Shannon Miller: My Child, My Hero by Claudia Miller

[Big_rock_show]

It seems like Shannon was a cash cow for people. The more she performed and showed up to appearances, the more everyone around her benefited but the more injured she became.

 

[MaryClare]

I guess I mean in terms of risk. Falls on both prevented otherwise superb gymnasts from advancing to finals in several cases. Vault and floor obviously consisted of very simple skills that only Eileen Diaz could possibly miss. But you're right, they're not "difficult" skills.

I meant because you described them as gatekeeper skills and not designed for every body type. How?

 

[RichardL]

I meant because you described them as gatekeeper skills and not designed for every body type. How?

I guess you're making me rethink what I meant by that!

I was mostly just reacting to how they were the skills that were most likely to trip them up, and were also skills that few gymnasts would include in their optional exercises. The shoulder flexibility for the hecht could obviously be developed, though, and a tour jete is a tour jete lol. But the 1992 routines had no twisting leaps or jumps and no blind catch transition, for example.

 

[Aeris]

Clear-hip skills are certainly something of a gatekeeper, same as Stalders. The majority of people don't like the feeling of one of them, so the choice to force a specific root skill on everyone is something of a dice roll for who is advantaged or not.

Tour jete shouldn't be the term used for that compulsory leap, but a turning jump that ends in scale is definitely an atypical kind thing compared to what people are normally training.

 

[RedBirdie]

that clear hip hecht was the cause of so many tears at the gym.

 

[MaryClare]

I think a few of you misunderstand the purpose of compulsories a little. The purpose was not to show good form. Good form is just what was required to score well and set yourself apart from the rest.

They are supposed to be technically complex and demand mastery of the largest range of skills and techniques that are realistically possible in the time frame of the routine. It was not supposed to give everyone an equal shot. When everyone started from the same maximum score, the technical complexity of compulsory exercises were a significant divider.

 

[RichardL]

I think a few of you misunderstand the purpose of compulsories a little. The purpose was not to show good form. Good form is just what was required to score well and set yourself apart from the rest.

They are supposed to be technically complex and demand mastery of the largest range of skills and techniques that are realistically possible in the time frame of the routine. It was not supposed to give everyone an equal shot. When everyone started from the same maximum score, the technical complexity of compulsory exercises were a significant divider.

I don't think we're in disagreement! But I think it's important to remember that not all base skill lines are represented in every compulsory routine, so there's a certain kind of luck involved when the skill lines you're most comfortable with end up being showcased most prominently. And the opposite was certainly true as well, most notably in the 93-96 routines IMO.

 

[irichluck21]

They are supposed to be technically complex and demand mastery of the largest range of skills and techniques that are realistically possible in the time frame of the routine. It was not supposed to give everyone an equal shot. When everyone started from the same maximum score, the technical complexity of compulsory exercises were a significant divider.

Eileen Diaz is in the corner weeping.

 

[makam]

Shannon being a class act was mainly shade at MLR since I don't remember any drunk driving arrests or gofundme grifting from Shannon. Though, obviously, I could have missed them...

 

[Hatsumomo]

It seems like Shannon was a cash cow for people. The more she performed and showed up to appearances, the more everyone around her benefited but the more injured she became.

Your standard child star story

 

[Matilda23]

Did Shannon ever compete the 3 whips to double twist punch front on FX?

 

[tempest]

Did Shannon ever compete the 3 whips to double twist punch front on FX?

She did at 93 nationals

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I don't think we're in disagreement! But I think it's important to remember that not all base skill lines are represented in every compulsory routine, so there's a certain kind of luck involved when the skill lines you're most comfortable with end up being showcased most prominently. And the opposite was certainly true as well, most notably in the 93-96 routines IMO.

I think the beam and to a lesser extent bars sets that quad were probably too hard generally. Even at the Olympics, ie a self selecting group who'd had substantial competitive experience with the set, there were only about 15 gymnasts who could get through that beam routine without either wobbling constantly or totally sacrificing amplitude for solidity. Bars was more of a problem lower down the ranks, notwithstanding examples like Onodi having to sit out the AA because she couldn't do the set.

