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>>> AUSTRALIA'S SECOND LARGEST
CITY, MELBOURNE, PLAYS HOST TO
THE PACIFIC RIM GYMNASTICS
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
THE 2010 EDITION FALLS TWO YEARS
AFTER BEIJING'S OLYMPICS AND TWO
YEARS BEFORE THOSE IN LONDON, A
CHANCE FOR STARS TO MEASURE
THEIR STAYING POWER AND EMERGING
THREATS TO TEST THEMSELVES ON A
GLOBAL STAGE.
THE BABY OF THE BEIJING TEAM IS
NOW THE LEADER OF THIS ONE.
BRIDGET SLOAN HEADLINES A U.S.
SQUAD STACKED WITH TEENAGE
TALENT, INCLUDING REBECCA BROSS,
THE TEENAGER SHE DEFEATED FOR
THE 2009 WORLD TITLE.
THE AMERICANS TAKE ON CHINA'S
NEXT WAVE OF ABLE ACROBATS, AND
AN UPSTART TEAM OF CHALLENGERS
FROM DOWN UNDER.
AT THE HALFWAY POINT BETWEEN
OLYMPIC GAMES, EACH EVENT IS AN
OPPORTUNITY, AND EVERY
IMPRESSION MATTERS.
>>> AND WE WELCOME YOU TO THE
2010 EDITION OF THE PACIFIC RIM
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
INSIDE HISENSE ARENA, IT'S THE
12th EDITION OF THIS EVENT,
WHICH TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO
YEARS AND BRINGS TOGETHER TEAMS
REPRESENTING NATIONS THAT WIND
THE PACIFIC COAST.
ALONG WITH ELFI SCHLEGEL AND TIM
DAGGETT.
FACING TEAMS FROM CANADA,
AUSTRALIA, CHINA ALWAYS ONE TO
LOOK OUT FOR, TIM.
>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE AREN'T
WELL-KNOWN, THESE ATHLETES ARE
PHENOMENAL.
I GUARANTEE YOU TEAM AMERICA IS
GOING TO GO HOME FROM THIS
COMPETITION REGARDLESS OF HOW IT
TURNS OUT, A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
>> FOR MORE ON THE AMERICANS AND
WHAT THEY FACE, HERE'S ANDREA
JOYCE.
>> THIS IS A VERY STRONG U.S.
TEAM HERE IN MELBOURNE, BUT THEY
WON'T BE OPERATING AT FULL
STRENGTH, AND THAT'S BECAUSE
2009 WORLD ALL AROUND CHAMPION
BRIDGET SLOAN TWEAKED HER RIGHT
ANKLE DURING VAULT TRAINING THE
DAY THE AMERICANS LEFT FOR
AUSTRALIA.
NOT A SERIOUS INJURY, BUT JUST
TO BE SAFE, SHE WILL ONLY
COMPETE ON THE UNEVEN BARS.
BRIDGET TOLD ME THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE WAS THE ACTUAL TRIP
ITSELF, TRAVELING FROM HOUSTON
TO L.A. TO SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE.
SHE HAD TO CONTINUALLY ICE HER
ANKLE AND KEEP IT ELEVATED THE
ENTIRE TIME.
SHE KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
HER TO BE HERE AT THE RIPE OLD
AGE OF 17, SHE IS THE SEASONED
VETERAN AND REALLY THE LEADER OF
THIS YOUNG SQUAD.
IT'S A ROLE SHE TAKES VERY
SERIOUSLY.
>>> UP FIRST FROM CANADA ON THE
VAULT, DOMINIQUE PEGG, THE
16-YEAR-OLD FROM SARNIA,
ONTARIO, AND ALL AROUND BRONZE
MEDALIST IN 2008.
>> THIS REPRESENTS THE FUTURE OF
GYMNASTICS.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT FOR
THIS KA *** YAEN TEAM.
>> A VERY NICE START.
LOT OF NICE FORM, A LOT OF
POWER.
I LOVE THIS.
SHE SAID HER OLDER BROTHER WAS A
GYMNAST, AND SHE HAD TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT HE DID.
>> NOW FROM CHINA ON THE UNEVEN
BARS, TONG, JUST 15 YEARS OF
AGE.
>> THIS IS THE HALFWAY MARK.
FOR CHINA, THIS IS A TESTING
GROUND FOR THESE VERY YOUNG
GYMNASTS.
>> SHE IS PHENOMENAL.
LOOK AT THE PERFECT HANDSTAND
EXTENDED, LOOK AT THOSE TOES.
>> ALREADY HAS A VERY GOOD GRASP
OF THE TECHNICAL COMPONENT OF
THE SPORT.
IT'S JUST HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE
STAGE?
>> THE THING THAT'S AMAZING TO
ME IS HOW SHE HANDLES A ROUTINE
THAT'S THIS LONG AND HARD.
>> REALLY BIG GYMNASTICS, GREAT
AMPLITUDE.
SOME OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR
HER TO DO ON THIS EVENT IS JUST
THE TRANSITIONS FROM THERE TO
THERE.
THAT'S A LONG WAY AWAY.
>> LIKE I SAID A JAM-PACKED
ROUTINE.
OH, THAT WILL
>>> BACK IN MELBOURNE FOR THE
PACIFIC RIM GYMNASTICS
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
GETTING SET ON THE BARS, HUANG
QIUSHUANG, THE 17-YEAR-OLD FROM
CHINA.
TONG JIANG HAD A TOUGH FINISH
JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.
BUT HERE IS QIUSHUANG HUANG.
>> I MENTIONED A FEW MOMENTS AGO
THAT BARS WAS REALLY THE EVENT
THE CHINESE USED TO DEFEAT THE
OLYMPIC TEAM IN 2008, AND SHE IS
ANOTHER PHENOMENAL BAR WORKER.
LOOK AT THIS.
>> TRADITIONAL CHINESE LINES,
GREAT EXTENSION, BIG SKILLS.
THIS IS WHAT MAKES THEM SO
GREAT.
WATCH THIS, JUST GORGEOUS.
>> BY THE WAY, THE FORMAT FOR
THIS EVENT, THERE ARE SIX TEAM
MEMBERS.
FIVE OF THEM COMPETE IN EACH
INDIVIDUAL EVENT, AND ONLY FOUR
OF THE SCORES COUNT.
SO YOU THROW OUT THE LOW SCORE.
>> CHINA ALREADY WANTS TO THROW
OUT THAT FIRST BAR ROUTINE, BUT
THEY WILL NOT BE THROWING THIS
ONE OUT.
>> LOVELY.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> HUANG QIUSHUANG WAS WE GET A
LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE WHICH WILL
BE PROMINENT IN LONDON IN 2012.
LOOK AT THE FLOOR EXERCISES FROM
AUSTRALIA, THE 15-YEAR-OLD FROM
RIGHT HERE IN MELBOURNE, GEORGIA
WHEELER.
>> AGAIN, THE FUTURE OF
AUSTRALIAN GYMNASTICS, FIRST
YEAR SENIOR.
♪♪
>> OH, YOU SEE THAT, SHE HOPPED
OUT OF BOUNDS.
THAT WILL BE .3 POINT.
♪♪
>> WHEELER ARE THE 2009 SILVER
MEDALIST FROM THE AUSTRALIAN
JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
AUSTRALIA NOT UNLIKE CHINA WITH
A CONTINGENT HERE OF VERY YOUNG,
BUT TALENTED GYMNASTS.
>> THEY ARE ACTUALLY MISSING
THEIR STAR, LAUREN MITCHELL, WHO
WON TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
MEDALS AT THE LAST WORLD.
SHE IS DOWN WITH AN INJURY.
FOURTH PLACE IN THE ALL-AROUND.
>> OH.
>> ANOTHER --
>> ONCE AGAIN, BOTH FEET OUT.
.1 OF A POINT IF ONE FOOT GOES
OUT OF BOUNDS, .3 IF BOTH LAND
OUT.
SHE HAS GOT .6 OF A POINT RIGHT
OFF THE BAT.
THEY'RE CALLED NEUTRAL
DEDUCTIONS.
>> SHE'S JUST COMING OFF AN
INJURY.
THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING A
LITTLE CAUTIOUS WITH HER
ROUTINE.
PERHAPS SHE'S JUST NOT FEELING
THE TUMBLING AT THIS POINT IN
TIME.
>> AN AUSTRALIAN TEAM THAT'S
MADE STRIDES IN RECENT YEARS
UNDER PEGGY LIDDIC, THE
AMERICAN.
HERE YOU SEE THE POINTS FOR
HUANG QIUSHUANG, 15.10 ON THE
UNEVEN BARS.
>> THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
>> THE AMERICANS CURRENTLY
GETTING SET WITH THEIR FIVE.
YET TO GET THE EFFORT UNDER WAY
HERE IN MELBOURNE.
MEANWHILE, THE 15-YEAR-OLD FROM
CHINA, WU LIU FANG GETTING SET
ON BARS.
YOU COME TO THIS AND EVERYONE
KIND OF LEARNING SOME OF THE
NAMES WE'LL KNOW A LOT ABOUT
DURING THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> THESE ARE VIRTUALLY UNKNOWNS,
THESE GYMNASTS.
THEY'VE COMPETED OCCASIONALLY
INTERNATIONALLY AND, OF COURSE,
IN CHINA.
>> AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE
LIKE THEM STILL BACK HOME.
WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE TEAM
EVENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS, I WOULD BE
SURPRISED IF WE DIDN'T SEE SOME
OF THESE ATHLETES ON THE SCENE
AND NOT ALL OF THEM.
>> IS THAT PART AND PARCEL OF
THE APPROACH THAT CHINA TAKES
OFTENTIMES, WORKING UP TOWARDS
THE OLYMPIC GAMES?
>> IT IS, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
THEY REALLY REVAMPED THE
STRATEGY OF A LOT OF TEAMS.
BEAUTIFUL RELEASE THERE.
BUT GYMNASTICS IS A REPUTATION
SPORT, AND SO EVERY TIME USA
GOES OUT ON THE FLOOR --
ANOTHER GREAT ROUTINE.
ANOTHER GREAT ROUTINE.
MARTA KAROLYI WANTS THEM TO NOT
JUST WIN, BUT TO DOMINATE.
THE CHINESE FEEL IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
SOMETIMES TO GO TO AN EVENT, TO
BE PERFECTLY HONEST, THE
ATHLETES ARE NOT AS PREPARED AS
THEY COULD BE, AND IT'S A
LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
>> MEANWHILE, GEORGIA WHEELER
FROM AUSTRALIA, SOME MISTAKES ON
THAT FLOOR EXERCISE AND A SCORE
OF 12.15.
>> AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE FORCED TO
COUNT THE SCORE FROM A JUNIOR
ATHLETE THAT WAS 12.90, VERY
LOW, BAD START.
>> FROM CANADA NOW.
16-YEAR-OLD BRITTANY ROGERS, WHO
CAME IN SEVENTH IN THIS BACK IN
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2009.
IN FACT, SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE
FROM CANADA TO QUALIFY FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL EVENT FINAL.
>> SHE IS A VETERAN OF THIS
TEAM.
SHE SAYS SHE STILL NEEDS TO
BECOME PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY
TOUGHER AT THESE TYPES OF
COMPETITIONS.
>> SAW HER TEAMMATE DOMINIQUE
PEGG EARLIER.
SHE RECEIVED 14.15 ON VAULT.
AND WU LIU FANG, THE BAR SCORE
14.50.
>> I THINK IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE
BIT LOW.
THEY WERE TOUGH ON HER, OVER TWO
POINTS IN DEDUCTIONS ON THAT
EXERCISE.
>> THE AMERICANS WILL BE UP
NEXT.
>>> A CHANCE FOR THE YOUNG
AMERICAN ATHLETES TO SEE THE
WORLD.
HERE THEY ARE IN MELBOURNE SET
TO GO AFTER THAT OPENING BYE.
AFTER THE INITIAL ROTATION,
CHINA ON TOP.
CANADA JUST BEHIND AUSTRALIA
WITH SOME MISTAKES ON THE FLOOR
EXERCISE.
SO THE AMERICANS JUST ABOUT
READY TO GO.
TERRY GANNON ALONG WITH ELFI
SCHLEGEL AND TIM DAGGETT.
THE CHINESE TEAM GETTING SET FOR
THE BEAM.
>> AND THEY CAN BE GREAT THERE.
I'LL TELL YOU, THESE ROUTINES
THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE ARE
JAM-PACKED WITH DIFFICULTY.
>> THE U.S. WILL START ON THE
VAULT.
>> I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE
STRONGEST VAULTING TEAM I'VE
EVER SEEN PUT ON THE FLOOR BY
TEAM USA.
>> HERE'S CHINA NOW ON THE BEAM.
JIANG TONG, 16 YEARS OF AGE.
>> I THINK WHAT THE CHINESE HAVE
PROVEN OVER THE YEARS ON BALANCE
BEAM IS FLUIDITY, ALONG WITH
GREAT ACROBATIC SKILLS, OF
COURSE.
BUT A GREAT MINDSET FOR THIS
APPARATUS, WHICH IS CRUCIAL WHEN
YOU'RE UP ON A PODIUM AND
WORKING ON A FOUR-INCH BALANCE
BEAM.
>> AND THAT SKILL RIGHT HERE,
FRONT WITH A HALF, AND THAT IS
DISASTROUS RIGHT THERE.
WHENEVER YOU FALL ON ANY
APPARATUS NOW, IT USED TO
FOREVER BE .5 OF A POINT, BUT
NOW A FULL POINT OFF.
CHINA IS GOING TO WANT TO BE
ABLE TO TOSS THIS ROUTINE OUT
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
>> AND THE DIFFICULTY, OF
COURSE, TODAY WITH THE NEW RULES
IS WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO IN
TERMS OF ACROBATIC SKILLS, YOU'D
BETTER BE AWFULLY SURE YOU'RE
DOING IT WELL BECAUSE A FULL
POINT REALLY THROWS YOU OUT OF
THE COMPETITION.
>> WE HEAR COACHES TALK ABOUT
HOW DIFFICULT IT IS NOW UNDER
THE POINT ASSISTS, WHAT
SPECIFICALLY HAS MADE IT SO
DIFFICULT?
>> BASICALLY, WHAT IT COMES DOWN
TO IS THE MORE YOU DO, THE
HARDER THE ELEMENT THAT YOU DO,
THE HIGHER POTENTIAL SCORE.
BUT EVERY TIME YOU DO ONE OF
THESE -- LIKE SHE'S GOING TO DO
ANOTHER ACROBATIC SKILL RIGHT
HERE, EVERY TIME YOU DO THAT,
THAT'S A HUGE RISK.
SO IT COMES DOWN TO RISK AND
RETURN.
>> BUT, OF COURSE, THE ROUTINES
THAT WE REMEMBER AT THIS STAGE
OF COMPETITION ARE THE ROUTINES
THAT HAVE RISK.
THOSE ARE THE MEMORABLE
ROUTINES.
YOU WANT AGENT LEES TO DO
SOMETHING JUST A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT.
>> LITTLE BIT LOW ON THAT
LANDING, BUT GREAT ROUTINE
EXCEPT FOR THAT FALL.
>> NOW, REBECCA BROSS, THE
16-YEAR-OLD FROM PLANO, TEXAS,
THE SILVER MEDALIST FROM THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS LAST YEAR.
SHE WAS EDGED OUT BY BRIDGET
SLOAN.
SHE'S HAD A GREAT SEASON SO FAR
THIS YEAR.
>> BIG VAULT FROM THE AMERICAN
CUP CHAMPION.
WELL, A GOOD JOB.
ACTUALLY, A LITTLE BIT SLOPPY IN
THE AIR.
COULD BE A BIT TIGHTER.
>> BUT ONE OF HER GREATEST GIFTS
IN THIS SPORT IS HOW SHE
APPROACHES COMPETITION AND HOW
SHE HANDLES COMPETITION.
SHE'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.
SHE'S NOT AFRAID OF HER
ROUTINES.
>> YOU SEE THAT FOOT STAYING
INSIDE THAT YELLOW OR ORANGE
AREA.
