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GENERATION.
>> YEAH!
>> Al: AT THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS,
SEVEN WOMEN CAME TOGETHER WITH
ONE MOMENT THAT PUNCTUATED
EVERYTHING AS MAGNIFICENCE.
>> MEN OR WOMEN HAS WON A TEAM
GOLD MEDAL THE OLYMPICS.
TAKE LOOK AT HISTORY.
>> Al: FOUR YEARS LATER, THE
SYDNEY OLYMPICS WERE A DISASTER,
A SIGNAL THAT THE U.S. SYSTEM
NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, AND IT
WAS.
BY 2004 IN ATHENS, THE RESULTS
WERE CLEAR.
THE TEAM WON A SILVER MEDAL,
PROVING TO THEMSELVES THEY CAN
DO THIS IS.
AND THERE WAS A GOLDEN GIRL,
REASONS TO CELEBRATE.
THE OLYMPICS MUST HAVE SEEN SO
FAR AWAY TEN YEARS AGO.
NOW IT'S A TANGIBLE GOAL.
BEIJING, 2008.
THESE AREN'T BABY STEPS ANYMORE.
THIS IS THE NEXT ONE THEY MUST
TAKE AT THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
WELCOME TO THE U.S. NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
THE VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS, THE
FIRST OF TWO NIGHTS IN
COMPETITION.
NASTIA LIUKIN LAST YEAR WON THIS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND YOU
KNOW THIS WAY -- THE WAY THIS
SPORT GOES.
THAT WAS GREAT.
NOW DO IT AGAIN.
THAT'S HER GOLD-WINNING --
GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING DAD.
THERE'S CHELLSIE MEMMEL.
SHE'S GOT TO COME BACK FROM TWO
SHOULDERNJURIES.
THAT'S HER DAD.
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING THE COACH
OF A TEENAGE GYMNAST AT THIS
LEVEL.
BUT WE'LL START THINGS OFF WITH
ALLYSHA SACRAMONE.
SHE HAS ALSO PROVEN HERSELF IN
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNING
FLOOR EXERCISE BUT IN THIS
SPORT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
OLYMPICS.
>> Tim: SHE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY
GOOD SHOT.
OF BEING PART OF THAT 2004 TEAM,
CERTAINLY HAD THE ABILITY, A
TREMENDOUS ATHLETE BUT JUST
WASN'T TIME.
HER COACH SAID IT WAS LIKE A
TSUNAMI.
EVERYTHING JUST CAME A LITTLE
TOO FAST.
>> Elfi: SHE SAID NOW IS HER
TIME.
HER CONFIDENCE IS AT AN ALL-TIME
HIGH.
>> Tim: SHE TRULY IS A
POWERHOUSE.
BEAM, FLOOR AND VAULT.
SHE'S WORLD CLASS.
SOMETIMES, WELL, USUALLY
STRUGGLES ON THE UNEVEN BARS.
BUT REMEMBER NOWADAYS, DO YOU
NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE FULL
COMENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN
ALL-AROUND GYMNAST TO BE PART OF
A WORLD OR OLYMPIC TEAM.
SHE FITS THAT BILL REGARDLESS OF
THE WEAKNESS ON THE UNEVEN BARS.
>> Elfi: AND YOU'LL NOTICE HER
STYLE ON BALANCE BEAM.
SHE'S VERY SURE OF HERSELF, VERY
AGGRESSIVE.
HER LEAPS, HER ACROBATIC SKILLS.
THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT, VERY
HIGH.
SHE'S REALLY IMPROVED ON THIS
PARTICULAR EVENT, AND I CAN SEE
WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
HER CONFIDENCE IS DEFINITELY
THERE.
>> Tim: GREAT DISMOUNT.
THERE WITH HER COACH, AND FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN,
THE 10-0 IS GONE.
SO WE'RE -- 10.0 IS GONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE A BIZARRE
NUMBER, SOMEWHERE IN THE 15.0
RANGE IS ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF
A 9.2, SOMEWHERE THRRND.
>> Al: THAT'S TIM DAGGETT, ELFI
SCHLEGEL.
AL TRAUTWIG.
ANDREA JOYCE IS ALSO PATROLLING
THE FLOOR AS WE GET BACK TO
CHELLSIE MEMMEL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUNG WOMEN WHO
ARE GOING TO BE ROUGHLY 20 WHEN
THE BAY JING OLYMPICS HIT.
YOU NEVER KNOW IF THAT'S GOING
TO BE BIOLOGICALLY RIGHT.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> Elfi: AL THIS IS A BIG
QUESTION MARK FOR CHELLSIE.
SHE HAS NOT STARTED TRAINING
BARS SINCE AUGUST 1st.
SHE'S BEEN OFF FOR THREE MONTHS
WITH THAT SHOULDER INJURY THAT
YOU MENTIONED.
HER DAD SAID SHE -- HE HAD TO
GROUND HER FROM THIS EVENT.
IN ORDER FOR THAT INJURY TO
HEAL.
>> Al: HE'S WEARING A MICROPHONE
FOR US TODAY.
>> Tim: SO FAR THIS IS -- THIS
IS JUST LIKE CHELLSIE ALWAYS
DOES.
HER CLIMAX IN THE ROUTINE RIGHT
THERE.
BEAUTIFUL JAM TO HANDSTAND.
THEY COULDN'T BE ANY HAPPIER
WITH THAT.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT WAS
REMARKABLE.
>> I KNEW YOU COULD DO THAT.
WAS IT FUN?
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
>> Al: EVERY MOM OR DAD THAT HAS
A TEENAGER CAN RELATE TO HOW
TOUGH THAT IS.
ALICIA SACRAMONE.
THERE YOU GO, TIM, 15.3.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THAT'S A GOOD SCORE.
SOMEWHERE I WOULD SAY BETWEEN
9.2 TO 9.4, IT EQUATES TO THAT
ABOUT THAT IT'S REALLY BIZARRE.
NOWADAYS YOU HAVE AN EXECUTION
SCORE THAT STARTS OUT OF A 10.
AND YOU TAKE DEDUCTIONS FROM
THAT.
AND THEN A DIFFICULTY SCORE
WHERE IT'S ADDED TO.
PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND YOU HAVE
THE SCORE.
>> Elfi: BASICALLY ONE SCORE IS
WHAT DO YOU IN YOUR ROUTINE.
THE OTHER SCORE IS HOW WELL YOU
PERFORM IT.
>> Al: HERE'S NASTIA LIUKIN, THE
DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPION.
HER LONG, LEAN LINES.
>> Tim: HERE COMES HER FIRST
TUMBLING RUN.
THREE ELEMENTS IN A ROW.
PERFECT.
>> Al: TIM, HOW GOOD WAS HER
DAD?
>> Tim: OH, GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S ONE OF MY HEROS.
HE WAS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME
GREATS, REALLY THE FIRST ATHLETE
TO DO WHAT WAS UNTHINKABLE.
IT'S BASICALLY UNTHINKABLE EVEN
NOW, A TRIPLE BACK ON THE FLOOR
EXERCISE.
HE DID IT -- HE DID IT DECADES
AGO.
SO --
>> Elfi: THESE LINES YOU SEE
FROM HER COMES FROM HER MOM, WHO
WAS A WORLD-CLASS RHYTHMIC
GYMNAST.
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE
EXECUTION.
THIS IS WHERE SHE'S GOING TO GET
A TREMENDOUS SCORE.
NOT TO MENTION VERY DIFFICULT
MOVES.
BUT WHAT SHE DOES IN BETWEEN ALL
THE ACROBATIC SKILLS IS SO
DIFFICULT, I CAN'T EVEN TELL
YOU.
THE POINTING OF THE FEET, THE
STRETCHED LEGS, VERY HARD DANCE.
>> Al: AND WE SHOULD REEMPHASIZE
MOM AND DAD ARE BOTH PRODUCTS OF
THE OLD SOVIET SYSTEM.
IF YOU HAD WHISPERED IN THEIR
EARS BACK IN THE DAY, HEY, ONE
DAY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
DAUGHTER, AND SHE'S GOING TO GO
FOR THE U.S. NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP YOU COULD HAVE
KNOCKED THEM OVER WITH A
FEATHER.
>> GOOD JOB.
THAT'S AWESOME.
AWESOME.
GOOD JOB.
LITTLE TOO TIGHT ON THE RANGE,
BUT THAT WAS IT.
JUST A TINY BIT.
GOOD JOB.
>> Al: TODAY THIS DREAM IS BEING
CULTIVATED IN TEXAS.
