Russia defended their 2000 Olympic title in the
Groups, scoring 51.100 in the Galatsi Olympic Hall
on Saturday. Italy won their first Olympic medal
ever, a silver medal that their 49.450 points in
total earned them. Bulgaria took the bronze with a
score of 48.600.
The international gymnastics federation has
released a statement explaining the letter it sent
to men's all-around champion Paul Hamm earlier that
day.
Throughout these Games, the crowd has been
expressive, letting the judges know when a score is
either too high or too low, but tonight, after a
lengthy protest, the judges listened.
Defending Olympic champions and medalists from
previous Games fell to relative newcomers. In nearly
every event, youth proved more useful than previous
Olympic competition experience. Defending champions
Elena Zamolodchikova (vault), Svetlana Khorkina
(uneven bars), Marius Urzica (pommel horse), and
1996 Olympic Champion on rings Yuri Chechi
relinquished their titles on their respective
events.
Carly Patterson avoided the pre-Olympic favorite
jinx to win the All-Around title at the 2004 Olympic
Games. This marks the first win for an American
woman in a non-boycotted Olympic Games, and the
first time since 1988 that both a man and woman from
the same country claimed the title.
In the world of artistic gymnastics, nothing –
no release and re-grasp, no landing, no medal, no
win – is guaranteed until the very end. Ask Paul
Hamm.
Romania could not have asked for a more perfect
day of competition. From the beginning to end, the
young squad posted high scores on three out of the
four events while the other teams counted wobbles,
steps and breaks.