IF IT STEPS OUT, OF COURSE, AN
ADDITIONAL DEDUCTION.
>> 15.05, THE SCORE, THOUGH.
>> IT'S A GOOD SCORE, GOOD
SCORE.
BUT I THINK WE CAN SEE A LITTLE
STRONGER FROM SOME OF THE OTHER
AMERICANS.
>> JIANG TONG FROM THE BEAM,
13.15.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY'D LOVE TO
BE ABLE TO THROW THAT OUT.
>> THEY CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER
SCORE LIKE THAT.
>> WU LIU FANG GETTING SET, THE
15-YEAR-OLD FROM CHINA.
THEY'VE HAD THEIR PROBLEMS
ALREADY FROM CHINA ON THE BEAM.
A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, HUANG
QIUSHUANG, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS
HERE.
>> NOT GOOD.
>> IT'S A DISASTROUS BEAM EFFORT
SO FAR FOR THE CHINESE.
>> REMEMBER FOR THIS TEAM,
UNKNOWNS.
THEY'RE HERE TO TEST THE WATERS.
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
THEY'RE HANDLING THIS LEVEL OF
COMPETITION AND THEIR SKILLS.
THEY HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
>> SECOND APPARATUS NOW, SECOND
EFFORT FOR WU LIU FANG, ALREADY
ON THE BARS, NOW ON THE BEAM.
>> AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANY
MORE MISTAKES.
THAT LAST ROUTINE HAD TWO MAJOR
FALLS IN IT.
>> ALREADY OFF THE TOP, SOME
BEAUTIFUL WORK SHOWING GREAT
FLEXIBILITY.
ANY TIME THAT YOU LOSE SIGHT OF
THE BEAM, YOU CAN REST ASSURED
THAT THAT'S VERY RISKY ELEMENT,
BUT THAT'S WHAT BALANCE BEAM IS
MADE UP OF, COMMENTS SUCH AS
THIS.
>> THAT SHE WILL NOT GET.
SHE'S SUPPOSED TO KEEP MOVING
FROM THAT FIRST ACROBATIC SKILL
INTO THE NEXT TWO.
SHE LOSES SOME COMBINATION
POINTS THERE.
THAT WAS SOLID.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THE FALLS
SO FAR FROM CHINA ON BEAM, BUT
I'LL TELL YOU, THEY ARE JUST
EXQUISITE.
EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, THE
BODY POSITION.
>> THEY HAVE THE QUALITY OF
BEING EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETES.
AGAIN, ALONG WITH THAT, HAVING
THIS TYPE OF ROUTINE, YOU NEED
TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE IT OVER
AND OVER AGAIN AT HIGH END
COMPETITIONS.
SO IT'S THE CONSISTENCY.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
THAT WAS A GREAT ROUTINE.
>> PRETTY GYMNASTICS.
>> THEY WOULDN'T AFFORD ANY MORE
MISTAKES, AND WU LIU FANG, GOOD
ON THE BALANCE BEAM HERE.
>> NOW FOR THE U.S., JORDYN
WIEBER, JUST 15 YEARS OF AGE
FROM DEWITT, MICHIGAN.
>> SHE HAS NOT COMPETED FOR 14
MONTHS SINCE SHE WON THE TYSON
AMERICAN CUP IN 2009.
SHE HAD A PULLED HAMSTRING.
RESTED IT FOR EIGHT MONTHS.
>> YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
BEAUTIFUL.
>> JORDIN, BECAUSE OF HER AGE,
SHE'S COMPETING AS A JUNIOR.
AND SHE'S NOT ABLE TO DO HER
VAULT WITH A 2 1/2 TWISTS
BECAUSE OF THE JUNIOR RULES.
SMNCHTS BREAKING NEWS WHILE THIS
EVENT IS TAKING PLACE.
CHINA, WHICH CAPTURED THE BRONZE
MEDAL BACK IN 2000 AT THE SYDNEY
OLYMPICS STRIPPED OF ITS MEDAL
BECAUSE FUNG ZHOU WAS NOT 18
YEARS OF AGE.
>> WHAT THAT MEANT IS THE U.S.
TEAM COMES HOME WITH A BRONZE
MEDAL, AND I BELIEVE THEY'LL BE
AWARDED THAT LATER IN THE
SUMMER.
>> AND WE WERE THERE IN SUMMER
WATCHING THE PERFORMANCES.
FOR THE AMERICAN TEAM, THEY WERE
NOT THRILLED WITH HOW THEY
COMPETED, SO THIS WILL BE NICE
FOR THEM TO COME AWAY WITH A
MEDAL EVENTUALLY.
>> HERE THE REACTION FROM TEAM
COORDINATOR MARTHA KAROLYI.
>> FINALLY JUSTICE WAS DONE, AND
IT WAS DUE FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M SO HAPPY FOR THE REASON THAT
THE OTHER COUNTRIES RESPECT THE
RULES JUST LIKE WE RESPECT THEM
IN THE USA.
>> MIEN WHILE, THE YOUTHFUL
IMAGE OF TONG ZHENG, THE
15-YEAR-OLD.
>> I COULD CARE LESS HOW OLD SHE
IS BECAUSE, WHEN YOU SEE WHAT
SHE'S CAPABLE OF DOING ON
BALANCE BEAM, IT IS SPELL
BINDING.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE, AND SHE
ALREADY GETS IT AT AGE 15.
>> THE MISTAKES AND FALLS SO FAR
FOR THE CHINESE ON THE BEAM.
>> WATCH THIS PASS.
IT IS FABULOUS.
WOW.
>> THAT'S BIG TIME GYMNASTICS.
>> THAT RIGHT THERE, THAT PIECE
OF GYMNASTICS CANNOT BE DONE ANY
BETTER THAN THAT.
BUT --
OH.
>> AND THAT'S EXPERIENCE RIGHT
THERE.
A SIMPLE SKILL FOR HER.
ALTHOUGH THERE WAS RISK ADDED
WHEN SHE THREW HER HEAD BACK,
BUT THAT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE
TIME, EVENTS LIKE THIS.
>> SO WHAT IS THAT, FOUR FALLS?
FIVE FALLS.
>> YIKES.
>> FIVE POINTS OFF.
REALLY NOT ANYWHERE AS DIFFICULT
AS THAT FIRST TUMBLING RUN SHE
DID, A SIMPLE FRONT FLIP.
>> IS IT THE PRESSURE OF A MAJOR
INTERNATIONAL EVENT, SOME HERE
FOR THE FIRST TIME OR WHAT?
>> I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S
PRESSURE FOR THESE GIRLS.
I JUST THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT
READY YET.
YOU KNOW, THE COACHES, THEY'LL
BE ANGRY, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE
THAT THE CHINESE FUNDAMENTALLY
HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY
THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S OKAY.
SHE'S A YOUNG GIRL, AND LOOK AT
WHAT SHE CAN DO WHEN SHE
PERFECTS IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT EVERYONE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
>> ALL THE ACROBATIC SKILLS WERE
NOT A PROBLEM.
IT WAS THE SIMPLE SKILLS.
>> SO FROM 15-YEAR-OLD TAN SIXIN
TO 14-YEAR-OLD JORDYN WIEBER,
ALEXANDRA RAISMAN.
RAISMAN, 15 YEARS OF AGE FROM
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.
>> WE GOT A CHANCE TO WATCH HER
GYMNASTICS AT THE AMERICAN CUP
EARLIER THIS YEAR, FANTASTIC.
SHE WAS SECOND THERE.
THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A YEAR FOR
HER.
>> THIS IS A GREAT EVENT FOR
ALY.
THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES SO WELL.
LOOK AT THAT LANDING.
IT'S EFFORTLESS.
MANY OF THE GYMNASTS STRUGGLE,
WHEN THEY HIT THE GROUND LIKE
THAT, TO MAINTAIN COMPOSURE.
THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT RATTLED,
BUT SHE LANDS GREAT.
>> BIG TIME START FOR THE U.S.
SO FAR, A COUPLE OF VAULT
EFFORTS AND VERY GOOD ONES.
NOW TO CANADA AND BRITTANY
ROGERS.
SET TO GO ON BARS.