 

[KristyJ]

Complexity of the beam routine or floor choreography aside, I copied them over and over and over in 1996-1997, as I imagine many other young gymnasts did, and it certainly wasn't bad for my basics. But if my very non-elite self could do the hop half with some success, I don't think it was that evil of a skill (though not going to confess how many times I fell off the arm of our dining room armchair that just happened to have 4" wide flat arms trying that one when I chose the elevated surface over the outdoors floor beam).

 

[QuietColours]

Chapter Twenty: Team Triumph

• Alternatively relieved and elated Shannon made the team
• Cortisone shot wasn't as effective as the last one, and Shannon couldn't train all events every day. Shannon was worried she had taken the spot of someone who would be better able to compete
• Tension was building at the gym. Two days before training camp, Shannon called that she'd been kicked out of the gym because he felt she wasn't running hard enough on vault. Her hamstring was still bothering her, but she felt she'd been running fine and Mark Cranston, the trainer, had said he didn't know how she could run harder. Shannon excused Steve, saying he was just disappointed Jennie Thompson hadn't made the team–he blamed himself and worried she might quit
• Claudia knew it wouldn't do any good to bash Steve to Shannon–she trusted and respected him and wouldn't tolerate anyone else criticizing him.
• Claudia arrived at the gym for the last possible weekend viewing to find it locked. Steve told her there would be no viewing because he needed Shannon's full concentration. He knew Shannon never looked at the viewing area when she practiced. Claudia wasn't going to drag Shannon out, so she felt her only option was to leave quietly.
• Shannon and Claudia had planned to do some shopping, and Claudia was late picking her up. Steve had lost some of Shannon's attention by not letting Claudia watch, because Shannon was expecting her Mom and was worried when she didn't come–Steve hadn't mentioned the conversation to her
• The gym parents dubbed Steve's attitude in times like this PMS–Pre-Meet Syndrome
• The 1996 team had athletes of different ages and races from different regions of the country, and was at the time one of most mature teams the US had had, with 6/7 members 17 or older
• The Team
  • Moceanu was the youngest at 15. She'd never competed in the Olympics or won a Worlds title, but she was going into the Olympics highly touted.
  • Dawes, 19, was from Maryland and Strug, 18, was from Arizona. Both were 1992 veterans
  • Kerri and Moceanu were both training with the Karolyis
  • Amy Chow, 18, was the quiet intellectual one with routines that emphasized difficulty
  • Amanda Borden, 19, was from Cincinnati. Fun loving and outgoing
  • Jaycie Phelps, 17, was from Indiana but trained with Borden at CGA. Jaycie was the most like Shannon, with an elegant style
• Shannon was very different from the 4'7" , 76 lb 15 year old who'd competed in Barcelona. She was now 5'0 and 100 pounds and had overcome many obstacles–her maturity showed, and it brought expectations with it. She later confessed that this time she really felt the pressure. In '92, she had been the underdog; in '96 she was supposed to be a leader
• Competition was 6 up, 5 count. Top 36 AAers made finals, 3 per country
• Training Camp
  • Went smoothly
  • Back on track spiritually and physically
• Podium Training
  • Fans paid to see it–more 22,000 of them at the first session; more at the second
  • Shannon still wasn't doing full difficulty in all routines
  • Tessa flew to OK to drive to the Olympics with her family. They'd stay with Bill Merritt's family for a week, then a hotel for a couple of days, and then trust God to provide
  • Hadn't tried to find accommodations earlier because of Shannon's wrist issues
• Pre competition
  • Shannon won 2 tickets to Opening Ceremonies. Tessa wanted to go, Troy didn't, Ron went with Tessa because Claudia was the one who knew their hosts
  • Gymnasts didn't march
  • USOC had given them 2 tickets to each gymnastics event, so they had to find tickets for Troy and Tessa. Rod Davis at USAG helped them by some tickets, an Olympic sponsor exchanged the rest for an appearance by Shannon after the games
• Compulsories
  • Family watched all the compulsory sessions. They were surprised by how low the scores were, no 9.8s or 9.9s. Americans were in the second-to-last round; Romania was in an early round and complained it would hurt their scores
  • All Americans hit bars; Shannon was last and got the highest score
  • They made a number of mistakes on beam. Shannon was 5th in the lineup and did the best compulsory routine of her career and got the highest score of the day on beam
  • Americans were outstanding on floor and had great vaults; Shannon hit well. They took the lead from the Romanians, but Russia and China hadn't gone yet
  • China had several problems, but Russia took the lead from the US by just over .012
