Shannon Miller: My Child, My Hero by Claudia Miller

[RichardL]

And offered personal consultations--one session free with the class, extra sessions by the hour.

I also think coaches should be showing them historic and interesting routines of the past. Let them see what is possible and what interesting skills might have fallen out of fashion but would enhance a roitine.

When you get to know a few elite gymnasts, it's very telling which ones have watched gymnastics from previous eras and which ones haven't.

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter Fifteen: Competition Controversy

• Shannon was still mentally and physically tired; Steve had offered a competition break and she was looking forward to it even though it meant missing Worlds
• Since she was injured, she could miss World Trials, and her Championship scores still qualified her to the World Team in second place
• Steve had told USAG that she wouldn't be attending. Someone in the USAG hierarchy told Ron this could affect Shannon's scores at Championships
• Jackie Fie, the highest-ranked US judge, contacted Steve to discuss Shannon's participation. Steve explained that even if he wanted her to go, she wouldn't be the best person because she hadn't been training Optional routines since Nationals (about two months), and had not been training dismounts or other skills that were hard on her legs. Even if he felt she was physically ready to start hard training again (he didn't, and she wasn't), she wouldn't be ready
• Jackie offered a compromise–Shannon would compete only in compulsories. The team could use her scores. Steve said he'd talk to Shannon. Jackie also called the Millers and talked to Ron, who made no commitment. Jackie made it clear she thought it was important for Shannon to be a part of the team. Steve was concerned–he didn't want Shannon to get a reputation for not being a team player, and he didn't want to displease USAG, but he also didn't want to put Shannon in a situation she was unprepared for or break his promise
• They laid everything out for Shannon and let her decide. She said she would join the team but just do compulsories. Federation officials were pleased. Steve also explained Shannon, as a senior in high school, needed to be in school as much as possible and continue therapy for her shin splints–he and Shannon would probably come home after compulsories, and Peggy could stay for the team
• Steve told the family that if the team was desperate, there was a remote possibility he'd ask Shannon to do beam in Optionals. They thought it was unlikely–Strug, Dawes, Amanda Borden, Larissa Fontaine, Amy Chow, and Jaycie Phelps made up the rest of a strong team
• Just before they left, Shannon pulled her Achilles. They had declined the meet so she could heal, done it anyway, and got a new injury on top of the unhealed ones. Shannon studied her Sunday School lessons and remembered "trials are proof of God's care."
• Shannon had an excellent beam routine, a good vault, and a beautiful floor. The US was struggling on bars and Shannon was last as the strongest bar worker. Steve reminded her not to put her feet on the bar too soon before the dismount; some gymnasts put their feet on the bar when they were still almost over the top of the bar, curtailing the height of their dismount. In response, Shannon delayed too long and her feet slipped off the bar. She kipped up and repeated the action for the dismount and ended up with a respectable 9.525. The most the judge could take off for the routine was .3 for the extra swing and a little in execution for the mishap–the routine had otherwise been pretty much flawless.
• As the Americans left the arena, they were booed. Claudia explained to Shannon that her score had been correct, but it seemed like they were being booed for overscoring
• Steve was dismayed by this and disturbed US officials didn't do much to explain and justify her score. He had already explained they had planned to leave after compulsories, and Shannon was limping worse than ever. Steve's mistake, they realized later, was slipping away quickly and quietly. If they'd let reporters know their plans, the backlash would have been less.
• Reporters didn't know they'd left until they were gone. When they caught up with her in Chicago, she didn't know there was a problem, didn't realize they'd left without telling anyone their immediate plans, and didn't understand why anyone would mind.
• In the weeks that followed, the press was very harsh on Shannon. Her missed foot on her routine (and injuries) gave them the theory that she was too old for gymnastics, and her decision to leave the competition made them think she didn't care about the team. No one cared that if she hadn't cared about the team she wouldn't have gone to Worlds in the first place, or that even with the mistake on bars she was the top scorer for the Americans and had been 4th in the world in compulsories
• Criticisms of 17-year-old Shannon also seemed unfair when Steve, the coach, made the decision to leave, and Steve had made it clear to officials she would only do compulsories. It would have been rude and unsportsmanlike for her to take another team member's place so she could do subpar optional routines
• Steve wrote to USAG's president Kathy Scanlan asking them for a show of support. She responded she understood Shannon's feelings, but they didn't do anything
• The rest of the year was fairly quiet gymnastically
• The bank Claudia worked for was bought; there was uncertainty if Claudia and her colleagues would keep their jobs. Ultimately, she and five of the six others did–the sixth was already planning to retire
• Shannon had an easier gym schedule to heal and was able to do more appearances. Tessa came home for Christmas with her boyfriend Morgan (Mo), and accompanied them on vacation. They wouldn't have all fit in the car, but Steve suggested Shannon workout in the morning (she had American Cup and Pan Ams coming up) and fly into San Antonio around when her family would arrive. When they left San Antonio, she could fly back and he'd pick her up and take her to the gym for her workout. Shannon agreed with Steve it was a good idea, even though going directly from vacation to the gym was tough on her