>> BRITTANY STARTED OFF THE
COMPETITION ON VAULT.
WE WATCHED THAT.
NOT AS DIFFICULT AS SOME OF THE
VAULTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING
IN THIS COMPETITION, BUT THIS IS
A VERY GOOD EVENT FOR HER.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SHE SAID
SHE NEEDS TO BECOME MENTALLY
TOUGHER INCOMPETITION, BUT THE
CANADIANS ARE LOOKING AT HER TO
LEAD THIS TEAM.
>> ACTUALLY, THE VERY DIFFICULT
EXERCISE, HIGH START VALUE.
>> ELFI, WHERE IS CANADA RIGHT
NOW IN YOUR ESTIMATION?
>> THEY'RE HAVING A REVAMPING
TIME RIGHT NOW WITH YOUNG
JUNIORS COMING ON THE TEAM AND
NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE
TRUTHFULLY.
>> AND THAT --
>> REASONS LIKE THIS.
HONESTLY, WATCHING BRITTANY IN
THIS ROUTINE, SHE LOOKS
EXHAUSTED.
>> YEAH, SHE DOES.
>> SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE'S
IN SHAPE FOR THIS EVENT.
>> AND THAT RIGHT THERE,
EXACTLY, ELFI, BECAUSE HER BODY
WAS EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDED TO
BE AWAY FROM THE BAR.
IT WAS A PERFECT DISTANCE TO
CATCH THAT RELEASE.
SHE JUST, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T
HANDLE THE FORCE THROUGH THE
BOTTOM BECAUSE SHE LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S SO TIRED.
>> I THINK THE CANADIANS MARVEL
AT WHAT THE AMERICANS HAVE
DEVELOPED IN THEIR COUNTRY,
WATCHING THE GIRLS COME TO THESE
CAMPS EVERY MONTH.
THAT WAY, EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME
PAGE.
THEY ALL GET TO WATCH ONE
ANOTHER.
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE
IN THEIR TRAINING.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT IN A
COUNTRY LIKE CANADA.
>> BRITTANY ROGERS JUST TRYING
TO GET TO THE SIDE AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
>>> BEAUTIFUL LOOK AT THE CITY
OF MELBOURNE, HOSTING THIS
EVENT, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND
SINCE 1998.
FIRST TIME THE PACIFIC RIM
CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BEING HELD IN
THIS CITY.
REMEMBER ALL THE PROBLEMS FOR
CHINA ON THE BEAM?
MORE OF THEM.
ZHENG SIQI, THE YOUNG TER.
>> THAT'S THE BABY.
>> SHE'S ADORABLE.
>> SO FIVE GYMNASTS.
WE'VE HAD SEVEN FALLS FROM CHINA
ON THE BEAM SO FAR.
AND YET THEY ARE ON TOP.
IN TERMS OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
THROUGH TWO EVENTS AND A LITTLE
MORE THAN A 2.50 POINT LEAD OVER
CANADA.
THE AMERICANS, OF COURSE, ONLY
ONE EVENT SO FAR.
IN TERPS OF THOSE WITH ONE
EVENT, A GREAT START, ESPECIALLY
FOR THE JUNIORS, WHO ARE HAVING
A GREAT TIME, AS ANDREA JOYCE
FOUND OUT.
>> HERE YOU GUYS ARE HALFWAY
AROUND THE WORLD BUILDING YOUR
INTERNATIONAL RESUMES.
ASIDE FROM THE GYMNASTICS,
SABRINA, I WANT TO KNOW, HOW
COOL IS THIS?
COMPARED TO EVERYTHING YOU'VE
GOTTEN TO DO IN YOUR LIFE, HOW
COOL IS IT TO BE HERE IN
AUSTRALIA?
>> MOST IMPORTANTLY, I JUST
REALLY WANT TO DO WELL IN THE
COMPETITION.
AND IT'S JUST A GREAT PRIVILEGE
TO HAVE MADE THE TEAM TO COME
HERE IN AUSTRALIA.
>> IT'S FUN HERE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
OTHER THAN THE GYMNASTICS, I
JUST LOVE TO TRAVEL, AND IT'S
PRETTY COOL VISITING ALL THESE
COUNTRIES.
>> AND THIS IS A VERY COOL
EXPERIENCE FOR YOU AS WELL,
JORDYN.
IT SEEMS LIKE AT 14 YEARS OLD
YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO BE MAKING A
COMEBACK.
FIRST COMPETITION IN MORE THAN A
YEAR.
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO SHOW
EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE JUDGES?
>> I'M JUST HOPING TO SHOW THAT
I'VE IMPROVED.
ASIDE FROM THE SETBACK FROM MY
INJURY, I HOPE THEY SEE THAT.
I'VE IMPROVED, AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO COMPETE.
>> I'M BACK, AND I'M NOT GOING
AWAY.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
OLYMPIC CALENDAR AND HOW WELL IT
WORKED OUT FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS.
YOU'LL ALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR 2012.
IS IT HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT
THAT, THE OLYMPICS, WHEN YOU'RE
AT A COMPETITION LIKE THIS?
>> 2012 OLYMPICS IS ONE OF MY
BIGGEST GOALS.
TO BE HERE IN AUSTRALIA, IT'S
ONE BIG STEP CLOSER TO IT.
>> I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE HOPING TO
LEAVE HERE WITH MEDALS AROUND
YOUR NECK, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING
ELSE FOR YOU.
IT'S PART OF THE EDUCATION.
TRAVEL SIZE PORTIONS OF
VEGEMITE.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?
WHEN YOU GET HOME, LOOK IT UP
ONLINE.
DO ME A FAVOR BEFORE THE
COMPETITION.
I DON'T WANT TO BE BLAMED FOR
ANYTHING.
ALL RIGHT?
GOOD LUCK.
BRING THAT VEGEMITE TO SCHOOL
FOR SCHOOL LUNCH AND SHOW IT
AROUND.
I THINK ANDREA IS READY TO GO UP
ON THE BARS, READY TO COMPETE
HERE.
>> THOSE JUNIORS, THEY'RE SO
YOUNG, AND YET THEY'RE VERY
FOCUSED.
I THINK YOU SAW THAT ON THAT
INTERVIEW.
THEY'RE HERE ON A MISSION.
THEY WANT TO PROVE TO THE WORLD
HOW GOOD THEY ARE.
>> HERE'S THE 13-YEAR-OLD FROM
ALISO VIEJO, CALIFORNIA, KYLA
ROSS.
>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
DIFFICULTY IN HERE.
IT'S KIND OF A STRATEGY BECAUSE
THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE JUDGE
TO TAKE PEN TO PAPER AND STRACH
DOWN DEDUCTIONS.
>> THAT'S WHAT MARTHA KAROLYI
LOVES ABOUT THIS YOUNG GYMNAST.
SHE HAS EXECUTION.
SHE LOOKS GREAT ON THE
INTERNATIONAL STAGE.
THE REST WILL COME, SO SHE
THINKS.
>> LET'S GO HAVE SOME VEGEMITE
ON THE SIDE AND WAIT FOR YOUR
SCORE NOW AS WE MOVE OVER TO THE
VAULT AND THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN,
15 YEARS OF AGE, EMMA COLLISTER.
>> SHE'S GOING TO DO A DIFFERENT
STYLE OF VAULT, A KATSAMATSU,
NAMED AFTER A GREAT JAPANESE
GYMNAST.
>> DO YOU THINK SHE KNOWS THAT?
>> NO.
>> EMMA HAS HAD NO EXPECTATIONS
FOR THIS COMPETITION.
IT'S CHANGING OF THE GUARD TIME
FOR THEM.
>> MAKE SURE YOU PUT IT LIKE
THIS.
VERY NICE.
>> CHANGING OF THE GUARD AND
LEARNING TIME.
14.25 THE SCORE.
>> YOU SEE THAT EXECUTION SCORE,
14.25.
LESS THAN A POINT OFF.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON ANY OF
THE APPARATUS BESIDES VAULTING
SO FAR.
>> BACK TO ANOTHER JUNIOR,
14-YEAR-OLD JORDYN WIEBER.
>> WATCH THIS, THISIS REALLY
COOL.
>> LOVE THIS.