>> Elfi: YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR PERFECTION.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING TO HER
ABOUT, ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE
TINIEST THING THAT THE AVERAGE
PERSON PROBABLY COULDN'T EVEN
SEE.
>> Tim: AND THE JUDGES DIDN'T
SEE ANY DEDUCTIONS.
YOU SEE THIS 9.6 IN EXECUTION?
THEY DIDN'T JUST MAKE THE
ELEMENTS HARDER, BUT THEY ALSO
MADE THE DEDUCTIONS MORE
STRINGENT.
THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER.
COMPARE IT TO CHELLSIE MEMMEL'S
9.1, WHICH IS A GOOD EXERCISE.
>> Al: DEFENDING A NATIONAL
>> Al: NIGHT ONE OF THE 2006
VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BROUGHT
TO YOU IN PART BY VISA, PROUD
SPONSOR OF AMERICA'S OLYMPIC
TEAM HOPEFULS.
LIFE TAKES VISA.
AND BY VENUS RAISERS.
RE-- RAZORS.
REVEAL THE GODDESS IN YOU.
WE'RE IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA,
TWO YEARS OUT FROM THE OLYMPICS
IN BEIJING.
AND WE CAN ALL PREDICT LESS THAN
WE THINK WE CAN.
WE KNOW THAT.
WE'VE SEEN THAT IN TWO OLYMPICS.
AL TRAUTWIG WITH TIM DAGGETT AND
ELFI SCHLEGEL, AND ANDREA JOYCE
IS ALONGSIDE ON HER BIRTHDAY.
WE HAVE TWO WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE READY TO GORE THIS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
NASTIA LIUKIN IS TWO YEARS AWAY
FROM BEIJING BUT READY TO GO
NOW.
>> Tim: IT IS A VERY, VERY LONG
ROAD AS CHELLSIE MEMMEL CAN TALK
ABOUT.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE TOP ATHLETES.
HER DREAM CUT SHORT.
BUT TRULY NASTIA LIUKIN, I HAVE
NEVER SEEN HER LOOK BETTER.
SHE STARTED ON BALANCE BEAM.
SHE'S WORLD CHAMPION ON THAT
EVENT.
THE ONLY THING THAT COULD KEEP
HER AWAY FROM THAT 2008 PLANE
TICKET TO BEIJING, CHINA, IS A
MAJOR INJURY.
>> Al: THAT'S SOMETHING CHELLSIE
MEMMEL KNOWS ABOUT.
>> Elfi: IN SOME WAYS WHAT IS
TRADITIONALLY HER STRONG EVENT,
THEN EVEN BARS, SHE DID IT WITH
ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM.
AND I THINK IT'S AN UPWARD HILL
FOR HER.
THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER IN
THIS COMPETITION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A WORLD
CHAMPION.
AND WHERE SDH SHE DOES FROM HERE
HERE?
SHE SAID SHE'S TAKING ONE EVENT
AT A TIME.
NO COMMITMENTS ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> Al: HER NEXT EVENT IS GOING
TO BE THE BEAM.
SHE'S WARMING UP RIGHT NOW
THERE.
WE'LL CHECK IN WITH HER.
BUT WE'LL MOVE ACROSS THE ROOM
HERE IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, TO
THE BARS.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE STANDINGS,
LIUKIN LEADS BY .55.
THAT'S A PRETTY DECENT CUSHION
AFTER ONE ROTATION.
CHELLSIE MEMMEL, .8 BEHIND.
BUT WITH THIS NEW SCORING, IT'S
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT
ANYTHING.
NOW HERE'S ONE THING WE KNOW,
NATASHA KELLEY FROM KATY, TEXAS.
SHE HAS MARY LOU RETTON OF ALL
PEOPLE ON HER SIDE.
WHAT A HUGE PRESENCE MARY LOU IS
IN HER GYM AND IN HOUSTON THESE
DAYS.
>> Tim: NOT ONLY IS MARY LOU A
PART OF THAT, TIM, SHE HAS FOUR
OF HER DAUGHTERS WHO TRAIN
ALONGSIDE, WELL, ACTUALLY NOT AT
HER LEVEL YET.
BUT IN ADDITION TO BEING A --
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SHE'S
ACTUALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE BOOSTER CLUB.
SO IF YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND IN
HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND THERE'S A
CAR WASH WITH A BUNCH OF LITTLE
GIRLS OUT THERE, STOP AND MAYBE
YOU'LL GET MARY LOU RETTON'S
AUTOGRAPH.
>> Elfi: NOW, NATASHA KELLEY HAS
MOVED FROM THE JUNIOR RANK.
SHE WAS THE NATIONAL CHAMPION
LAST YEAR IN JUNIORS.
SO SHE HAS MADE HER MOVE.
AND WHAT MARTA KAROLYI, THE
NATIONAL TEAM COORDINATOR, LOVES
ABOUT HER IS HER CONSISTENCY.
SHE CAN OFFER UP FOUR EVENTS AT
ANYTIME.
>> Tim: DOUBLE FRONT.
AND YOU KNOW, ALL WEEK LONG --
THERE'S HER COACH, DAN, AND
WIFE, ASHLEY BAKER.
THEY HAVE SAID SHE IS SO
UNAFFECTED.
THEY SAY SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO
SHAKE HER, PINCH HER JUST TO
MAKE SURE SHE'S AWAKE.
>> Elfi: BUT SHE HAS BIG SKILLS.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN HER SCORE,
HER FINAL SCORE, IS A HUGE
DIFFICULTY VALUE.
WHAT NATASHA NEEDS TO WORK ON
JUST A LITTLE BIT IS THE
EXECUTION PART OF HER SCORE, BUT
SHE IS CONSISTENT THROUGH HER
ROUTINES, BIG SCORES.
LOOK AT THAT DIFFICULTY, 6.5.
THAT'S HUGE.
>> Al: AND NOW ASHLEY PRIESS,
WESTCHESTER, OHIO.
SHE IS COACHED BY MARY LEE
TRACEY, WHO HAS PROVEN SHE KNOWS
WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A GYMNAST
TO THE OLYMPIC LEVEL.
AT THE MOST RECENT VISA
CHAMPIONSHIPS, SHE WAS FOURTH.
AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST SIGNAL THAT THIS IS HER
TIME NOW.
THIS IS IT.
>> Tim: AND ACTUALLY, THE
QUALIFYING EVENT FOR THESE VISA
CHAMPIONSHIPS IS CALLED A
CLASSIC, AND SHE WAS
CO-CHAMPION.
SHE HAS TREMENDOUS LINES, DOES
GET A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS FROM
TIME TO TIME AND MAYBE LETS THE
PRESSURE GET TO HER.
BUT HER OVERALL GYMNASTICS LOOK,
MART KAROLYI DESCRIBES IT AS
AN INTERNATIONAL LOOK.
>> Elfi: AND SHE KNOWS THAT
SCORES WELL IN THE INTERNATIONAL
ARENA.
THIS IS A LOOK VERY SIMILAR TOES
INS IF, JUST THE CLEAN LINES,
NICE FLEXIBILITY.
SHE HAS DIFFICULT SKILLS.
THIS ROUTINE JUST -- JUST
LOOKING LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, NOT
LIKEHAT WE'VE SEEN IN PR
PRACTICE.
>> Tim: A LITTLE TENTATIVE,
ACTUALLY.
>> Al: YOU CAN TELL THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ATHLETE
WHO'S THINKING ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE DOING AND AN ATHLETE WHO
IS JUST DOING WHAT THEY'RE
DOING.
>> Elfi: ONE THING I DO LIKE
ABOUT ASHLEY WHEN WE DID SIT
DOWN TO SPEAK WITH HER, SHE WAS
VERY MOTIVATED TO PLACE IN THE
TOP THREE.
I MEAN, SHE MADE NO BONES ABOUT
IT.
SHE SAID, I WANT TO COME OUT OF
THIS PLACING IN THE TOP THREE.
>> CALLED SURVIVAL, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU'LL DO BETTER SATURDAY.
GOOD EFFORT.
>> Al: MARY LEE IS ALREADY
TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT DAY OF
COMPETITION.
>> Tim: THAT WAS A GOOD
EXERCISE, BUT AS MARY LEE AND
ELFI POINTED OUT, THERE WAS A
LITTLE BIT OF TENTATIVENESS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EXERCISE.
>> Al: NOW ON FLOOR, ALICIA
SACRAMONE, WHO RECORDED A 15.3
IN HER FIRST ROTATION.
>> Tim: AND THIS CAN BE GREAT.
SHE'S DEBUTING A■ NEW TUMBLING
RUN.
