first women's Olympic team gold at Atlanta last year.
After the troubles on the beam,
the U.S. regrouped on its final two events to claim the silver.
Russia was too precise and consistent,
scoring between 27.512 and 27.750 on each of the four disciplines:
vault, floor exercise, balance beam and the bars.
"I've never been so happy
with a silver medal in my life. The Russians were just phenomenal.
They were every bit as good as at the Olympics. Just magnificent
skills," said U.S. coach Steve Nunno, an assistant at Atlanta
and Miller's personal coach since she was 8.
Rozalia Galieva, who was a member
of the gold medal winning Unified Team at the 1992 Olympics, was
joined Friday by Raissa Baikova, Alla Plechkova, Oksana Postavets
and Nadejda Tarassova.
In Saturday's individual all-around,
Miller will face Galieva, who had team-highs of 9.6 on the beam
and 9.35 on the bars Friday. Those scores helped Galieva lead
qualifying for the all-around
GO ROZA!!!!!!
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