REWIND : WEEK TWELVE 16/12 : 1993 San Jose spectacular

[MaryClare]

First of all, apologies for missing last week. I was travelling in the far east without reliable access to VPN.

I stumbled across this an enjoyed watching it, as it was something I’d never seen before and the format of the meet gives the commentators lots of time to chat which was interesting.

 

[RAFIKI]

No worries MaryClare. Hope the travelling went smoothly.

I'd not heard of this exhibition. There were so many variations of exhibitions/show comps in the 90s and then they just died. Kinda curious on the background of this one given the countries involved. In Korbut's book she talked about going on tour post-Munich and I guess Belarus kept that money making idea going with Scherbo performing "across the world".

Arena/format

• I was a bit confused at when in 1993 this was since it was after worlds but there were several comments about gymnasts getting back in to competition readiness. I didn't realise that worlds was so early in 1993 (mid-April).
• The crowd were super close to the floor.
• Nice time capsule of music.

Commentary

• No howlers given the duo involved but it was interesting to hear their unfiltered opinions about gymnasts being robbed at 1993 worlds (Dawes BB, Korobchinsky AA).

Gymnasts

• Needed sunglasses for Podkopayeva's leotard and then eye bleach after an early example of a twisting tuck jump on floor. I wonder how she would have done in other quads when front tumbling wasn't so rewarded. I'm a sucker for a piked full-in so that was nice to see.
• Borden had a decently high tkatchev and very nice carriage on floor. Has the footage of her demonstrating compulsories ever emerged? It would be interested to compare with her 96 compulsories.
• Sharipov's leotard was so low cut at the neck and arms. He had balls doing a triple back dismount in that lighting. I've not seen a straddled gaylord before.
• Loved Ivankov's splits to press handstand. Simple pleasures.
• Yurkina's black and white leotard looked like wrapping paper or perhaps an illusion, but it really worked for me. I also liked Piskun's unusual one.
• Was Lysenko wearing the same leotard as Karpenko did in the 1999 AA?

Gymnastics

• I was impressed (and a tad concerned) at the difficulty being thrown given the lighting. It was so dark outside those spotlights.
• Ivankov's wobbly Y scale may be a preview of what is to come next quad.
• I haven't seen many examples (this plus Nemov in 1997), but I think men look odd doing double pikes on floor.
• I wondered if Yurkina's was the shortest triple twist I'd ever seen on FX....then I saw Borden's

Ewwww

• Not sure I've ever seen Nunno speak before - as opposed to obnoxiously cheering. The wry smile when Connor said he was "taking over the reigns from Bela Karolyi" was gross.