SHE CAN JUMP.
>> Tim: WOW!
♪♪
>> Elfi: SO, AL, YOU'LL LOVE
THIS NEW BIT OF INFORMATION.
THE GIRLS AT THIS LEVEL ARE
DEBUTING FIVE TUMBLING PASSES,
NOT FOUR ANYMORE.
BUT FIVE.
♪♪
♪♪
>> Al: ELFI, I'M STILL TRYING TO
DEAL WITH NO MORE PERFECT 10s.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN HANDLE
FIVE TUMBLING PASSES.
>> YOU TRY TO HOLE.
DON'T HOLD.
JUST GO.
THERE'S NOTHING TO HOLD BACK.
VERY GOOD.
OKAY.
>> Tim: THERE WERE A LOT OF
CORRECTIONS THERE FOR --
>> Elfi: SHE DIDN'T HOLD BACK ON
THIS TUMBLING PASS.
>> Tim: NO, THIS IS AMAZING.
>> Elfi: HUGE.
>> Tim: I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
DOES IT LIKE THAT IN THE ENTIRE
WORLD.
SHE IS -- SHE IS A TREMENDOUS
ATHLETE, THREE EVENTS,
POWERHOUSE.
>> YOU JUST KEEP IT GOING.
>> Al: 15.3 FOR SACRAMONE.
15.1 FOR ASHLEY PRIESS.
AND NASTIA LIUKIN CAN GET SET
FOR HER TURN TO COME UNDER THE
WATCHFUL EYE OF HER
GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING DAD.
AND WE HAVE FATHERS ALL ACROSS
THE ROOM, IN FACT.
CHELLSIE MEMMEL COACHED BY HER
FATHER.
SHE GETS STOT GO ON BEAM.
>> OKAY?
JUST LIKE AT WORLD'S.
DON'YOUR TIME.
BEAUTIFUL ROUTINE.
OKAY?
HAVE FUN.
>> Al
>> Al: THAT'S FASCINATING.
HAVE FUN, AND, OH, BY THE WAY,
GET YOUR MIND TO
>> Al: WE'RE BACK IN ST. PAUL,
MINNESOTA, WITH THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF FATHERS AND MOMS
WONDERING, HOW DO THEY DO IT?
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THE PARENT OF
A TEENAGE CORR BE THE COACH ON
FALL-TIME, EVERYDAY BASIS OF A
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ATHLETE LIKE
CHELLSIE MEMMEL OR NASTIA LIUKIN
WITH HER GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING
FATHER?
ONE COMES FROM WEST ALLIS,
WISCONSIN.
THIS DUO TRANSPLANTED FROM THE
SOVIET UNION, NOW FROM PLACE
CALLED PLANO.
>> NASTIA IS A VERY SMART GIRL
AND SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT
TAKES TO BE A VERY GOOD GYMNAST.
IT'S NOT ONLY WINNING ALL THE
TIME.
LOT OF TIME YOU LOSE.
THIS IS HOW IT IS IN THE BIG
SPORT.
IF YOU LOSE SOMETIME, YOU WAYNE
LOT.
THIS IS WHAT IT TAKE TO BE GREAT
GYMNAST.
WE TRYING TO DO VERY DIFFICULT
STUFF IN THE COMPETITION.
THAT'S WHY THERE WILL BE THE
FALLS, YOU KNOW.
IT'S GONNA BE HOPEFULLY A LOT
MORE UPS THAN DOWN.
THIS IS NOT EASY TO MAKE OLYMPIC
TEAM.
IT'S GONNA BE WAR.
I KNOW THAT.
I'VE SEEN THIS.
I'VE DONE THAT.
>> HE MIGHT BE TOUGHER ON ME,
BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD,
BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT MY GOALS
ARE AND THAT I DO WANT TO BE ON
TOP OF THE WORLD IN GYMNASTICS.
SO IT TAKES -- YOU KNOW, IT
TAKES TOUGHNESS.
IT IS HARD SOME DAYS, BUT YOU
GOT TO -- YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH
THAT, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU
A GOOD GYMNAST.
>> OKAY.
BIG.
>> LIKE, EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN I
KNOW SOME GIRLS ARE LIKE, OH, MY
GOSH, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT,
I THINK HAVING MY DAD BEING ABLE
TO CATCH ALL THOSE TINY, TINY
MISTAKES IS REALLY WHAT HELPS ME
BE THE GYMNAST THAT I AM TODAY.
>> THAT'S IT.
COME ON ALREADY.
>> BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE JUDGES
HAVE -- ARE LOOKING FOR ALL
THOSE LITTLE MISTAKES, TOO, AND
THEY CAN SPOT THEM OUT, YOU
KNOW?
BEING THAT MY DAD CAN TELL THEM
APART FROM A GOOD AND A BAD,
HE'S ABLE TO SPOT EVEN THE
TINIEST LITTLE DETAILS OUT.
>> SHOW YOUR FLEXIBILITY.
THIS IS WHAT YOU DO.
THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE REGULAR.
COME ON, HUGE.
SHE REMINDS ME BASICALLY MYSELF.
I JUST HATED SECOND PLACE.
IT'S JUST THE WORST COULD BE FOR
ME.
THERE WAS ONE PLACE FOR ME.
IT'S FIRST.
SO I CAN SEE THAT A LOT IN
NASTIA, TOO.
THAT LITTLE FRAGILE BODY.
BUT THERE'S AN ANIMAL INSIDE
THAT BODY.
THROT A DIFFERENT FATHER STORY.
A FEW YEARS AGO, CHELLSIE MEMMEL
WAS AT A CROSSROADS.
IT WAS EITHER LEAVE THE SPORT
FOR GOOD OR GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY.
CHELLSIE TURNED TO THE ONE
PERSON SHE COULD TRUST AND SAID,
DAD, WILL YOU COACH ME?
AND DAD SAID YES.
>> CHELLSIE, HERE'S THE TRAINING
PLAN FOR NEXT WEEK.
BUT BEFORE I GIVE YOU IT, I LOVE
YOU.
IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN IT WAS
THIS LAST WEEK, BUT THIS IS THE
TRAINING PLAN THAT'S GONNA GET
US TO WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
DAD IS PROTECTOR.
I CAN PROTECT HER.
I CAN SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T DO ONE
MORE.
OR I CAN SAY, YES, YOU CAN DO
ONE MORE.
SO WE HAVE TO JUST BALANCE HOW
MANY LANDINGS WE TAKE, HOW MANY
NUMBERS WE TAKE, BECAUSE WE
STILL WANT TO GO TO THAT, YOU
KNOW, TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND GET
TO THAT NEXT PEAK, BUT WE HAVE
TO GET THERE SMARTLY.
>> Al: PARENT IT'S LIKE ANDY
KNOW THE DEAL, INSTANT
MESSAGING, BOYS, ACNE.
YOU NAME IT.
NONE OF IT'S EASY.
AND THEY CHASE A DREAM IN THE
MEANTIME.
YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'LL LOOK
BACK WITH SUCH FOND MEMBER PRIPS
BUT UNTIL THEN, TODAY, FOR
VELORY LIUKIN AND ANDY MEMMEL,
HAVE WORK DO.
>> Al: AND THIS IS SO UNLIKE
FISHING.
THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS RANDOM.
THIS IS ALL PART OF PLAN.
THIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A COUPLE
OF MONTHS, THE OLYMPICS IN 2008.
AND CHELLSIE MEMMEL IN SO MANY
WAYS, SHE HAS SO MUCH EXPERIENCE
THAT BRINGS HER TO THIS MOMENT.
2003, THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM HAD INJURIES.
THEY SAID, CHELLSIE, COME HELP
US.
GUESS WHAT?
THEY WON GOLD.
AND THEN IN 2005, SHE WON A GOLD
MEDAL ALL BY HERSELF, BEST IN
THE WORLD.
>> Elfi: AND HER DAD, ANDY,
THOSE HIS DAUGHTER SEW WELL.
THE COMMENT PRIOR TO THIS
ROUTINE WAS, CHELLSIE, JUST LIKE
AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
HE KNOWS WHAT GETS HER
MOTIVATED.
SHE'S A GAMER.
SHE GETS UP FOR THE BIG EVENTS.
>> GOOD GIRL.
>> Tim: ANOTHER BIG SKILL
ARABIAN.
ONE OF CHELLSIE MEMMEL'S
TRADEMARKS.
I TELL YOU, EVERY ATHLETE, EVERY
COACH ON THE FLOOR, YOU TALK
ABOUT CHELLSIE MEMMEL, AND THEY
ALL TALK ABOUT THE AMAZING HEAD
OF THIS YOUNG LADY.
