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Registered: Apr 2003
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) - With a dazzling routine on the floor, 16-year-old Carly Patterson staked her claim Thursday night as the new Queen of Gymnastics.
The American spoiled Russian superstar Svetlana Khorkina's final chance at Olympic gold in gymnastics' premier event and drew comparisons to another U.S. champion, Mary Lou Retton.
Patterson became the first American woman to win gold since Retton did in 1984, and the second in two days, matching Paul Hamm's first-place finish on the same floor Wednesday.
"Strong. Sturdy. Just like we expected. It's great. She was beautiful," said Bela Karolyi, who coached Retton in 1984 and was in the stands for this one.
Patterson scored a 9.712 on floor to finish with 38.387 points and defeat Khorkina by .176. Nan Zhang of China won bronze.
Khorkina, who for years called herself the "Queen of Gymnastics," still took the one prize that has eluded her during an entertaining and wildly successful career - a medal in the Olympic all-around.
Khorkina, meanwhile, will never know that joy.
The Russian diva, who for years called herself the "Queen of Gymnastics," still took the Olympic all-around medal that has eluded her during an entertaining and wildly successful career. It was silver, not gold, although listening to her talk, no one would have known the difference.
"I know perfectly well what I'm going to say," Khorkina said. "I'm still an Olympic champion. That's all."
When it was over, she acted like a champion, running a victory lap, grabbing the Russian flag and taking it to the uneven bars, where she showed it off and dragged it across the lower bar. She'll try to add to her silver medal Sunday, going for her third Olympic gold in the uneven bars and her 12th overall in world and Olympic competition.
Patterson isn't close to being as graceful a ballerina as Khorkina. But she's more athletic, more explosive, and on this night, just a little bit better.
Like Khorkina, Patterson closed the night on the floor. On all four tumbling passes, she jumped higher than any of the other 23 women in the meet. Just as importantly, she pulled off perfect landings that almost always make the difference between first and second.
When it was over, Patterson jumped into coach Evgeny Marchenko's embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he carried her around for almost a minute. That was before the final results were flashed on the scoreboard.
When they were, Patterson had the title she's worked a lifetime for, and Marchenko lifted her on his left shoulder and paraded her in front of the fans - a champion's chariot for a championship effort.
Last year at world championships, it was Khorkina edging out Patterson after a meet in which many thought the American had the better night.
Two moments stood out then: Khorkina left the floor and admitted she was disinterested while Patterson performed the decisive routine on vault. Then, at the medalists' news conference, Patterson stepped onto the podium to be greeted by Khorkina, who immediately flipped through a magazine to show the American her latest modeling pictures.
An arrogant insult? Maybe so.
"I just thought, 'Whatever?"' Patterson said last month when asked to reflect. "I'll go out and do my gymnastics and the best person will win."
She did just that.
Retton, who for two decades has been waiting impatiently to see who the "Next Mary Lou" might be, started screaming when she heard the news from home.
"I have been waiting 20 years. The crown has been sitting and waiting for the next all-around champion," she said. "Carly Patterson, it's yours."
During the medals ceremony, Patterson sang along with the "Star Spangled Banner," played at the arena for the second straight night, and looked to be blinking back tears.
Khorkina, meanwhile, stared at the scoreboard and smiled at the fans, most of whom came to see her.
That was a great event tonight!!
I was finally glad to see an American take the all around...its been so long!
Congrats Carly...you were wonderful!! 
Still...I have yet to see any gymnast that comes close to measuring up to Mary Lou and Nadia...
Dont get me wrong...the girls every year are fabulous...but Nadia and Mary Lou are in a class of their own.
Hopefully we will see those perfect scores again.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
He who angers you conquers you!! (A. Einstein) |
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08-20-2004 07:37 AM