>> IT'S TAKEN FROM MEN'S
GYMNASTICS.
IT'S CALLED A WEILER TIP.
I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN ANYONE
ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE DO THAT
ADJUSTMENT.
>> I'M IMPRESSED WITH HOW JORDYN
HAS HANDLED THE COMPETITION.
IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE.
IT'S LIKE SHE'S NEVER LEFT.
HARD TO BELIEVE SHE WAS OUT FOR
A YEAR.
>> THEY RESTED HER HAMSTRING FOR
EIGHT MONTHS.
>> SHE LOOKS FANTASTIC.
>> SHE
>>> BACK IN MELBOURNE FOR WHAT
SHOULD BE VERY HIGH SCORES FOR
JORDYN WIEBER, THE YOUNG
AMERICAN.
AND THEY ARE, 14.80 ON THE
UNEVEN BARS.
NOW TO THE REIGNING WORLD
ALL-AROUND CHAMP, BRIDGET SLOAN,
17 YEARS OF AGE FROM PITTSBORO,
INDIANA, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY
EVENT WE'LL SEE HER BECAUSE OF
THAT RIGHT ANKLE INJURY, WHICH
SHE SUFFERED ON THE DAY SHE
TRAVELED TO MELBOURNE.
>> AFTER THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
THAT SHE WON -- BEAUTIFUL
TRANSITION TO THE LOW BAR.
THEY TOOK A BREAK.
WAS A 2008 OLYMPIAN AND HADN'T
HAD TIME OFF.
THIS IS HER FIRST COMPETITION
BACK, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
YOU KNOW, MARTHA KAROLYI SAID
THAT THEY KIND OF RUSHED IN
GETTING READY FOR THIS
COMPETITION, WASN'T AT HER PEAK
SHAPE.
VERY DIFFICULT DISMOUNT
COMBINATION.
GOOD JOB, BUT THAT'S A FALL.
>> DO YOU WRITE THAT OFF IN YOUR
MIND AS AN ATHLETE THEN BECAUSE
OF THE INJURY, BECAUSE OF THE
RUST?
>> YEAH, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
SHE'S A TOUGH COMPETITOR, AND
SHE WILL COME BACK AND DO MUCH,
MUCH BETTER THAN THAT IN THE
FUTURE.
>> AND THAT'S A TOUGH LONG TRIP
BECAUSE HER EVENT IS OVER.
NOW, TO THE 16-YEAR-OLD FROM
AUSTRALIA ON THE VAULT, HERE'S
EMILY LITTLE.
>> AND SHE'S A FIRST YEAR
SENIOR, AND PEGGY LYDICK REFERS
TO HER AS HER LONG-TERM PROJECT.
SHE CAPITALIZES HUGELY WITH HER
POWER.
>> EXACTLY.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD VAULT.
YOU KNOW, THE AUSTRALIANS, THEY
HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED OVER THE
YEARS TO COME UP WITH GYMNASTS
THAT CAN PERFORM VAULTS AT THAT
LEVEL.
>> HERE'S TAN SIXIN GETTING SET
ON THE FLOOR.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> EARLIER COMPETITOR FOR THE
CHINESE ON THE FLOOR EXERCISE,
RECEIVING A LOW MARK UNDER 13.
SO THEY'RE MOST LIKELY GOING TO
HAVE TO COUNT THIS.
AND READING BETWEEN THE LINES, I
KNOW THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS AND
MISTAKES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU
REALLY LIKE THIS CHINESE TEAM.
>> OH, I DO.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF ABILITY.
AND AS ELFI HAS MENTIONED,
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH MORE AT
HOME THAT ARE CERTAINLY
COMPETING AT THIS EXACT SAME
LEVEL.
THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE
TIME.
ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO REALLY
HURT THIS YOUNG LADY WITH HER
SCORE ARE THE LANDINGS.
NO LONGER CAN THE WOMEN STEP OUT
OF A TUMBLING RUN.
THEY HAVE TO STICK JUST AS THE
MEN DO, AND SHE HAS NOT BEEN
STICKING.
♪♪
>> BUT SHE'S SO DARN CUTE.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE WERE PARTS OF
THAT THAT WERE JUST ADORABLE.
THE CHOREOGRAPHY.
AND THEN THERE WERE PARTS THAT
REALLY WEREN'T.
>> YEAH, IT DIDN'T -- THE MUSIC
AND THE CHOREOGRAPHY, SHE'S SO
YOUNG.
I MEAN, THERE'S STILL A LONG
ROAD AHEAD FOR HER IN THE
MATURITY AREA.
>> WE'VE SEEN THAT LOOK BEFORE
AND A SIMILAR LOOK ON THE FACE
OF BRIDGET SLOAN, 13.65.
>> 7.55 IN EXECUTION.
>> OUCH.
>> REMEMBER, THAT STARTS AT A
10.0, SO THOSE ARE ALL
DEDUCTIONS.
USA IS GOING TO WANT TO TOSS
THAT SCORE INTO THE GARBAGE
HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HERE ON THE UNEVEN BARS, REBECCA
BROSS, THE 16-YEAR-OLD.
>> JUST LIKE ON VAULT AND ALL
HER OTHER EVENTS, SHE JUST
ATTACKS THE EQUIPMENT.
>> AND THIS ROUTINE, THE WAY
IT'S CHOREOGRAPHED, EVERY SKILL
IS DONE IN COMBINATION, LIKE
WATCH THIS.
RIGHT INTO THIS SKILL.
GIVES HER EXTRA POINTS.
SHE WASTES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
>> THIS IS BEAUTIFUL COMING UP,
WHOA.
>> I'LL TELL YOU, THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE TEAM FROM
WOGA, WHERE SHE TRAINS UNDER
VALERI LIUKIN, SHE COULD HAVE
THREE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS IN A
ROW.
CARLY PATTERSON, NASTIA LIUKIN.
>> SO POSSIBLE, ISN'T IT?
>> IT IS.
AND, OF COURSE, REBECCA HAD THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SEWN UP.
SHE JUST NEEDED TO LAND ONE MORE
PASS ON FLOOR EXERCISE, AND SHE
WOULD HAVE EASILY WON THE WORLDS
IN 2009.
IT WAS AN EXCELLENT ROUTINE, BUT
THAT SMALL STEP.
>>> GORGEOUS SETTING HERE IN
MELBOURNE FOR THE 2010 EDITION
OF THE PACIFIC RIM GYMNASTICS
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
ALL PROBLEMS FOR CHINA WE SAW
JUST A MOMENT AGO THAT
RELINQUISHED THEIR LEAD.
CHINA BEHIND CANADA NOW.
THE AMERICANS, THOUGH, IN A VERY
GOOD POSITION.
WITH MORE, HERE'S ANDREA JOYCE.
>> INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS CAN
BE A PRETTY SMALL WORLD.
HERE COACHING AMERICAN JUNIOR
SABRI YA VEGA, 34 YEARS AGO
TEODORA WAS ON BEE LA KAROLYI
1976 ROMANIAN TEAM.
HER BEST FRIEND WAS NADIA
COMANECI, AND HER OWN PERSONAL
COACH WAS MARTHA KAROLYI.
TEODORA THOUGHT SHED NEEFR BE
SIDE BY SIDE WITH MARTHA KAROLYI
AGAIN.
HER FRIENDS SAY SHE DIDN'T GET
ENOUGH OF MARTHA THE FIRST TIME
AROUND.
TEODORA TALKS ABOUT HER
ADMIRATION FOR MARTHA AND HOW
SHE'S SO HAPPY TO BE REUNITED
AND BACK ON THE SAME TEAM.
>> THAT TEAM PRODUCED SO MUCH
LOVE FOR GYMNASTICS AROUND THE
WORLD.
SO MANY KIDS WATCHING AT THE
TIME.
NOW THE BALANCE BEAM FOR SABRINA
VEGA.
>> BACK IN THE '70s, MANY
THOUGHT THAT TEODORA WAS
ACTUALLY ON PAR WITH NADIA
COMANECI.
SHE SET HER UP FOR ALL OF THE
10s.
>> I ACTUALLY WATCHED THOSE '72
OLYMPICS.