 

[QuietColours]

Fluff piece from the 1992 American Cup has a few lines about of Steve studied under Bela at one point. He says that what he learned from Bela was how to motivate gymnasts.

Steve: I believe that he [Bela] is probably the best coach in the world. I think he could take a basketball team and coach a basketball team to a championship.

Relevant part of the fluff is here, followed by a joint Bela/Steve interview:

 

[RedBirdie]

I feel like Claudia is letting Steve Nunno off really easy. He so badly mismanaged Shannon in 1994, even with her winning worlds.

 

[QuietColours]

I'm a little ahead in my reading, and it feels like everything was downhill after 1993 in terms of how Steve managed Shannon and her injuries (with a helping of delayed and refused medical intervention not helping). All her later accomplishments seem to be heavy testimonies of how well Shannon can compete in significant pain.

It also would have been nice for USAG to have released a statement about their arrangement with Steve and Shannon about her competition schedule and how they support teenage athletes managing injuries and prioritizing their studies along with competition though

 

[QuietColours]

And I know part of the issue is the number of judges scoring each routine, but watching the '92 American Cup makes me want to shake the NCAA judges and point to how judges USED to be able to differentiate between routines in the 10.0 system and it still made for an exciting competition

 

[eanda]

And offered personal consultations--one session free with the class, extra sessions by the hour.

I also think coaches should be showing them historic and interesting routines of the past. Let them see what is possible and what interesting skills might have fallen out of fashion but would enhance a roitine.

In my judging days, one of the things I enjoyed most was going into gyms and working with coaches and gymnasts on what we were looking for and explaining why they were getting some deductions. We didn't have many gymnasts past Level 8, so it wasn't as much about strategically choosing elements and routine construction, but still beneficial.

 

[irichluck21]

USAG did Shannon dirty. Even in the ABC broadcast it made it seem like Shannon was "giving up on the team". USAG should have made it clear to media and commentators that Shannon was only doing compulsories to help the team as requested by USAG. She could have declined to rest up. Shame on USAG for wanting Shannon to compete injured and also not support her.

That said, I thought it was in bad taste for Steve and Shannon to leave early (not Shannon's fault). She should have stayed there and cheered the team on in optionals and team finals. After all she was part of the team.

 

[QuietColours]

If she had stayed, how likely do think it would have been that she would have ended up competing multiple more routines, between USAG pushing and Nunno's tendency to have her try just one more event?

 

[irichluck21]

That's true. It might have happened. Especially since IIRC Chow was a mess in optionals (but bounced back for finals) they might have pushed Shannon to do more.

I still think she should have stayed but been firm on her decision to do compulsories only. Of USAG released a statement regarding Shannon helping the team out by doing just compulsories, it would have been less of a chance they would ask of her to do more.