  • Shannon was second individually, behind Lila Podkopayeva who had scored no lower than 9.737 on any event.
• Day Off
  • Family toured Atlanta
  • Ron's parents had tickets to Optionals, so they flew in and they picked them up at the airport and visited
• Optionals
  • Left early for the competition on the day of Optionals
  • Watched the early rounds of competition. The top four teams (Russia, Romania, Belarus, and US) would be in the final round of competition. China, to their surprised, was not top four. Competition would be very tight between Russia, Romania, and the US
  • Started on bars: Phelps had a strong start for a 9.787, and all the following athletes lived up to it. Shannon, next to last, hit a terrific set, but there was a long wait for a disappointing score. They later learned that the judges had given her a higher score but the control panel, headed by American judge Jackie Fie, had ordered it lowered. They never found out why beyond rumors of international politics. Russians were now .5999 behind the Americans
  • Beam had been rough for the US in compulsories. Now they were aggressive and got good scores. Shannon, 5th in the lineup, got the highest score of the day.
  • Floor was good for the team, but Shannon's lack of tumbling showed in a big step, and her score reflected her mistake
  • Going into vault, the US had a comfortable lead over Russia. Each gymnast could do two vaults, with the higher score counting. The first three gymnasts hit. Shannon was in fourth and add a good fifth score with her Y1.5. Moceanu was next, still recovering from the stress fracture in her shin, and her vaulting was affected. She fell on both vaults. The scoreboard still showed the US in the lead, but not by much
  • They wanted to drop Moceanu's score. Strug was the last vaulter and fell on her first vault. In the fall she injured her left ankle and as she stood she was shaking her foot. The Americans were concerned. They still had a comfortable margins over the Russians, but the Russians hadn't finished floor. A loss was unlikely, because the two remaining Russians would need perfect 10.0s to catch the Americans, and no one had even gotten a 9.9.
  • Kerri performed her final vault, landed it, and collapsed. As it turned out, the vault was unnecessary for the US to win.
  • After the optional competition, Shannon had the highest score on the team and was second at the games to Podkopayeva.
  • Shannon later remembered the awards ceremony as "the coolest thing." "To actually win as a team was great. To bring it together and be there with your friends and have your flag be raised and have the national anthem being played–Wow!"
  • In Barcelona, Shannon's accomplishments had been overshadowed by Zmeskal's comeback and Karolyi's announcement of his retirement. Now it was overshadowed by Kerri being cheered as a heroine for her vault. Kerri had made an important contribution, but so had the other six girls–no one girl had won the medal
  • Met Shannon in the USAG suite after the competition. Everyone was thrilled. Gymnasts and families were invited to a party at Planet Hollywood. Tessa and Troy were worn out and hungry and didn't want to go until someone mentioned Demi Moore and Bruce Willis might be there. It was hard to get through the crowd outside the restaurant; gymnasts were already eating by the time they arrived. When a reporter asked Tessa and Troy for their thoughts, Troy didn't have much to say but Tessa (never at a loss for words) waxed enthusiastically about her thoughts (not recorded here). Tessa did get to speak to Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who were very nice to her

 

[RichardL]

I love that she remembers Belarus in the final round of optionals when it was really Ukraine. Not a mistake people would likely make today. I'm also still curious to this day about Miller's optional bars score in Atlanta. So interesting to me that Jackie Fie ordered it lowered. I wonder what it would have been otherwise?

 

[RedBirdie]

Here's the bars routine in question. Scored a 9.787.

 

[RichardL]

This is a 9.8+ routine to me, especially in that code. She would've needed a 9.825 to tie Amy Chow into EFs, though, and does anyone know what the tie-breaking procedure was that quad?

ETA: Maybe the last cast to handstand before the dismount could've been better.

This routine went 9.750 in the AA:

 

[RedBirdie]

Shannon probably suffered in comparison going after Chow (really innovative work for that era) and Dawes (enormous Hindorff).

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I thought the 9.787 was generous! There's not much amplitude in that routine, which hadn't been so much an issue in her earlier career but was getting to be more of an expectation by 96. The other Americans showed high releases, big swing, huge dismounts. Shannon's looks quite old fashioned in comparison. The form is undeniably nice, but too much bent elbows and piking.