I WAS ONE OF THE 12-YEAR-OLDS
WATCHING AND THINKING, WOW.
THEY WERE EXCELLENT ON BEAM, AND
SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF
INSTILLING THOSE CHARACTERISTICS
INTO SABRINA.
>> SO ONCE AGAIN, THE TEAMS ARE
COMPRISED OF JUNIORS AND
SENIORS, THREE OF EACH.
ALL OF THESE ATHLETES ON THIS
U.S. TEAM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
2012 OLYMPICS IN LONDON.
THEY, HOWEVER, CANNOT COMPETE AT
THE NEXT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS,
THE THREE JUNIORS.
THEY'RE TOO YOUNG.
>> MISTAKES ON THE BEAM FROM
CHINA CERTAINLY AND CANADA.
THE U.S. VERY GOOD SO FAR.
HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN ANY MAJOR
MISTAKES.
>> THE ONLY PROBLEM CAME FROM
THE REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION IN
THE ALL-AROUND.
ON THE UNEVEN BARS.
>> NICE EXERCISE.
THERE ARE LITTLE L AREAS
CERTAINLY WHERE SHE CAN IMPROVE
UPON, BUT, BOY, SHE HAS TAUGHT
HER TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND TO GO
FOR IT.
>> OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE
14-YEAR-OLD SABRINA VEGA.
MEANWHILE, GETTING READY FON
BARS, THE 15-YEAR-OLD FROM
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA,
GEORGIA-ROSE BROWN.
>> AND THERE ARE TWO FORMER
STARS ON THE RIGHT OF YOUR
SCREEN.
ALLANA SLATER ON THE 2000
OLYMPIC TEAM.
AND YELENA FROM RUSSIA.
TWO GOLD MEDALS AS THOSE 2000
OLYMPIC GAMES.
>> NICE TO SEE THEM DOWN THERE.
THEY CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE
WATCHING.
>> GEORGIA-ROSE BROWN NOW ON THE
BARS.
>> JUST A JUNIOR ATHLETE ON THIS
AUSSIE TEAM, PART OF THE NEW
GENERATION REBUILDING.
>> YOU KNOW, THE HEAD COACH OF
AUSTRALIAN GYMNASTICS, FORMER
AMERICAN PEGGY LYDICK, SAID THIS
IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE JUNIORS.
TWO BEST ALL-AROUND GYMNASTS IN
THE WORLD ARE RIGHT HERE.
SHE SAID, IF THEY DON'T LEARN
LESSONS HERE, THEY'RE JUST NOT
GOING TO LEARN THEM.
VERY NICE ROUTINE.
>> BEAUTIFUL LINE.
LOVELY GYMNAST.
>> WHEN YOU'RE A JUNIOR, HOW
MUCH DO YOU OBSERVE AND TAKE IN
FROM THE OTHERS THAT YOU'RE
COMPETING AGAINST?
>> EVERYTHING.
>> MARTHA KAROLYI ALONG WITH
SABRINA VEGA.
14.35, HER SCORE FOR THE BEAM.
>> SHE DOES A LOT OF WHACKING,
DOESN'T SHE?
>> PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO FROM ONE JUNIOR TO ANOTHER
FOR THE U.S., JORDYN WIEBER
GETTING SET ON THE BEAM.
>> AND THIS ROUTINE, IT IS
STACKED.
NOT ONLY DOES SHE DO INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT ELEMENTS BUT ALL THE
WAY AT THE END OF A ROUTINE
SHE'LL DO THE MOST DIFFICULT
ONE.
IT'S JUST -- IT'S DARING.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
SHE'S AN ACROBAT.
>> WELL, JUST WATCHING HER IN
THIS COMPETITION, I HAVE TO
REMIND MYSELF THAT SHE'S
ACTUALLY COMPETING AS A JUNIOR.
YOU CERTAINLY CANNOT READ A LOT
FROM HER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS WHEN
SHE'S COMPETING.
I MEAN, SHE JUST DOES NOT GET
RATTLED.
SHE'S VERY SURE OF HERSELF,
EXTREMELY CONFIDENT.
OBVIOUSLY, WELL, WELL TRAINED.
>> REMEMBER, SHE'S DONE ALL THIS
STUFF.
NOW NEAR THE END OF THE ROUTINE,
WATCH THIS.
OH, PICTURE PERFECT.
>> JUST THE DISMOUPT.
SHE'S GREAT.
>> AFTER THAT AMERICAN CUP LAST
YEAR, WHEN SHE WON, SHE WAS THE
YOUNGEST IN SOME 20 YEARS TO
CAPTURE THAT TITLE.
MAYBE ON HER WAY HERE IN
MELBOURNE.
>> LET'S GET THIS BACK WITH THE
FALL.
>> BUT TO DO IT AT THE END OF
HER ROUTINE, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
MOST WOULD CHOOSE TO DO IT RIGHT
OFF THE TOP.
>> SHE IS UNQUESTIONABLY GOING
TO BE A FACTOR, A MAJOR ONE.
>>> CANADA NOW ON ITS FINAL
ROTATION, THEIR LEAD DWINDLING,
AS WE LOOK AT 17-YEAR-OLD
KRISTINA VACULIK.
>> FROM MY HOMETOWN, TORONTO.
KRISTINA IS COACHED BY 1989 ALL
AROUND CHAMPION, WHO'S BEEN IN
CAN AT THAT FOR SOME TIME AND
HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH
THIS ATHLETE.
♪♪♪
♪♪
♪♪♪
>> KRISTINA MISSED TIME,
ACTUALLY MISSED THE OLYMPIC
GAMES BECAUSE OF AN ELBOW INJURY
AND THEN SURGERY.
SHE WAS AWAY FROM COMPETITION
FOR NEARLY A YEAR.
♪♪
♪♪
>> SHE WANTED TO PROVE TO
HERSELF SHE STILL HAD IT
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
SHE HAS SIGNED WITH STANFORD
UNIVERSITY FOR THE FALL BUT
HASN'T GIVEN UP THE DREAM OF
MAKING THE 2012 CANADIAN OLYMPIC
TEAM.
>> PLANS ON GOING THERE MAYBE
FOR A YEAR AND THEN TRYING THE
OLYMPIC TEAM AFTER THAT.
HERE IS LARRISSA MILLER, 17
YEARS OF AGE, FROM BRISBANE.
>> SHE WAS SEVENTH IN THIS
EVENT, MADE THE FINALS AT THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE AMERICANS
WINNING THAT BRONZE MEDAL FROM
2000 WHEN THE CHINESE WERE JUST
DISQUALIFIED.
ANOTHER TEAM THAT WAS IMPACTED
SIGNIFICANTLY WERE THE
AUSTRALIANS.
IT WAS HOME, AND THEY ENDEDED UP
SEVENTH PLACE, WHICH MEANT THEY
DIDN'T ADVANCE TO THE TEAM
FINALS.
HEAD COACH PEGGY LIDDICK SAID IT
WAS A DISASTROUS OUTCOME.
SHE SAID IT COULD HAVE CHANGED
THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPE OF
AUSTRALIAN GYMNASTICS.
CAN'T GIVE THAT BACK.
>> LARRISSA HAS BEEN BATTLING A
HEEL INJURY.
SHE'S WATTERED DOWN HER ROUTINES
AROUND THE ARENA BUT NOT HERE.
SAYS SHE'S NOT QUITE BACK AT
FULL STRENGTH.
>> THE UNEVEN BARS, THOUGH, HER
STRONGEST EVENT.
FOLLOWED HER SISTER TO THE SPORT
WHEN SHE WAS JUST 5 YEARS OF
AGE.
AUSTRALIA COMING ON HERE.
MEANWHILE, FOR THE U.S., REBECCA
BROSS ON BEAM.
>> AND WATCH THIS ENTRY ONTO THE
BALANCE BEAM.
IT'S MY FAVORITE PART.
SHE JUST ATTACKS.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S ON THE BEAM, AND
LET'S GO.
LET'S GET THIS ROUTINE DONE.
>> SHE'S LIKE A KID ON A
PLAYGROUND OUT HERE.
JUST KEEPS MOVING.
>> ONE SPEED.
>> MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENT
RIGHT HERE.
