Shannon Miller: My Child, My Hero by Claudia Miller

[Matilda23]

Interesting strategy by Steve at 91 Worlds Trials to try to get Erica Stokes on the Worlds team! Could have cost Shannon her place on the team

 

[Aeris]

• Was surprised to have a B in geometry–she'd gotten the answers correct. Teacher said it was because she had to write out the homework problem on the page before working it and she didn't. She replied she hadn't been in class when he told them the policy and didn't know–he said it was her responsibility to find out what was required. Ron talked to the teacher, but the grade stood. It was Shannon's only B in high school

How rude. Should have introduced the teacher to a Baseball Bat if they were so attached to that B.

 

[Kittentoes]

That was normal then. I struggled desperately with math, despite having the correct answers.

 

[irichluck21]

It is still normal now, showing your work to receive credit has been since the 90s.
Mental math can still be used for some assignments like fluency, but certain algorithms necessitate the work being shown out.
For example the distributive property in multiplication. An example 16x5, my students had to show their work and demonstrate the application of the property.
Students were free to come up with their own ways of solving, as there are multiple ways. This also helps if you don't know your rote facts.
So 16x5 could be broken down into 2x (8x5) so 2x (40) or (10x5)+(5x5)+(1x5) so 50+25+5.
Students with exceptionalities that would otherwise struggle with operations now had strategies that allowed them accessibility.

 

[Kittentoes]

It is still normal now, showing your work to receive credit has been since the 90s.
Mental math can still be used for some assignments like fluency, but certain algorithms necessitate the work being shown out.
For example the distributive property in multiplication. An example 16x5, my students had to show their work and demonstrate the application of the property.
Students were free to come up with their own ways of solving, as there are multiple ways. This also helps if you don't know your rote facts.
So 16x5 could be broken down into 2x (8x5) so 2x (40) or (10x5)+(5x5)+(1x5) so 50+25+5.
Students with exceptionalities that would otherwise struggle with operations now had strategies that allowed them accessibility.

That was my problem. I tend to break things down because it is easier on my dyslexia. I'm just less likely to flip something.

 

[makam]

That was normal then. I struggled desperately with math, despite having the correct answers.

I got deducted in geometry because however I solved the problem (correct answer) wasn't "proper etiquette ." Like, what? Might be why I disdain geometry and proofs to this day. Not that I have done proofs in many years and my geometry is the simple and practical kind.

 

[CameliasFingerpaint]

I feel like writing proofs would be right up Shannon’s alley given how detail-oriented and type-a she is.

Nunno comes off as just a total psychopath. Interesting that Claudia’s tone seems to be so neutral about him and very little is said about Peggy.

 

[makam]

Makes you wonder if she thinks the stuff he did was normal and is just writing about it as it happened, nbd, or if she feels it was batshit and is writing like she thinks it is normal to draw attention to how batshit it is.

I know it was the style of the times for coaches in all sports to get unhealthily involved in the performance of their athletes, but it looks extra insane when the athlete is a tiny adolescent gymnast and the coach is an adult. Football and basketball players shouldn't have to put up with the verbal abuse either but at least it usually wasn't some adult guy yelling at or freaking out over a child.

 

[flappergirl]

How rude. Should have introduced the teacher to a Baseball Bat if they were so attached to that B.

This happened to me too. I was so good at math in fifth grade. But then when training for the GED, when I had lost my edge, they expected the opposite. I was dinged twice.

 

[Hatsumomo]

I got deducted in geometry because however I solved the problem (correct answer) wasn't "proper etiquette ." Like, what? Might be why I disdain geometry and proofs to this day. Not that I have done proofs in many years and my geometry is the simple and practical kind.

Same with me in geometry, especially the triangle proofs. I could get the answer right, but I would get dinged because my methodology wasn't correct.

 

[RedBirdie]

Makes you wonder if she thinks the stuff he did was normal and is just writing about it as it happened, nbd, or if she feels it was batshit and is writing like she thinks it is normal to draw attention to how batshit it is.