>> GOOD GIRL.
THERE YOU GO.
>> Elfi: SHE'S A COMPETITOR.
>> Tim: SHE CALLED HER AN
ANIMAL, JUST LIKE HER DAD.
SHE IS SO TOUGH.
>> Elfi: WHAT SHE DOES IN IT
THIS BALANCE BEAM ROUTINE, TEAM
IS EVERYTHING.
SHE'S GOT EVERY SKILL.
VARIETY.
I LIKE THAT.
>> OKAY, CHEL.
>> Al: WE'RE WATCHING TWO WOMEN
NOW, CHELLSIE MEMMEL AND NASTIA
LIUKIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOOD, VERY GOOD.
>> Al: IF YOU ASK THEM, DO WE
HAVE TO WIN THIS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP?
THEY BOTH WOULD PROBABLY SAY NO.
>> Tim: IT'S TRUE.
IT'S TRUE.
THEIR GOAL -- I MEAN, WHEN
YOU'RE ALREADY THE BEST IN THE
WORLD, YES, A NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, IT'S GONNA GO DOWN
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.
BUT THESE TWO LADIES, CHELLSIE
MEMMEL, NASTIA LIUKIN, THEY ARE
TRYING TO BE THE BEST IN THE
WORLD AT THE WORLD'S AND THEN BE
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
>> Al: 15.8.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> Tim: IT'S A VERY GOOD SCORE.
AND BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, AT THIS
POINT IN HER RECOVERY, SHE
SHOULDN'T BE CAPABLE OF DOING
THAT.
BUT SHE DOES, BECAUSE SHE IS THE
ATHLETE, THE COMPETITOR THAT SHE
IS.
>> Al: VALERI LIUKIN CALLS HIS
DAUGHTER AN ANIMAL, THAT'S WHAT
IT TAKES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SORT OF A
DIFFERENT PLACE TO TAKE YOUR
BRAIN TO TO GET THROUGH MOMENTS
LIKE THESE.
>> Elfi: A BRAND-NEW EXERCISE
ROUTINE FOR NASTIA WITH SOME NEW
TUMBLING.
SHE'S JUGGLING THINGS A LITTLE
BIT.
NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE OUTCOME
WILL BE.
♪♪
>> Tim: AND THAT ACTUALLY WAS
NOT WHAT WAS PLANNED.
SHE ONLY DID A 1 1/2 TWIST AT
THE END THERE, SUPPOSED TO DO A
DOUBLE TWIST.
BUT WATCH THIS.
BRAND-NEW HANDSPRING DOUBLE
FRONT.
THIS IS AWESOME.
♪♪
♪♪
>> Tim: O MAN.
SHE DOES, SHE STEPS OUT OF THE
BOUNDS.
IT'S AMAZING HER DAD -- RIGHT
BEFORE SHE WENT, HE REMINDED HER
THAT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT
THAT LAST STEP AFTER THE 2 1/2,
BE CAREFUL, DON'T GO OUT OF
BOUNDS.
>> I JUST TOLD YOU THAT.
YOU TILTED BACK.
IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY.
BUT YOU GOT TO KICK BACK.
THIS IS ONE TIME.
IT'S OKAY.
>> Elfi: I HAVE TO TELL YOU,
THOUGH, GUYS --
>> EXCELLENT.
EXCELLENT.
YOU NEED THOSE THINGS.
IT'S OKAY.
YOU FEEL THIS?
>> YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> Elfi: BEYOND THE TUMBLING,
BEYOND THE TUMBLING, WHAT SHE
DID IN THIS CHOREOGRAPHY WAS
LIKE A BALLET.
THAT CHOREOGRAPHY WAS SO, SO
DIFFICULT.
SHE'S JUST BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE.
>> Al: AND YET, AS DAD REMINDS
HIS
>> Al: VULNERABLE IS NOT A WORD
OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE NASTIA
LIUKIN, BUT AFTER A 14.7 ON THE
FLOOR EXERCISE, SHE MIGHT JUST
BE THAT IN THESE VISA
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
CHELLSIE MEMMEL HAS MOVED IN
FRONT OF NASTIA LIUKIN BY .3.
AND IT'S ASHLEY PRIESS AND
ALICIA SACRAMONE IN FOURTH.
SO THINGS CHANGED THERE.
AND AS VALERI LIUKIN TOLD HIS
DAUGHTER, IT'S A TENTH THIS,
IT'S A TENTH THERE, AND SHE STEP
OUT OUT OF BOUNDS AND THAT WAS
PART OF HER PROBLEM.
>> Tim: COULD BE A WHOLE BUNCH
OF TENS RIGHT HERE.
HANDSPRING.
YOW!
YOW!
>> Elfi: SHE MAKES THAT LOOK WAY
TOO EASY.
>> Tim: SHE DOES THIS IN
TRAINING AND ALL THE COACHES
EXCEPT FOR HERS JUST SHAKE THEIR
HEADS AND GO, DARN, DARN IT ALL,
HOW DOES SHE DO THAT?
SHE JUST CATAPULTS HER BODY INTO
THE AIR.
IT'S FANTASTIC.
LOOK IT YOU SEE YEVGENY MAR
MARCHENKO SHAKING HIS HEAD.
>> Al: AND A 16.
THEY'RE NOT THROWING THOSE
AROUND.
NOW NATASHA KELLEY FROM BATON
ROUGE, LOUISIANA, AND TRAINING
IN HOUSTON.
REMEMBER WE SAID MARY LOU
RETTON, A BIG PART OF THAT GYM,
WITH HER FOUR KIDS.
>> Tim: BUT MARTHA KAROLYI WHO
WILL BE THE PRIMARY PERSON THAT
CHOOSES THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM HAS SAID OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS
YOUNG GIRL, WITH SKILLS LIKE
THAT, HUGE BACK WITH A FULL, SHE
IS ABLE TO PERFORM UNDER
PRESSURE VERY UNAFFECTED.
IT'S A QUALITY THAT ANY
GYMNASTICS COACH JUST LOVES TO
HAVE IN AN ATHLETE.
>> Elfi: AND REMEMBER, SHE WAS
THE JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPION
LAST YEAR.
HAS MADE HER MOVE THIS YEAR.
AND NEXT YEAR WILL BE
INTERESTING.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY MARTHA WE
WILL SEE EIGHT OR NINE MORE
JUNIORS JOIN THE LETT GROUP.
-- THIS ELITE GROUP.
>> Tim: REMEMBER, WE HAVE SAID
THAT SHE IS JAM-PACKED WITH
DIFFICULTY ON EVERY EVENT AND
THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST DIFFICULT
ROUTINE OF THE COMPETITION.
>> Elfi: NO QUESTION.
>> Tim: IT IS JUST WALL TO WALL.
>> Elfi: I THINK YOU'LL SEE
QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN SCORE,
THOUGH, WHEN YOU SEE THE ACTUAL
SCORE FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING
VERSUS HOW SHE'S PERFORMING.
THE ONLY CRITICISM I HAVE IS
JUST REALLY SLIGHT BENDING OF
THE KNEES.
THOSE ARE THINGS SHE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK ON.
BELIEVE ME, MARTHA WILL BE
DISCUSSING THOSE THINGS AT
NATIONAL TRAINING CAMPS WITH
HER.
>> THANKS.
>> VERY NICE.
>> NICE JOB, SWEETIE.
>> WAY TO GO.
>> Al: NATASHA KELLEY.
SHE'S DEFINITELY PART OF THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MIX.
>> COVERED UP REALLY WELL.
>> YEAH, I ADDED --
>> Al: COVERED UP AND SURVIVED.
>> IT WAS GREAT.
GOOD JOB.
>> Al: WELL, NASTIA LIUKIN HAS
HAD HER SCORE CHANGED, I GUESS.
SHE HAD A DEDUCTION FOR STEPPING
OUT OF BOUNDS, BUT NOW INSTEAD
OF A 14.7, SHE'S GOT A 15.
>> THEY WENT THREE BECAUSE --
YOU'RE GOING OUT .3.
>> YEAH, I SEEN IT.
>> AND THE REASON WHY THEY CAN'T
GO 4 IS BECAUSE OF THE LEG-UP
TURN.
>> Tim: THAT WAS INTERESTING.
WHEN I SAW THE DIFFICULTY SCORE
COME UP, I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO
LOW, BUT LARRY PUT IN A
PROTEST -- HAVELERY PUT IN A
PROTEST AND THEY LOOKED AT THE
EXERCISE ON VIDEO AND THE ONE OF
THE PASSES, IT WAS EVALUATED
INCORRECTLY.