GOOD, BUT A LIT BIT OF A BOBBLE.
MARTHA KAROLYI SAYS SHE GREW UP
IN AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION
ATMOSPHERE.
THE BEST IS ABSOLUTELY EXPECTED.
>> AND SHE HAS TOLD US THAT SHE
DOESN'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT
WINNING THE OLYMPIC GAMES OR
BECOMING THE THIRD ATHLETE FROM
HER OWN TEAM TO DO SO, BUT
IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE
BACK OF HER MIND.
>> SHE ACTUALLY SAID TO ME THAT
SHE HAS DREAMED OF IT.
>> LITERALLY.
>> LITERALLY, YES.
>> THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
>> AND YOU KNOW OTHERS BRING IT
UP OFTEN.
>> WELL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO
ESCAPE.
YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOORS OF
HER GYM, AND THEY ARE -- THE
WALLS ARE ADORNED WITH THOSE
TWO --
>> OH.
>> WOW.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE DIDN'T
COME OFF THE BEAM RIGHT THERE.
THAT FOOT JUST SLIPPED OUT.
THE KNEE WENT DOWN.
SOMEHOW SHE STAYED ON.
STILL A BIG DEDUCTION, THOUGH.
>> THE FALL ON THE BEAM.
BEAUTIFUL DISMOUNT, THE HARDEST
THAT THERE IS.
SHE'S NOT HAPPY.
>> AND REALLY JUST THE SECOND
MISKUFUOR THE AMERICANS THAT
WE'VE SEEN.
>> SO HERE IT IS, A PUNCH FRONT.
WATCH THAT LEG.
IT SLIDES OUT.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, HER COACH
DOESN'
>>> BACK IN THE BUSY CITY OF
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
4 MILLION PEOPLE HERE IN THE
CAPITAL OF VICTORIA.
THE PACIFIC RIM CHAMPIONSHIPS.
WINDING DOWN, THE U.S. HAVE
TAKEN A COMMANDING LEAD, OVER 15
POINTS AHEAD OF CHINA.
CANADA, THEIR EFFORT IS DONE.
THROUGH FOUR ROTATIONS, THAT'S
THE NUMBER.
SO SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER
IT WILL BE AUSTRALIA OR CANADA
WALKING AWAY WITH THE BRONZE
MEDAL HERE.
MEANWHILE, KYLA ROSS OF THE
U.S., THE 13-YEAR-OLD ON THE
FLOOR.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> WELL, SHE IS DONE FOR THE
DAY, AND I'LL TELL YOU, SHE'S
NOT QUITE READY YET, BUT SHE HAS
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
POTENTIAL.
>> MEANWHILE, HUANG QIUSHUANG,
THE 17-YEAR-OLD FROM CHINA,
GETTING READY ON THE VAULT.
>> IT IS AMAZING HOW GOOD THE
CHINESE HAVE GOTTEN ON VAULTING.
>> AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE
WOULD ALWAYS SAY, HEY, THEY'RE
GREAT ON BALANCE BEAM AND UNEVEN
BARS, BUT THEY'RE STARTING TO
PICK UP THE PACE SLOWLY ON SOME
OF THESE EVENTS, AND, OF COURSE,
THIS NEW GENERATION, THEY NEED
THEM TO DO JUST THAT.
>> AS YOU LOOK AT KYLA ROSS WITH
A 14.15, AS A MOM, ARE YOU NOT
CONTINUALLY BLOWN AWAY AT THE
POISE OF 13-YEAR-OLD ATHLETES?
>> THEY'RE SPENDING COUNTLESS
HOURS IN THE GYM.
THEY LEARN HOW TO WORK
INDEPENDENTLY.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO GET
DONE.
>> THE ONE YEAR OLDER,
14-YEAR-OLD JORDYN WIEBER NOW.
>> IF THERE WAS A CRITICISM OF
JORDYN IN THE PAST, IT WAS THE
ARTISTIC COMPONENT, BUT I THINK
SHE'S MUCH BETTER.
YOU'LL SEE.
♪♪
♪♪♪
>> WOW.
>> I LIKE THE SMILE.
♪♪
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> WOW.
>> THE MATURITY LEVEL ALONE HAS
JUST BLOWN ME AWAY.
FROM OVER A YEAR AGO, SHE'S NOT
A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE.
SHE'S REALLY COME ON STRONG.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.
>> SHE SEEMS TO HAVE A PRESENCE
AND AN ATTITUDE THAT WE HAVE NOT
REALLY SEEN IN THIS EVENT.
>> SHE'S SO COMFORTABLE, SO AT
HOME.
>> PLEASANT.
>> AND, REMEMBER, SHE'S
COMPETING AS A JUNIOR HERE.
HER ELEMENTS ARE TOO ADVANCED.
THEY ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED.
I'LL TELL YOU, SHE IS THE REAL
DEAL.
>> OVER TO BEAM, AND THE
15-YEAR-OLD WHO'S A HOMETOWN
GIRL, FROM MELBOURNE, AMELIA
McGRATH.
>> AND SHE DOES, WATCH THIS
OPENING HERE.
BEAUTIFUL HAND BALANCING,
EXCELLENT FLEXIBILITY.
I LOVE THIS.
>> THIS IS OLD SCHOOL.
BACK IN THE DAY, THESE WERE
THINGS THAT WERE SO -- PEOPLE
DON'T TAKE TIME TO DO MOUNTS
LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
BUT, OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S TRYING TO
CAPITALIZE ON HER FLEXIBILITY
AND HER STRENGTH RIGHT THERE.
>> ELFI, WHY DON'T WE SEE THAT?
IT'S TOO DIFFICULT, TAKES TOO
MUCH TIME?
>> IT TAKES TOO MUCH TIME, AND
THINKER INTERESTED IN GETTING ON
THE BALANCE BEAM AND PERFORMING
SOME OF THE HIGHER END ACROBATIC
SKILLS.
SO THE MOUNTS HAVE BECOME A
THING OF THE PAST.
>> THIS IS MUCH TOO LONG OF A
WAIT, WAY TOO LONG OF A WAIT FOR
HER FIRST ACROBATIC.
>> WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE
IT'S A VERY COMPULSORY
COMBINATION THAT WE'RE SEEING
AROUND THE WORLD.
SHE'S LOVELY UP THERE.
>> YES, I LIKE HER A LOT.
JUST VERY INTERESTING HOW LONG
SHE PAUSED THERE.
OF COURSE, SHE IS JUST A JUNIOR.
>> WE'LL GIVE HER THAT ONE.
PEGGY LIDDICK, OF COURSE, IS
VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
ATHLETE.
SHE EXPECTS HER TO BE ON THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM DOWN THE
ROAD.
KNOWS THAT SHE EXCELS ON EVENTS
LIKE BALANCE BEAM AND FLOOR
EXERCISE, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF HER
BEAUTY, HER CHOREOGRAPHY.
A THE LITTLE NERVOUS UP THERE
RIGHT NOW.
>> WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN
ROTTERDAM IN OCTOBER OF THIS
YEAR.
>> SHE'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A
VERY GREAT AUSTRALIAN GYMNAST.
LITTLE YOUNG, AS WE SAID, BUT
YOU CAN SEE THE MAKINGS OF A
LITTLE CHAMPION THERE.
>>> THE AMERICAN WOMEN LOOKING
TO SWEEP HERE IN MELBOURNE.
REBECCA BROSS NOW, 16-YEAR-OLD,
WITH HER FLOOR EXERCISES.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE MATURITY
AND THE EXPERIENCE THIS USA TEAM
HAS COMPLETELY JUST BLOWN AWAY
THE COMPETITION.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> GUYS, A MOMENT AGO, WE SAW
THE PERSONALITY OF JORDYN
WIEBER.
NOW A LOOK AT THE FOCUS, I
THINK, OF REBECCA BROSS.
>> SHE IS A VERY INTENSE
INDIVIDUAL, NOT JUST IN
COMPETITION.
THEY SAY THAT, WELL, VALERI
LIUKIN, HER COACH, SAID THAT
REBECCA IS JUST ALL WORK.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪♪
>> IT'S ALL BEEN PART OF THE
PLAN, AND IT'S PLAYED OUT VERY
NICELY.