I know it was the style of the times for coaches in all sports to get unhealthily involved in the performance of their athletes, but it looks extra insane when the athlete is a tiny adolescent gymnast and the coach is an adult. Football and basketball players shouldn't have to put up with the verbal abuse either but at least it usually wasn't some adult guy yelling at or freaking out over a child.

My guess? She thought this was normal. Maybe sometimes Nunno crossed the line, but this behavior is just how great gymnastics coaches act. Perhaps she looks back on it now with a "oh my god, this was insane, what were we thinking?!" but at the time, this was all so normalized.

The irony of it, of course, is that Nunno was never a great coach. He wasn't even a good coach, imo. Shannon Miller could have been coached by a paraplegic monkey and she still would have be great. One wonders how much more she might have accomplished if she wasn't coached by an absolute psycho jackass who cared more about himself than his gymnasts.

 

[crdubb17]

My guess? She thought this was normal. Maybe sometimes Nunno crossed the line, but this behavior is just how great gymnastics coaches act. Perhaps she looks back on it now with a "oh my god, this was insane, what were we thinking?!" but at the time, this was all so normalized.

The irony of it, of course, is that Nunno was never a great coach. He wasn't even a good coach, imo. Shannon Miller could have been coached by a paraplegic monkey and she still would have be great. One wonders how much more she might have accomplished if she wasn't coached by an absolute psycho jackass who cared more about himself than his gymnasts.

Right. It’s one thing to be an ignorant parent who just defers to the coach because you don’t know any better, but I wonder what that was like for Claudia once she became knowledgeable and saw his incompetence.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I vaguely remember Claudia saw that Shannon’s floor didn’t start from a 10 at worlds in ‘93 so she was the one who told Steve to add in a Popa at the last minute. It sounds insane today to think something like that could ever happen.

 

[QuietColours]

Right. It’s one thing to be an ignorant parent who just defers to the coach because you don’t know any better, but I wonder what that was like for Claudia once she became knowledgeable and saw his incompetence.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I vaguely remember Claudia saw that Shannon’s floor didn’t start from a 10 at worlds in ‘93 so she was the one who told Steve to add in a Popa at the last minute. It sounds insane today to think something like that could ever happen.

1994--she caught that Shannon was missing a "C" and they added a switch side at least minute to make up for it (just finished that chapter)

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter Seven: 1992: Olympic Countdown (Part 1)