THEY GAVE THEM THREE MORE TENTHS
AS THEY SHOULD HAVE IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> Al: THERE'S A TIE ATOP THE
LEADERBOARD NOW AS WE GO TO
CHELLSIE MEMMEL ON FLOOR.
CAN SHE BREAK THE TIE?
♪♪
♪♪■
♪♪
♪♪
>> Tim: WELL, JUST LIKE SHE
ALWAYS DOES, SOLID, STEADY.
>> DID YOU FORGET THAT PART?
NO WATCHIN'.
STAND UP.
GOOD.
>> Al: SOMETHING WAS
BOTHERING --
>> Elfi: YEAH.
>> Al: -- ANDY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS?
>> Elfi: SHE HAD A FOURTH
MISSTEP.
SHE'S INCREASED THE TUMBLING AS
WELL.
SHE'S GONE TO FIVE.
>> Al: NASTIA LIUKIN ON THE
VAULT.
>> Tim: AND IF SHE HAS A
WEAKNESS IN GYMNASTIC, IT'S
HERE.
>> Elfi: SHE HAS BEEN STICKING
THEM.
>> Tim: OH, AND --
>> Elfi: NOT TONIGHT.
>> Tim: AND THAT WAS VERY CLOSE
FROM OUR VANTAGE, I REALLY CAN'T
TELL IF THAT FOOT WENT OVER THE
WHITE LINE.
IF IT DOES --
>> WHY YOU ALWAYS DO THAT?
YOU GOT TO KEEP -- DID YOU THIS
AGAIN.
DID YOU FEEL THAT?
HUH?
OKAY.
CAN'T DO THAT.
>> Tim: HE IS ALWAYS TALKING
ABOUT DOING IT CORRECT, SAYS
THAT SHE LACKS SOME OF THE
POWER, AND THEY MUST BE
TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT AT
EVERYTHING THEY DO.
SHE'S JUST ABOUT AS PERFECT AS
YOU CAN BE, THROW.
>> Al: CHELLSIE MEMMEL, A 15.25.
AND LET'S JUST KEEP UP WITH THIS
WHOLE PARENT THEME THING WE'VE
GOT.
FROM COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA,
JANA BIEGER WHOSE MOM PERFORMED
FOR WHAT WAS THEN CALLED WEST
GERMANY THREE TIMES IN THE
OLYMPIC GAMES.
BOY, THERE'S SOMETHING TO SAY
ABOUT DNA, ISN'T THERE?
>> Tim: THE ENTIRE FAMILY WENT
THROUGH A BIT OF A HARROWING
EXPERIENCE RIGHT BEFORE THAT
QUALIFYING MEET, MAJOR CAR
ACCIDENT.
HER MOM TORE SOME LIGAMENTS.
JANA ALL BRUISED UP.
HER MOM SAID JUST GETTING BACK
INTO THE GYM HELPED TREMENDOUSLY
TO MAKE THOSE BAD MEMORIES GO
AWAY.
>> Elfi: AND YOU KNOW JANA TWO
WF THOSE FOUR-EVENT GYMNASTS AS
WELL.
I WOULD SAY IF SHE HAD A
WEAKNESS UNEVEN BARS PERHAPS IS
THAT EVENT.
BUT VERY STRONG HERE THIS
EVENING.
>> Tim: YEAH, YOU CAN CERTAINLY
COUNT ON THIS YOUNG LADY.
SHE JUST GOES UP, DOES HER JOB,
YOU KNOW, MARTHA KAROLYI SAYS
EVERYBODY KNOWS SHE NEEDS A
PREOCCUPATION ON FORM.
HER EXECUTION AND THE ARTISTIC
LEVEL CERTAINLY NEEDS WORK, HAS
TO BE DEALT WITH EVERY DAY.
THAT 9.05 IS THAT EXECUTION
SCORE.
>> Al: SO PART MOM AND DAD AND
PART
>> Al: AFTER EACH OF THE FIRST
THREE ROTATIONS, THINGS HAVE
DRAMATICALLY CHANGED.
NASTIA LIUKIN, THE DEFENDING
NATIONAL CHAMPION, SHE'S BACK BY
.4 IN FOURTH PLACE.
AND ALICIA SACRAMONE HAS
LITERALLY VAULTED INTO THE LEAD.
CHELLSIE MEMMEL STILL PART OF
THE MIX.
AND I GUESS MAYBE, TIM DAGGETT,
ELFI SCHLEGEL, IT'S PART OF THIS
NEW WORLD OF GYMNASTICS PART OF
THE SCORING, I GUESS THINGS CAN
CHANGE THAT WAY.
>> Tim: IT'S GOING TO CHANGE
HERE FOR CHELLSIE, THOUGH.
NOT A VERY DIFFICULT VAULT.
>> Elfi: REMEMBER, SHE HASN'T
HAD THE NUMBERS, THE TRAINING
TIME.
SHE'S HAD THAT INJURY, BEEN OUT
OF THE GYM FOR THREE MONTHS.
>> Tim: BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
THAT HE PLANNED ON DOING JUST
FOR A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON
THAT, THE VAULT WE SAW NASTIA
LIUKIN DO WORTH HALF A POINT
MORE THAN THAT.
>> Elfi: SHE CAN DO THIS IN HER
SLEEP ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
IT'S ONLY WORTH A 5.0, THEN ADD
ON TO THAT HER EXECUTION OF
90.5.
>> Tim: THAT'S A LOW SCORE BUT
SHE HAS MANY TIMES COMPETED A
DOUBLE TWIST WHICH WOULD ADD
ALMOST A POINT TO THAT SCORE.
>> Al: SO NASTIA LIUKIN GOES TO
THE UNEVEN BARS.
THIS WILL WRAP UP HER FIRST
NIGHT OF COMPETITION, AND WE'RE
BACK WITH YOU TOMORROW NIGHT
HERE ON NBC SPORTS TO SEE WHO
WILL WIN THIS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> Tim: I TELL YOU, SHE HAS SUCH
AN AMAZING REPERTOIRE OF SKILLS.
THIS ROUTINE IS ALMOST
COMPLETELY REDONE.
SHE ADDS ELEMENTS AND A MAJOR
RELEASE COMING UP RIGHT HERE.
SHE'S WORLD CHAMPION ON THIS
EVENT AND DESERVES TO BE.
>> Elfi: AND WHERE THE JUDGES
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ANY
EXECUTION SCORE ALSO BE ON THESE
HANDSTANDS BECAUSE SHE REACHES
THEM PERFECTLY.
RIGHT THERE.
>> Tim: JUST ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS
EXECUTION, BEAUTIFUL RELEASE
SKILLS.
WATCH THIS.
SHE JUST FLOATS DOWN TO THAT LOW
BAR.
>> COME ON.
>> Tim: GONNA BE A HUGE NUMBER.
>> VERY NICE, VERY NICE.
>> Tim: BUT WATCH THIS.
SHE'LL DO A FULL SPIN ON ONE ARM
AND THEN ANOTHER HALF TURN, VERY
DIFFICULT, TOPPING IT OUT IN
THAT HANDSTAND POSITION, AND
LOOK AT THE FLIGHT ON THIS.
THIS CALLED A BEGINNER RELEASE.
LOOK AT THE TOES.
LOOK AT THAT.
JUST THE SMALLEST TINY BREAK
OF FORM AS SHE'S CATCHING THE
BAR.
>> JUST HALF ROUTINE IS ENOUGH.
>> MINE'S EASIER THAN YOURS.
>> Tim: HE'S TELLING HER ALL SHE
NEEDS TO DO IS HALF OF THAT
ROUTINE.
WOW.
>> Al: 16.4.
>> Al: NIGHT ONE OF THE 2006
VISA CHAMPIONSHIPS BROUGHT TO
YOU BY VISA, PROUD SPONSOR OF
AMERICA'S OLYMPIC TEAM HOPEFULS,
LIFE TAKES VISA.
AND BY ADT, AMERICA'S
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
SECURITY LEADER.
WE'RE BACK IN THE XCEL ENERGY
CENTER IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.
ALICIA SACRAMONE WAS LEADING IN
THE FIRST TWO NIGHT THIS WAS
COMPETITION.
THEN NASTIA LIUKIN DID HER MAGIC
ON THE UNEVEN BARS.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED AGAIN.
IT'S UP TO SACRAMONE TO PROVIDE
AN ANSWER.
THEY WERE JOKING, SACRAMONE AND
ALL THE COACHES.