THE WINS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE
ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND
SEND A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD.
>> ALL THIS PART OF THE PLAN FOR
THE AMERICANS TOO.
IT'S COME TOGETHER EXACTLY HOW
MARTHA KAROLYI HAD HOPED.
AS WE TAKE YOU OIFR TO THE VAULT
AND ZHOU QIAOHONG FROM CHINA.
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE MOST
DIFFICULT RATED VAULT THAT WE'RE
SEEING IN THE COMPETITION.
VERY, VERY HARD.
>> STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
>> YEAH.
>> REMEMBER ALL THOSE MISTAKES
ON THE BEAM EARLIER IN THE EVENT
FOR CHINA, BUT THEY'RE IN A
POSITION TO LOCK DOWN SECOND
PLACE HERE.
AUSTRALIA IN THAT BATTLE FOR THE
BRONZE MEDAL WITH CANADA, WHOSE
EVENT IS OVER.
REBECCA BROSS WITH A 14.60.
>> AND THAT'S GOING TO JUST
ABOUT DO IT FOR HER AS WELL.
THERE'S ALSO AN ALL-AROUND
COMPETITION.
>> AND SHE WAS OVERWHELMED.
YOU CAN SEE THE EMOTION ON HER
FACE.
15-YEAR-OLD EMILY LITTLE L NOW
ON BEAM.
>> PEGGY SAYS THIS ATHLETE
DOESN'T HAVE THE HIGHEST START
VALUES OF HER TEAM, BUT WHAT SHE
LIKES IS SHE'S STEADY.
SHE'S A POWERFUL GYMNAST.
SHE HAS ALL THE COMPONENTS, BUT
SHE'S HER LONG TERM PROJECT.
SO STILL A LOT OF WORK AHEAD.
AS THEY GET NEAR TO THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
>> SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT SHE'S
NOT THAT GRACEFUL.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BEND STEEL,
BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.
IF ANYONE KNOWS PEGGY, YOU CAN
REST ASSURED SHE IS.
>> IN THIS TYPE OF EVENT FOR
THIS PARTICULAR COUNTRY, BECAUSE
DOWN THE ROAD, ASIDE FROM THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, THEY HAVE
THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR A
COUNTRY LIKE CANADA AND
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND.
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A
TEAM TOGETHER AND GET SOME
EXPERIENCE.
SOLID JOB.
>> YES, SOLID JOB.
>> IMPORTANT EFFORT.
REMEMBER, AUSTRALIA TRYING TO
GRAB THAT THIRD SPOT NOW.
SO EMILY LITTLE'S EFFORT ON THE
BEAM COMPLETE, AND ALY RAISMAN
FOR THE U.S., THE FINAL FLOOR
EXERCISES.
>> FROM THE SAME GYM THAT 2008
OLYMPIAN ALICIA SACRAMONE IS
FROM.
HONESTLY, THEY HAVE SO MANY
QUALITIES THAT ARE SO SIMILAR.
BOTH VERY, VERY POWERFUL.
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>> INCLUDING ALICIA'S OLD FLOOR
EXERCISE MUSIC.
>> YEAH.
NOT WHAT SHE USED AT THE OLYMPIC
GAMES, BUT THEY IS WHAT THEY
CALL A RECYCLED ROUTINE.
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>> THIS WILL CERTAINLY PLEASE
MARTHA KAROLYI, ANOTHER ONE OF
HER GIRLS DOING THE JOB,
HANDLING THE PRESSURE.
>> AND THE U.S. OVERALL REALLY
ALMOST A BUSINESSLIKE APPROACH
OF THE THEY CAME IN EXPECTING TO
DO WELL, EXPECTING TO WIN.
NOT MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS HERE.
>> YEAH, A NO NONSENSE
COMPETITION.
IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION,
TUMBLING PASS.
VERY DIFFICULT.
>> SO ALLY RAISMAN WITH THAT
FINAL FLOOR EXERCISE, 14.35.
AND IT WAS A NICE FINISH AFTER A
NICE START AND A NICE MIDDLE,
QUITE FRANKLY, FOR THE
AMERICANS.
SO THE FINAL STANDINGS, TIM,
15.50 THE WINNING MARGIN?
>> THAT'S LIKE A BASEBALL GAME
WHERE IT'S 21-0.
THAT IS GIGANTIC.
>> TEN-RUN RULE IN LITTLE
LEAGUE.
AUSTRALIA ABLE TO EDGE OUT
CANADA FOR THE BRONZE.
ANDREA JOYCE IS STANDING BY WITH
THE WINNING AMERICAN TEAM RIGHT
NOW.
>> IT'S A TRIFECTA FOR THE
AMERICANS.
THE SENIOR ALL-AROUND TITLE, THE
JUNIOR ALL-AROUND TITLE, AND THE
TEAM TITLE.
SO, REBECCA, WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU
THINK YOU GUYS SENT THE WORLD
WITH THIS DOMINANT PERFORMANCE?
>> WELL, WE'RE A STRONG TEAM,
AND WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER REALLY
WELL, AND WE WENT OUT THERE AND
PERFORMED LIKE WE NEEDED TO.
>> SAID LIKE A TRUE CHAMPION.
JORDYN, THIS IS YOUR FIRST
COMPETITION IN MORE THAN A YEAR.
HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT FOR YOU TO
COME OUT AND HAVE THE
PERFORMANCE YOU DID?
>> IT WAS SO IMPORTANT FOR ME.
I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK AND
BE STRONG AND HAVE A GOOD MEET.
I'M GLAD I DID THAT.
>> AND YOU JUNIORS, I MEAN, WE
TALKED TO YOU GUYS EARLIER.
HERE YOU COME INTO THIS
COMPETITION AND FINISH 1, 2, 3.
KYLA, WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF USA WOMEN'S
GYMNASTICS?
>> I THINK IT SAYS THAT WE'RE
ALL STRONG AND VERY CONFIDENT
AND THAT WE CAN DO OUR BEST AND
TRY OUR BEST.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> MEDAL CEREMONY UNDER WAY IN
MELBOURNE.
THE U.S. CAPTURING THE GOLD
MEDAL.
CHINA, THE SILVER.
AND AUSTRALIA ABLE TO WIN THE
BRONZE MEDAL.
PRIOR TO THE WOMEN'S EVENT, THE
MEN'S COMPETITION TOOK PLACE
HERE AT THE PACIFIC RIM
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
IT TURNED OUT, TIM, TO BE A
TWO-TEAM RACE, THE AMERICANS AND
THE CHINESE.
>> AND STEVE LEGENDRE, HE GOT IT
GOING ON FLOOR EXERCISE BIG.
BUT UH-OH, BAD.
SITTING DOWN, A POINT OFF.
AND CHINA ON PARALLEL BARS, THEY
ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
ROTATION TWO AND A PERFECT,
PICTURE PERFECT LANDING.
PROBLEMS FOR THE USA CONTINUE ON
POMMEL HORSE.
DANELL LEYVA HAVING A ROUGH TIME
AND LOTS OF PEN TO PAPER THERE.
CHINA ON TOP.
BUT THEN IN ROTATION THREE, THE
PROBLEMS START HERE AND THE
SITUATION GOES BAD.
THE USA BATTLES BACK ON THE
STILL RINGS.
A JUNIOR, C.J. MAESTAS.
HE'S A JUNIOR, ONE OF THE
STRONGEST KIDS IN THE
COMPETITION.
AND WATCH THIS.
THIS IS WHERE USA REALLY TAKES
OFF.
DYLAN AKERS.
TEAMMATE OF JONATHAN HORTON, AND
ONCE AGAIN STEVE LEGENDRE, LOOK
OUT.
IN ROTATION FIVE, POMMEL HORSE.
THE CHINESE ARE GREAT ON HORSE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
DANELL LEYVA, WATCH THIS.
BAM.
A SEVEN-POINT SWING IN THIS
ROTATION.
THE JUNIOR JOHN OROZCO FROM THE
BRONX, AND THEN SEALING THE
DEAL, DANELL LEYVA.
LOOK AT THIS.
>> A CHARGE AND A COMEBACK WIN.