• Dynamo Classic - January
  • Always nerve wrecking for Shannon because friends and teachers came
  • Won AA
• Dragon Invitational - February
  • GAGE?
  • Won AA by 2 points
  • Pulled her hamstring again
• Supposed to compete in the American Classic in two weeks. Tried to have easier workouts
• American Classic
  • Steve thought she'd make finals and win
  • Warm ups did not go well
  • The days before the competition Steve had to push her hard and the leg was sore - could hardly tumble on beam. Peggy wanted Shannon to withdraw, Steve didn't, and Shannon wanted to try
  • Decided to do minimal floor warm up, no more beam, and more vault and bars since they hurt less
  • Kim was there and in great shape
  • Shannon was ahead after prelims
  • Neck and neck going into floor
  • Shannon was first; put too much into her FTDT because she was afraid she wouldn't make it and ended up overrotating it and falling. Finished 3rd
  • For Mixed Pairs, she was paired with Scott Keswick again, who also had missed the title on the men's side and wanted to win. They took gold. It was Shannon's 15th birthday
• Injury before Worlds (April 1992)
  • US team was Shannon, Kim, Betty, Kerri, and Dominique Dawes
  • Most would only compete 2-3 events, but Steve wanted Shannon to do all four–she had new skills he wanted to debut
  • Knew he would have to ease up in workouts but also that she would have to toughen up and work through the pain
  • Parents were excited Shannon was getting to compete in a world championship again
  • Last minute plan was for Claudia to go with her
  • Two weeks before, got a call from Steve that Shannon had an accident and he was taking her to the hospital–they needed to meet him there as soon as possible
  • At the end of her workout, Steve had decided to have her do one more complete bar set to simulate the feel of the competition–using a 4 inch landing mat instead of the softer crash mat (8 inch mat?). Shannon clipped the low bar winding up for her dismount; when she was flipping, she threw an arm out to brace for the fall and landed with her arm "in an unnatural position". Steve wasn't sure if it was broken or dislocated; Shannon thought it was dislocated and wanted him to just pop it back in
  • Shannon was calm when they arrived at the hospital. They called the Christian Science practitioner she'd worked with before
  • X-Ray showed a piece of bone had broken off the elbow and slid away when the elbow dislocated. He recommended surgery to screw the bone back into place as the quickest way to get it healed enough for Shannon to train again. Shannon didn't want the surgery. Claudia would have respected that, but Ron and Steve wanted Shannon to have the surgery. The practitioner told Shannon she didn't have to be in conflict with her dad or coach–God was there guiding her whether she had the surgery or not. She had surgery that night
  • Surgery went well. Shannon refused pain medication afterwards, saying she wasn't in any pain. The doctor gave them a prescription for if she changed her mind, but they never filled it
  • Steve arrived as they were going to the car. It was April 1st, so he joked, "You've had your April Fool's joke, now get in the gym!" Then he told her she could have the day off and he'd see her tomorrow. It never crossed her mind to take more than a day off
  • Doctor decided not to cast so the arm wouldn't stiffen–she had 10 days in a sling, and then she could remove it and slowly start to pull her arm straight and put pressure on it. 6-8 week recovery time. Come back in 5 days so he could check her progress
  • Arm healed well during this time
  • A few months before Olympics, the pin started causing problems and the doctor decided to remove it
  • He'd expected it to stay in for years
  • Everyone credited God with the speed of Shannon's recovery
• Steve followed doctor's instructions closely for a while, then he got anxious. He started having her do one armed skills. He thought he could get her ready for Championships, five weeks after her injury. Doctor had said she couldn't fully train for six, but Shannon was ready to work hard and Steve pushed up the schedule
• Decided it was for the best she couldn't do Worlds (only two weeks away)--she'd competed hard in the fall, had a painful hamstring, and he didn't want to burn her out like he had in 1989
• Claudia would have forfeited ⅔ the cost of the trip if she hadn't gone to Worlds, so she went to experience it as a judge (not judging the competition)
• Championships
  • Finished 1st after compulsories, ahead of Kim and surprising a crowd that didn't think she'd be ready to compete
  • Shannon wanted to do Optionals, Steve wasn't sure. He thought she could do her routines without the new skills, but he didn't want the judges to see her new routines without all the fine tuning
  • If she didn't finish the meet, her scores wouldn't carry over and she would have to petition to Trials and completely count on her performance at one meet
  • Shannon warmed up for Optionals, but Steve pulled her before the competition started

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter Seven: 1992: Olympic Countdown (Part 2)

