- October 25, 2000 -
When Svetlana Khorkina, Elena Produnova and Olympic champ Alexei Nemov decided to the tour the US instead of train, they knew they'd be missing out on several upcoming European competitions, including December's World Cup.
"I don't think we're going to compete [in Glasgow]," Nemov told IG last week. "I'm not sure yet, but right now, I don't think so."
Nemov, Khorkina and Produnova are all pre-qualified to the Cup, which is based on ranking at a series of international events, including the '99 worlds and 2000 Olympics.
The grueling TJ Maxx Tour schedule, which is set to end December 4, has left the Russians little time for serious training and the World Cup takes place in Glasgow just five days after the tour is supposed to conclude.
If Nemov and company can't take part, there are plenty of Russian teammates to take their place. Nemov and Khorkina indicated that when they left Russia early this month Olympic medalists Elena Zamolodchikova, Ekaterina Lobaznyuk and Alexei Bondarenko were all scheduled for competition appearances on the European circuit.
Reese's Cup
During the Resse's Cup, Svetlana achieved perfect scores with her performance and ranked first individually. Though the women led
the men after Round 1, they eventually lost, 79.180 to 79.270
- Svetlana Khorkina -
Event: Bars
Music/Theme: Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog"
Highlights: Prancing in a poodle skirt, Khorkina flirted with the audience before and after her difficulty-packed bars set, done (of course) flawlessly.
Event: Floor
Music/Theme: "Wipe Out"
Highlights: Wiggling in a grass skirt, Khorkina blew kisses and danced divinely to earn her second 10.0 of the night.
- October 22, 2000 -
On October 9th, 2000 the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has announced in a letter to its member countries the decision that, starting on January 1st, 2000, the traditional horse on vault will be replaced by a table. There have been studies and tests for a long period of time. Until the middle of 2001 the usual horse can be used during competitions. At the World Championships in Ghent/Belgium in October 2001 the new tables will already be used.
- October 18, 2000 -
A large and vocally interactive audience enjoyed the third stop of the TJ Maxx Tour of World Gymnastics Champions, held Oct. 15 in San Jose, Calif.
The gymnasts and spectators seemed to share equal doses of fun and variety in San Jose. Pop music ranging from Prodigy to Britney Spears accompanied routines that showcased US stars of artistic gymnastics including Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu and Blaine Wilson, as well as Russian favorites Svetlana Khorkina, Alexei Nemov and Elena Produnova.
Reigning US rhythmic champion Jessica Howard and former Bulgarian standout Mila Marinova entranced the audience between the artistic gymnastics routines, while '00 Olympian Jennifer Parilla and '99 US men's champion Ryan Weston bounced to thrilled applause for their trampoline sets.
Hometown talent Amy Chow drew big cheers for her work on the bars, while two-time Olympic bars champion Khorkina performed some of her key elements on her specialty and then flirted to full effect during her Olympic silver medal-winning floor routine.
Moceanu, Vanessa Atler and Morgan White -- luckless in their '00 Olympic quests -- received warm receptions and worked at ease during the dance-oriented group floor routines. Miller performed well on beam, complemented by the stirring "This is the Moment" from the musical "Jekyll and Hyde." Now shorn of her ponytail, Produnova was a hit on bars, while Jamie Dantzscher performed crisply on floor.
For the men, Olympic all-around winner Nemov predictably drew huge ovations, playfully missing a pair of Kovacs on high bar before peeling down his top -- a sly gimmick that gave him just the motivation he needed to catch the trick on his third try.
The US men -- Wilson, John Roethlisberger, Steve McCain, Sean Townsend and Morgan and Paul Hamm -- also got into the beefcake act. Their "Backstreet Boys" send-up was one of the most well-received numbers of the two-hour performance. (They called themselves the "Backflip Boys.") Individually, Morgan Hamm threw some respectable risk into his floor routine, mounting and dismounting with a double layout.
Miller and Produnova were among the marquee performers who joined with Special Olympians from "Team TJ Maxx" to spotlight the Special Olympians' inspirational talents on several events.
- October 9, 2000 -
Svetlana appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell Show for an interview which happened to be her first television interview in US. Elena Produnova was also there in the audience and answered a question as well. Elena looked pretty cute after getting her hair cut and dolling herslf up. If you wish to watch the interview, I have it on the Video page. I have the transcript of the interview on the Quotes page.
- October 1, 2000 -
The Olympics of Sydney 2000 is over and Svetlana ended the games with a gold from the asymmetrical bars (on which she is still unbeatable) and two silvers from the Team event and the floor on which she was beaten by team-mate Elena Zamolodchikova. The games was not a success for her due to her falls on the asymmetrical bars during the Team event and All-Around but at least it wasn't a complete failure either.
