GYMNASTICS Romania impressive in Japan
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See the article in its original context from October 1995.
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Graceful and controlled on the floor and beam, explosive and crisp on the vault and bars, Romania scored 192.570 in compulsory exercises, eclipsing the 191.722 points that had given the U.S. team the opening day lead Monday.
Gina Gogean's score of 38.799 was the highest individual total of the nine-day tournament so far and contained a 9.875 on the floor, the highest single mark. She edged 1993 and 1994 world champion Shannon Miller of the United States, who scored 38.699, into second place in individual qualifying. Lavinia Milosovici, the 1994 world silver medalist, scored 38.650 and stood fourth overall.
Romania's delegation head, Octavian Bellu, said his team had set a standard that Russia, another favorite, would have trouble beating. "It's like going on Everest, every step is more difficult," he said.
Russia, the 1994 bronze medalist, and nine other teams compete in compulsories Wednesday, followed by optional exercises over the next three days to decide the women's team medal and the 36 qualifiers for the individual all-around final.
China complained publicly again about judging after its team of veterans and newcomers mixed brilliance with mistakes. The Chinese stood just behind the United States with 190.819 points.
Coach Lu Shanzhen claimed at a news conference that his team outperformed America's women but scored less and "did not get the place that they should have."
China already had complained Monday that its men were judged unfairly.
China included three largely untested gymnasts in its squad to groom them for next year's Olympics. The top 12 teams at this championship qualify for the Atlanta Games.
Meng Fei, a 14-year-old making her debut at a major world competition, and Mao Yanling, 15, both fell on the uneven bars. Meng also fell mounting the beam.
Once again the backbone of the Chinese team was Mo Huilan, a 4-foot-1 (1.24-meter) fireball known as "Mighty Mouse" whose 38.687 points placed her just behind Miller. Mo scored 9.800, making the beam look easy, and 9.712 on the floor and 9.700 on the bars with crisp, energetic routines. Mo's new 13-year-old teammate, Ji Liya, also performed admirably on the bars and floor, scoring 9.750 and 9.712. Another notable was Svetlana Boguinskaia of Belarus, who won the all-around title in 1989 for the Soviet Union. Her total of 38.012, the 11th highest, helped Belarus to sixth place, with France fifth and the Ukraine fourth.