 

[KristyJ]

If she had stayed, how likely do think it would have been that she would have ended up competing multiple more routines, between USAG pushing and Nunno's tendency to have her try just one more event?

I couldn't help but wonder if that is part of why Steve wanted them to leave. He may have been aware of that about himself.

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter Sixteen: Argentina Adventure

• Did another exhibition at the Dynamo Classic in January
• Won the Dial Award–awarded by the soap company to an outstanding female and male high school senior based on athletics, academics, and citizenship
• February was Peachtree in Atlanta, as a warmup to American Cup. Shannon won the AA
• American Classic
  • Qualifying meet for Pan Ams
  • Team had to be both seniors and juniors meaning there wasn't a lot of room for senior competitors
  • First time she'd be competing with the upcoming juniors who were trying for 1996
  • Dawes and Strug did not compete. Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, and Jaycie Phelps did. Notable juniors included Moceanu, Kristy Powell, Doni Thompson, Katie Teft, and Mary Beth Arnold. Jennie Thompson was out with an ankle injury
  • Compulsories went well–Shannon was in the lead, with Moceanu and Borden close behind
  • In Optionals, she added her third LOSO back on beam and some difficulty on floor to win; Moceanu and Borden tied for second
  • Had been worried coming into this meet because her shin splints were getting bad again, she hadn't competed full optional routines since August, and she knew how good the juniors were
• American Cup
  • Steve had told Shannon that if she earned her spot at Pan Ams at Classic she wouldn't have to do American Cup so she could rest for Pan Ams, but he had her going to American Cup anyway because he thought she could win and he didn't like having had to withdraw from all events but vault last year
  • Katie Teft would get to rest after earning her spot for Pan Ams at Classics
  • Media kept up the pressure and kept pushing on Shannon's departure from Worlds the previous October
  • When asked if she felt guilty leaving because she was the leader of the team, the oldest and most experienced, Shannon corrected them that Dawes was the oldest and that both Dawes and Kerri had been in the Olympics and World Championships, and Amanda and Larissa also had Worlds experience. When they suggested she should have stayed to give the other girls guidance, she replied she didn't think the coaches would appreciate her taking over their roles. She also told the reporter that the coaches and athletes had known her plans ahead of time
  • Shannon's legs were really hurting, schoolwork was piling up, Steve and Peggy had been fighting a lot lately–Shannon was feeling overwhelmed and emotional and didn't want to leave for three more weeks
  • Had a talk about her fears
    • Would talk with her teachers and get as much homework in advance as they could
    • Spring break would be coming up soon after she got back from Argentina, so that would be additional time
    • She had to see Steve and Peggy in the correct light–as reflections of God, not squabbling humans. Each time she was exasperated with them, she had to think of least one good quality they exhibited daily
    • She would call the practitioner and ask for her to work with her regarding her leg pain
    • She would never be lonely as long as God was with her
  • Shannon still wanted Claudia to go to Pan Ams with her, but the money wasn't there and she didn't know if she could get off work or get travel accommodations in time
  • Kathy Kelley at USAG was willing to help–she knew sometimes having a parent around helped athlete morale. She got Claudia on a USOC flight and arranged for her to stay in a suite with some USAG officials; she got the time off work
  • Shannon offered to help with some of the rest of the expenses and they agreed to share the cost
  • Ron was going to American Cup but could only make finals. Shannon called late after prelims almost in tears–she hadn't made any finals. She had done an okay FTY on vault, which only started from a 9.8. Bars was fine. She'd fallen on beam and had a good floor, but Amanda Borden and Kristy Powell had outscored her–she was 4th overall and the third American. Peggy was having her call now because Ron didn't need to come for finals. Her parents assured he would still come and they could do a little sightseeing before she had to leave for Pan Ams
• Classic had boosted Shannon's morale and now it plummeted. They all hoped having her dad there for a few days would help
• Pan Ams