• Trials
  • Between Championships and Trials, Peggy decided Shannon needed new music and better choreography. They chose Hungarian Rhapsody for her music. Shannon was picky about what kind of moves she would do in her choreography, so they worked with Nancy Roach on that. They worked well together. It wasn't perfect, but Steve expected it to improve by Worlds
  • Steve was worried about vault, which was coming back slowly
  • Shannon was 1st after compulsories
  • Optionals:
    • Vault was weak, but a respectable score. Kim and Kerri Strug were excellent
    • Bars was excellent for her; Kim had some problems. Kerri was solid but had less difficulty. Betty was sitting out the meet because of a back injury
    • Beam went well, high score. Kim had a few wobbles; Kerri had a good routine but scored under Shannon
    • Shannon hit floor except for an OOB. Kim got a 9.95
  • With the combined Compulsory/Optionals, Shannon won Trials
  • Disappointed that the federation decided not to declare a winner, just the seven gymnasts eligible to got to the training camp where the team would be chosen
• Today Show called for an interview with Shannon–were also planning to interview Kim. Later they called back to say they would be interviewing Kim and Bela instead
• Bela was furious that Shannon had beaten Kim and was worried it might affect Kim's position at the Olympics. He blamed everyone from the Federation to the judges, called it a crime, and said Kim had been "hunted down" and "pushed in the mud." Kim said she had made some mistakes and said, "What people are going to remember if who won the Olympics, not who won the Trials."
• When the Millers watched the show, they had the feeling that Bela had given the show an ultimatum. At the time they were hurt and irritated, but as Shannon's status in the gymnastics world grew over the next few years they understood Bela better. They had been naive about the politics of international gymnastics; Bela knew the politics and wanted to use it to his advantage. She doesn't totally agree with Bela, but now she recognizes that yo need political clout going in to a major meet if you want to win
• On the drive back from the airport after Trials, they realized Shannon was probably going to the Olympics and they as a family had no room reservations, airline tickets, or money to get them. They had a pact that either the whole family went or none of them did. Tessa and Troy had put up with a lot over the years to accommodate Shannon (money spent on training, Tessa tutoring and chauffeuring her, Troy dragged along to meets, everyone waiting to have dinner at 9:30 so they could eat as a family). They also realized that even if they had the money, it was probably too late to make arrangements
• A friend had anticipated the issue and found a company that would sell room and airline tickets half priced. When they found out how much half price was, they still couldn't afford it
• The president of the bank Claudia worked for had called their advertising agency to make plans and estimated the cost would be $25,000. The bank put an ad in the newspaper to explain fundraising efforts, a local t-shirt company gave the bank shirts to sell at a very low cost, and the whole state promoted the effort to raise money for Shannon's family. Efforts raised $35,000–the extra money was donated to the Oklahoma Special Olympics
• Training Camp - All explanations and opinions here are Claudia's only
  • In Florida at Brown's Gymnastics
  • Michelle Campi had had an arm injury similar to Shannon's and was just recovering, but was invited to camp. Betty Okino was as well. Eight girls at camp, seven would go to Barcelona, six would compete. The competitors would be chosen the day before the competition
  • Everyone was performing well, everyone had small problems. Steve said Shannon was the most consistent girl there. The last night before they left the team was announced as Shannon, Kim, Kerri, Dominique, Wendy Bruce, Michelle Campi, and Betty Okino. Kim Kelly wasn't chosen
  • The decision caused controversy. Shannon and Michelle had been able to petition to Trials under the rules. Betty had not competed there, but she was now healthy and performing good routines, with a history of strong international performance. Kim had also represented the US before, and had been in top the top five when Championships and Trials were combined
  • Were disappointed for Kim, would have also been disappointed for Betty
  • Most coaches, parents, and gymnasts agreed the training camp was not a good idea. They were asking the girls to peak too many times because scores carried over. Before the next Olympics, the team would be named after Trials and the training camp would only be open to the named team and alternates.
• Trained in France for a week before continuing to Barcelona. The coaches were hoping for a dual meet with the French team, but it didn't happen and Shannon was glad not to have another competition
• France was boring for Shannon. She was homesick, didn't like the food, and nervous. She called home saying she was hungry.
• Peggy wasn't allowed to stay in the Olympic village because she wasn't an official coach (Steve and Bela were). Martha was also, and she was the one who stayed with the girls and was used to closely monitoring their diets.
• Does not believe Steve was ever unreasonable about food and says she wouldn't have stood for it. An advantage to Shannon living at home was that they were able to make sure she was taking care of herself
• Steve had cautioned Shannon not to overindulge in fattening foods, but he knew she was careful and didn't worry about her diet. Later, when other elites came to his gym, he instituted more rules.
• In Barcelona, Martha felt Shannon should eat like the Karolyi girls. She dictated exactly what Kim, Kerry, and Betty ate. Shannon asked for a survival package and Claudia sent crackers, dried fruit snacks, and canned soup