THEY MADE A DEAL.
IT WAS SORT OF FUNNY.
BUT YOU GET A SENSE OF THE
CAMARADERIE BETWEEN THESE YOUNG
WOMEN.
>> Tim: SHE SAID, I'LL VAULT FOR
YOU, NASTIA.
YOU JUST HAVE TO DO BARS FOR
ME.
>> WAS I LIKE SLOPPY OR --
>> YOU TOOK BIG STEPS.
IT'S MORE THAN .1.
>> Tim: HE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT
DISMOUNT AGAIN ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS AN EVENT ALICIA HAS
ASKING YOU STRUGGLED ON, AND ALL
WEEK LONG SHE WAS REALLY HAVING
A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, JUST
COULDN'T SEEM TO GET IT
TOGETHER.
FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S
GOING TO DO FOR A ROUTINE
BECAUSE SHE REALLY HASN'T DONE
ONE SINCE SHE'S BEEN HERE.
>> Elfi: SHE TOLD US SHE'S
AFRAID OF THIS EVENT.
SHE'S AFRAID OF BARS.
>> Tim: AND ALTHOUGH SHE'S --
YUP, SHE'S HITTING, BUT THIS
IS -- I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT WHAT
SHE CAME TO THESE CHAMPIONSHIPS
HOPING TO DO.
SHE HAD WANTED TO UPGRADE, DO AN
EXTRA PIROUETTE AND KIND OF
FLIP-FLOP THESE ELEMENTS AROUND.
>> Elfi: AND THE OTHER THING THE
JUDGES ARE BEING REALLY, REALLY
PICKY ABOUT ON BARS ARE THE
HANDSTAND POSITIONS, THE EXACT
VERTICAL THAT WE SAW NASTIA
LIUKIN PERFORM SO WELL.
THAT'S GONNA STRUGGLE FOR HER.
BUT SHE HIT IT.
SHE'S GONNA BE HAPPY.
>> Tim: YEAH, THAT'S GREAT FOR
HER.
THAT'S 4 FOR 4.
THAT'S WHAT EVERY ATHLETE COMES
OUT.
SHE KNOWS SHE'S WORLD CLASS ON
THREE EVENTS.
SHE GOT THROUGH HERE, THOUGH.
>> Elfi: YEAH, SHE'S HAPPY ABOUT
THAT.
>> Al: WHEN YOU SAY 4 FOR 4, YOU
MEAN 4 EVENTS IN THIS FIRST DAY
OF COMPETITION, AND SHE HAD 4
HITS.
>> Tim: SHE'S RELIEVED, BUT SHE
ALSO KNOWS, AS DOES HER COACH,
AND NASTIA LIUKIN THAT THAT IS
NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH TO KEEP HER
IN THAT TOP SPOT.
IT WAS A HIT ROUTINE.
SHE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE
DIFFICULTY, AND SHE ALSO HAS
SOME ERRORS IN THE EXERCISE WITH
THE TECHNICAL EXECUTION OF THE
HANDSTAND POSITIONS.
>> Al: BACK TO NATASHA KELLEY.
THIS WILL WRAP THINGS UP ON THIS
FIRST NIGHT OF COMPETITION.
AND NATASHA'S BEEN REALLY SOLID.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> Al: SHE'S GOT THAT CAJUN
SOUND WITH A TEXAS ADDRESS.
SO THE CARLY PATTERSON
CONNECTIONS WILL BE OBVIOUS FOR
NATASHA KELLEY, BUT SHE'S GOT TO
BE HER OWN PERFORMER.
>> Elfi: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU
COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR MORE
FOUR STRONGER TEAMS FOR HER
TONIGHT.
>> FOR YOUR FIRST DAY, IT WAS
OKAY.
>> Elfi: YEAH, I AGREE.
>> Al: THIS IS HER SENIOR LEVEL
DEBUT, SO FOR HER FIRST DAY,
YEAH.
MEANWHILE, ALICIA SACRAMONE GOT
DESTROYED BY THE JUDGES.
14.1, BUT AN 8.6 IN EXECUTION.
DID YOU SEE THAT MANY MISTAKES?
>> Tim: EVERY TIME SHE GOES TO A
HANDSTAND, IF IT'S NOT PERFECT,
IT'S A DEDUCTION.
>> Al: AS FOR NATASHA KELLEY,
SHE GETS A 15.1.
SO THEY WILL BE -- SHE WILL BE
PART OF THE LEADERSHIP AFTER THE
FIRST OF TWO NIGHTS OF
COMPETITION.
IT'S A HUGE CUSHION FOR NASTIA
LIUKIN OF 1.1.
AND ALICIA SACRAMONE, WELL, SHE
CAN SAY SHE SU 55ED THE UNEVEN
BARS.
THAT FOURTH EVENT COST HER THE
LEAD.
SHE'S WITH ANDREA JOYCE
DOWNSTAIRS.
>> Andrea: ALICIA, YOU WERE
LEADING AFTER THREE ROTATIONS,
AND THEN THE DREADED BARS.
YOUR ACHILLES' HEEL.
WHAT WAS GOING THU YOUR MIND
WHEN YOU GOT UP THERE?
>> I DECIDED I WAS LIKE, I DON'T
WANT TO BE A PUSHOVER.
I WANT TO SHOW EVERYBODY I CAN
BE AN ALL-AROUND GYMNAST.
SO THAT'S WHAT GOT ME THROUGH MY
ROUTINE KNOWING I WANTED TO
PROVE TO MYSELF AND EVERYONE
ELSE I CAN DO THE ALL-AROUND,
NOT JUST THREE EVENTS.
>> Andrea: YOU TOLD US YOU
WANTED TO SURPRISE PEOPLE, WERE
YOU SURPRISED A LITTLE BIT BY
THE SCORE?
>> I DIDN'T HIT A HANDSTAND OR
TWO, AND THERE WAS LITTLE THINGS
THAT I CAN FIX.
BUT I WASN'T SURPRISED, YOU
KNOW.
I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO FIX TO
MAKE IT A LITTLE HIGHER.
>> Andrea: HOW DOES THIS HELP
YOU FOR THE FINALS?
>> I WILL DEF -- IT WILL
DEFINITELY BOOST MY CONFIDENCE
KNOWKY GO 4 FOR 4 AND NOT MAKE
ANY HUGE MISTAKES.
>> Andrea: GOOD LUCK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Al: NO SHORTAGE OF
PERSONALITY THERE.
THESE ARE THE 2006 VISA
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
CAPTIONING BY CAPTIONMAX WWW.CAPTIONMAX.COM
>> Al: COMING UP NEXT,
BACK-TO-BACK EPISODES OF
"DATELINE."
THIS IS AL TRAUTWIG.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> Al: FOR 19 WOMEN, TONIGHT IN
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, IS ABOUT A
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
CHELLSIE MEMMEL AND HER DAD ARE
A TEAM.
SO ARE NASTIA LIUKIN.
ONLY THEIR DREAM WAS BORN IN THE
SOVIET UNION, AND NOT IN WEST
ALLIS, WISCONSIN.
YET, TONIGHT, THEY HAVE SO MUCH
IN COMMON.
DAUGHTERS COACHED BY THEIR DADS.
STANDING IN THEIR WAY PERHAPS,
NATASHA KELLEY WHO ISN'T COACHED
BY HER FATHER, YET EVERYONE
KNOWS THE LEGEND WHO STOPS BY
HER GYM ALL THE TIME.
MARY LOU RETTON IMPARTS HER
WISDOM OF THE GOLD MEDAL, BUT
WILL IT WORK TODAY?
CHELLSIE MEMMEL HAS SHOWN THE
CONSISTENT THEY COMES WITH BEING
A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
MAKE THIS A COMEBACK EFFORT.
AND ISN'T EFFORT CEMENTED BY
SOMETHING ONLY THEY KNOW?
THE 17-YEAR-OLD FROM PLANO,
TEXAS, IS NASTIA LIUKIN AND SHE
HAS BEEN GRACEFUL BUT NOT
PERFECT.
SHE IS PUSHED BY HISTORY, AND
HER DAD.
IT'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND A
MAJOR STEP IN THE JOURNEY TO
BEIJING IN 2008.
SO DADS, ENJOY THE RIDE.
BECAUSE IT GOES BY IN A BLINK.
AND NOW WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL
PLAYS OUT.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANDY
AND CHELLSIE MEMMEL I THINK HAS
TO BE DESCRIBED AS
EXTRAORDINARY.
>> IT'S LIKE ALL THAT, OKAY.
TAKE YOUR TIME AND ENJOY IT.