  • Claudia arrived and saw Shannon's picture in the newspaper–she didn't read Spanish, but could work out that Shannon had placed first in Compulsories
  • Couldn't get into the athlete village, so she had to wait for the team to get back from practice–decided to read Science and Health again
  • 45 minutes later, team came in. Shannon was elated to see her mom and got permission for her to come up to her room for a time. Luggage and clothes were everywhere
  • The arena where they worked out had been flooded the first few days because of heavy rain, and the lights had gone out once. The girls wore shoes unless they were on the equipment because of debris on the floor from the flood.
  • After lunch, Shannon had therapy for her legs and a nap before the competition that evening. Claudia had the afternoon left and no way to get back to her hotel, so she took a walk on the beach. A guard approached and asked for her village credentials. She didn't have much to show who she was, so she showed her USOC badge, which he accepted
  • When walking to the competition, a van pulled up and indicated she should get in. It looked like the USOC van, so she did, but it turned out to be full of male gymnasts in warmups on their way to watch the women's meet. She didn't know what country they were from. She pulled out an autographed postcard of Shannon to try to explain who she was, and they all wanted one.
  • The line at the competition was very long, and it didn't seem to be moving. Eventually someone came out and made an announcement that annoyed people and they started leaving. She used another postcard to try to explain who she was to the person in line behind her–they helped pass her to an official, who passed her to someone who spoke English, who got her to the American delegation. The meet had been oversold, which is why they had turned the crowd away
  • Ended up sitting next to Kristy Powell's mother and grandmother and Doni Thompson's parents. Everyone asked her for the Shannon postcards
  • Shannon had a good meet but sat down her beam dismount; Claudia worried this would lead to a repeat of American Cup. She found Steve, who was sure Shannon was still the first American but was not happy. Claudia got to see Shannon after she finished her media interviews and arranged to visit the next day since there were no meets. Shannon was relieved to have qualified for the AA, but was upset about the fall (again. On her favorite event.) She knew Peggy was upset too
  • Team had won gold and set a new team record
  • In the AA, Shannon fell on her punch front beam mount to open the competition. Steve remained calm. Claudia prayed for Shannon and Kristy Powell's mother encouraged her in prayer
  • The rest of Shannon's routines were outstanding, and Shannon managed the AA win
  • Shannon was upset still about having fallen three times in a row on beam in competition when she wasn't having any issues in practice
  • Shannon was working a 1.5 yurchenko, but it wasn't ready yet. She did the FTY and Steve had her do the tsuk arabian even though she hadn't trained it since the previous August, because the handspring front tuck only started from a 9.7. She ended up getting silver with a 9.8 vault and one she hadn't trained in seven months and hadn't stood up in workouts the day before
  • She won gold on bars and floor
  • Argentina was fun after the competition ended
  • Calling home, they learned that Stormy Eaton, the coach of gymnasts Sandy Woolsey and Elizabeth Crandall, had died in a plane accident.

 

[Matilda23]

Any indication what Steve and Peggy were fighting about?

 

[RedBirdie]

Geez, the first 3 months of 1995 Shannon did Dynamo Classic (exhibition), Peachtree Classic, American Classic, American Cup, and Pan Ams.

 

[QuietColours]

Any indication what Steve and Peggy were fighting about?

Just the glossed over comment. Either she didn't remember, didn't think it mattered, or figured it was their business. There are a few places with veiled references like that (a bit later on talking about eating disorders, she comments that the only gymnasts at Dynamo that may have had potential EDs came from elsewhere and didn't stay long--seemed to very much be a veiled reference to Kerri, but it would have been incredibly inappropriate for her to give names)

 

[Passion]

Just hopping into random vans in Argentina lol.

 

[rlayt]

I wonder where Shannon’s stalker is today?

 

[cftmoonlight79]

He was fined only $500 for the crime back then.

 

[KorbutFan]

Just hopping into random vans in Argentina lol.

It was ok though as it looked like a USOC van.

Seriously though that was scary to read.