OKAY?
>> Al: SEE YOU AT THE FINISH
LINE.
HE SAID, PERFORM LIKE YOU DID IN
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, TAKING
HER BACK TO WHEN SHE WAS AT HER
GREATEST.
THEN THERE WAS VALERI LIUKIN AND
HIS DAUGHTER SAYING, DO IT LIKE
YOU DO IT BACK IN THE GYM AT
HOME, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF
TIMES.
IS HER LEAD VULNERABLE?
WE SHALL SEE.
AND NATASHA KELLEY, AND MARY LOU
RETTON STOPS BY THE GYM ALL THE
TIME.
BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN
TEACH.
A HUGE LEAD FOR NASTIA LIUKIN,
BUT IN THESE DAYS OF EXPANDING
SCORES, TICK DAGGETT AND ELFI
SCHLEGEL, YOU THINK THAT
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AT ANY ONE
ROTATION.
>> Tom: WELL, YEAH, A GREAT
SCORE IS A 16 1/2.
USED TO BE THE BEST YOU COULD
WAS A TEN.
SO A LEAD ISN'T AS BIG ANYMORE.
>> Elfi: AND TO PUT IT IN
PERSPECTIVE WHAT A FALL COSTS
YOU TODAY IS.8.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT NASTIA'S
LEAD OF 1.1, THAT'S NOT VERY
MUCH.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY BELIEVED
THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE SHE COULD
BE NATIONAL CHAMPION, SHE IS
BATTLING BACK FROM A SHOULDER
INJURY.
SHE'S DONE SO MUCH ALREADY.
HER CAREER, TREMENDOUS UPS AND
DOWNS.
>> GOOD GIRL!
>> Elfi: WHAT'S SO IMPRESSIVE,
IN DAY ONE OF THE COMPETITION
AND SO FAR WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS
THE DIFFICULTY IN HER ROUTINE
AND HOW WELL SHE IS HANDLING
EVERYTHING WITH SO LITTLE
TRAINING.
>> Al: THAT'S HER ROOTING
SECTION UP THERE ALL WEARING
PINK.
>> AND HER DAD WILLING HER
THROUGH THE EXERCISE.
HE TOLD ME THAT EVERYWHERE HE
GOES, PEOPLE WANT TO TALK TO HIM
ABOUT CHELLSIE'S GOLD MEDAL AT
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
HE CARRIES A VIDEO AROUND WITH
HIM TO SHOW FOLKS WHAT THAT
EXPERIENCE WAS LIKE.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE
BIT OF A DEDUCTION.
>> COME ON, CHELL.
YEAH!
THERE YOU GO.
>> Al: SOUNDED SATISFYING TO
ANDY.
>> YOU HEARD IT IN YOUR MIND,
DIDN'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> GOOD START.
>> Al: YOU HEARD MOM UP THERE IN
THE STANDS.
IT COULD GET VERY, VERY QUIET
DURING THE BEAM ROUTINES.
NOW NASTIA LIUKIN.
>> AND SHE HAD PROBLEMS IN NIGHT
ONE, STAYING IN BOUNDS.
SHE HAS CHANGED HER ROUTINE
AROUND SO MANY TIMES.
SHE SAYS THAT SHE'S NOT SURE
WHAT PASSES ARE GOING TO COME
UP.
♪♪
AND SHE STEPS OUT OF BOUNDS
RIGHT THERE AND ALSO THAT WAS
NOT THE PASS SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO
DO.
SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO A DOUBLE
TWIST AT THE END OF THAT.
♪♪
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON
RIGHT NOW, I WOULD IMAGINE SHE'S
THINKING, WELL, I MADE A MISTAKE
WHEN I DID THIS FULL TWIST AT
THE END OF THE LAST PASS.
AND NOW SHE HAS TWO MORE OF
THEM.
SHE DIDN'T CHANGE IT SO THAT'S A
BIGGER PROBLEM.
SHE'S REPEATED THE SAME
ELEMENTS.
♪♪
SO MUCH TO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU
MAKE A MISTAKE LIKE THAT,
BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO
REPEAT ELEMENTS.
YOU GET NO CREDIT FOR THEM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> Al: YOU CAN SEE HER FATHER
WHO LIVES THROUGH EVERY SINGLE
MOVEMENT OF EVERY ROUTINE, HE'S
TOTALLY DEFLATED NEXT TO THE
PODIUM.
>> Elfi: HE WON'T BE HAPPY WITH
THIS ROUTINE.
>> Al: AND WHEN THE GOLD
MEDALIST FROM THE SOVIET UNION
SPOKES IN RUSSIAN, WE HAVE SEEN
THAT IT OFTEN COMES IN TIMES OF
TENSION.
>> AND RIGHT THERE IS -- HE SEES
HER DO THAT FRONT FALL, AND HE
KNOWS HOW BAD THAT IS BECAUSE
WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO FOR A
THIRD PASS?
>> Al: BACK TO CHELLSIE MEMMEL,
OF COURSE, A 15.2.
IS THAT MEDIOCRE?
>> A MEDIOCRE SCORE FOR HER.
THAT WOULD RELATE TO BETWEEN
9.1, 9.3 AREA.
>> Al: NOW TO NATASHA KELLEY.
AFTER THE OPENING NIGHT, SHE WAS
SECOND.
THIS IS HER FIRST EXPERIENCE AT
THIS LEVEL OF COMPETITION, AT
THE SENIOR LEVEL.
SHE IS VERY CONSISTENT.
>> Elfi: SHE WAS TOTALLY
UNAFFECTED WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN
ONE OF THE COMPETITION.
WENT IN THERE, DID HER THING.
THIS IS WHAT MARTA KAROLYI LIKES
ABOUT HER.
SHE CAN DELIVER AT ANY MOMENT,
AND SHE'S LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
FOUR EVENTS FROM HER TONIGHT.
>> AT BIG RELEASE RIGHT THERE.
VERY NICE.
A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE
THERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE
TO SEE.
SMALL ERROR, DON'T LET IT AFFECT
YOU.
>> GOOD JOB.
NICE JOB.
NICE JOB.
>> GOOD START.
>> COACHES DAN AND ASHLEY BAKER
THERE.
>> Al: IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE FIRST OF FOUR ROTATIONS FOR
ALL THE ATHLETES HERE IN
ST. PAUL.
AND NASTIA LIUKIN GETS HAMMERED.
14.7.
THAT'S A HUGE DOOR OF
OPPORTUNITY OPENING FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE.
SHE KNOWS IT AND EVERYBODY ELSE
KNOWS IT.
SOMEONE LIKE ALICIA SACRAMONE.■
STEP INTO IT.
>> Elfi: ALICIA IS STARTING ON
HER STRONGEST EVENT.
NO QUESTION.
SHE'S STRONG, BUT WHAT
EVERYONE'S LOOKING FROM ALICIA
TONIGHT IS WHETHER SHE CAN HAVE
THE SAME TYPE OF COMPETITION
THAT SHE DID IN NIGHT ONE.
>> A PIKED DOUBLE ARABIAN
SOMERSAULT.
VERY DIFFICULT.
>> Tim: WOW.
SHE LANDED -- THAT'S WHAT YOU
TELL YOUR KIDS YOU CAN'T DO.
YOU CANNOT LOCK THOSE KNEES ON
ANY LANDING.
THAT WAS SCARY.
♪♪
>> Al: SHE'S THE REIGNING WORLD
CHAMPION IN THIS EVENT, SO THIS
IS HER TIME TO MAKE UP POINTS IN
THE STANDINGS.
♪♪
>> Elfi: AN OUT OF BOUNDS.
THOSE ARE SMALL LITTLE ERRORS
YOU HATE TO GIVE AWAY TO THE
JUDGES.
>> Tim: I'LL TELL YOU, THAT IS
SCARY WHEN THOSE KNEES LOCK LIKE
THAT.
>> Al: IS THAT AN ISSUE FOR
ALICIA
>> Al: THE 2006 VISA
CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU
BY --
BACK IN THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER,
IT WAS A COSTLY FLOOR EXERCISE
PERFORMANCE BY THE REIGNING
WORLD CHAMPION, ALICIA
SACRAMONE.
FIRSRST SHE DIDN'T SCORE WELL, D
THERE LOOKS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH
HER KNEE.
DURING THE COMMERCIAL BREAK,
MARTA KAROLYI WHO OVERSEES
EVERYTHING IN THIS KINGDOM WENT
OVER AND TOLD HER COACH AND
ALICIA, IF YOU'RE HURT, PULL
OUT.
YOU'LL STILL BE PART OF THE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A COUPLE
OF MONTHS.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR
STATUS OF HOW WE VIEW YOU AS A
GYMNAST AND THAT IS BEING
WEIGHED RIGHT NOW IN THE
SACRAMONE CAMP.
NATASHA KELLEY PUT UP A 15.7.
THEY WERE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
>> Tim: AND THIS LADY RIGHT
HERE, ASHLEY BAKER, WHEN WE WERE
SITTING DOWN TALKING TO HER,
SAYING I WENT TO NEW ENGLAND
GYMNASTICS AND YOU WENT TO THE
OLYMPICS GAMES, I WAS IN A
CARTWHEEL TO HELP RAISE MONEY
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO MAKE
IT OUT TO LOS ANGELES IN 1984.
THERE'S OUR CONNECTION RIGHT
THERE.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>> Al: DIDN'T YOU GO ON TO BUY
THAT GYM SHE WAS A PART OF?
>> Tim: YEAH, IT WAS AMAZING.
DAGGETT GYMNASTIC, SO IT'S A
SMALL WORLD.
>> Elfi: WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY
HAVE DONE WITH THIS ATHLETE.
YOU KNOW, SHE HAD THE HIGHEST
DIFFICULTY SCORE IN THE
COMPETITION ON THIS EVENT THE
OTHER NIGHT.
>> Tim: BECAUSE OF SKILLS LIKE
THAT.
>> Elfi: REMEMBER THE TWO SCORES
THAT YOU SEE TODAY IN
GYMNASTICS, THE ONE SCORE IS
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN THE
ROUTINE, THE DIFFICULTY.
THE OTHER SCORE IS BASED ON HOW
WELL YOU PERFORM IT, THE
EXECUTION.
>> Al: NOW, IF YOU LISTEN TO
NATASHA KELLEY, IF YOU CLOSE
YOUR EYES, DON'T YOU HEAR A
LITTLE BIT OF CARLEY PATTERSON
IN THERE?
>> Elfi: FOR SURE.
>> Tim: IT IS REALLY REMARKABLE
BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO HAVING
MARY LOU A PART OF THEIR GYM,
CARLEY PATTERSON AND THIS YOUNG
LADY RIGHT HERE STARTED IN THE
SAME GYM IN BATON ROUGE,
LOUISIANA.
THEY WERE BOTH THERE FOR SEVEN
YEARS.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PARALLELS
THERE.
>> COME ON.
FINISH STRONG.
FINISH STRONG.
>> Elfi: WOW, THIS GIRL IS AN
ABSOLUTE ROCK.
>> NICE JOB.
>> GOOD JOB.
GOOD JOB.
NICE JOB.
HALFWAY HOME.
>> Al: TWO EVENTS DOWN AND TWO
TO GO IN THIS AND TONIGHT,
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WILL BE
CROWNED.
NOW, ALICIA SACRAMONE, LAST WE
SAW SHE HAD HER KNEE ICED UP
WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> Andrea: WELL, MARTA KAROLYI
REMINDED SACRAMONE NOT TO TAKE A
RISK.
DON'T TAKE A RISK WITH AN INJURY
WITH THE WORLDS COMING UP IN
OCTOBER.
ALICIA SAID SHE FELT FINE AND AT
THIS POINT, SHE IS GOING TO
CONTINUE ON.
>> Al: SO MUCH SO, SHE STANDS
READY FOR THE VAULT.
>> Tim: THIS IS TO GOING TO PUT
THE MOST STRESS ON IT.
WHEN YOU'RE AS POWERFUL AS SHE
IS, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW MUCH
PRESSURE IS ON THE KNEE.
>> Elfi: NOT TO MENTION THE
POWER OF WHAT IS ABOUT TO DO.
THIS IS SUPER DIFFICULT.
>> Tim: WOW.
>> Al: EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE
THERE.
IT'S LIKE SHE SPIT IN THE EYE OF
PAIN.
>> Tim: AND MARTA KAROLYI SAID,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, BUT YOU'VE
GOT TO BELIEVE THAT SHE ALSO
WANTS FOR SEE A TOUGH KID.
AND TO DEAL WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
ADVERSITY LIKE THAT AND COME OUT
AND DO A VAULT LIKE THAT, THATS
POINTS IN MY EYES AND MARTA'S AS
WELL.
>> GOOD JOB.
>> Al: 15.8, THE JUDGES LIKED IT
TOO.
NATASHA KELLEY GETS REWARDED
WITH A 15.75 AS WE CONTINUE TO
TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THESE
NEW SCORES MEAN.
>> DON'T HOLD BACK.
>> Al: DON'T HOLD BACK.
THAT'ST
MEANS THAT -- TALKING ABOUT THE
ANGLES RIGHT THERE.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOUR BODY IS
POINTING STRAIGHT UP, BUT WHAT
WE CALL YOUR SHOULDER ANGLE HAS
TO BE COMPLETELY OPEN AS WELL.
>> Al: NOW TO THE FLOOR EXERCISE
AND CHELLSIE MEMMEL.
AGAIN, YOU'LL BE HEARING HER DAD
ANDY.
15.2 ON THE BEAM.
>> Tim: I'LL TELL YOU, ONE OF
THINGS SHE HAS REALLY GOING FOR
HER IS SHE'S BEEN DOING MOST OF
THE STUFF THAT SHE'S COMPETING
FOR FOR SO LONG.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I ONLY SAW ONE FACE ON YOUR
TURN.
THAT WAS GOOD.
I LIKED THAT.
YOU FORGOT TO GO OUT OF BOUNDS.
GOOD.
GOOD JOB.
THANKS.
>> Al: HE REALLY COMES ACROSS AS
SUCH A CALM, REASSURING FORCE IN
THEIR BOND.
>> Tim: YEAH, HE SURE DOES.
I'LL TELL YOU, IF THERE WAS AN
ATHLETE THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO
DEPEND ON, IT WOULD BE CHELLSIE
MEMMEL.
>> Elfi: SHE MANAGED TO DO ALL
THAT TUMBLING AND STAYED IN
BOUNDS.
>> Al: OBVIOUSLY, THE COLOR IS
PINK FOR TEAM MEMMEL.
THAT'S HER MOM.
SHE HAS TO BE ENVIOUS BECAUSE OF
ALL THE TIME DAD SPENDS WITH THE
DAUGHTER.
9.25, SHE HAD .75 DEDUCTIONS.
BACK TO JANA BIEGER, SHE HAD .9
DEDUCTIONS.
THAT'S THE NEW WORLD OF JIM
FASTICS.
NOW, NASTIA LIUKIN NEEDS TO
REBOUND HERE.
ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
ATTACK THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SHE HOLDS.
>> Tim: IN NIGHT ONE, NEITHER
VALERI OR NASTIA WAS VERY HAPPY
WITH THE LANDING OF THIS VAULT.
LET'S SEE HOW SHE DOES TONIGHT.
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
>> Elfi: A LITTLE BETTER.
THE HOP WAS IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION.
INSTEAD OF TO THE SIDE, IT WAS
FORWARD.
>> Al: YES, WE GET ENGLISH WHEN
THINGS ARE GOOD, RUSSIA WHEN
THINGS ARE NOT.
I MEAN, THEY LIVE BY A GOLD
STANDARD.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
>> Tim: EVERY LITTLE TINY THING
LIKE THE SMALL LITTLE HOP --
>> Elfi: THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
VALERI WANTS TO ERASE.
HE WANTS PERFECTLY STUCK
LANDINGS.
>> Al: HE DIDN'T GET THAT, AND
NEITHER DID SHE.
NOW SHE'S GOT A 15.0 TO GO WITH
HER 14.7, AND GUESS WHAT?
NATASHA KELLEY HAS JUMPED INTO
THE LEAD OF THIS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
HOW BIG OF AN UPSET WOULD THAT
BE?
>> Tim: IT WOULD BE GOOD, BUT
NASTIA LIUKIN TWO EVENTS LEFT
AND SHE'S WORLD CHAMPION ON
THEM.
>> Al: AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE
NUMBERS ARE, AND IF YOU DID,
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BEING IN
FIRST PLACE WITH NASTIA LIUKIN
BEING THE WORLD CHAMP
>> Al: ANDY MEMMEL AND HE
DAUGHTER, CHELLSIE, THE REIGNING
WORLD CHAMPION.
>> IS THAT OKAY I WENT AND DID
THAT?
IT'S LIKE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT'S
THE DEAL?
>> Al: WHAT ARE THEY TALKING
ABOUT?
>> Tim: WELL, THEY PROTESTED THE
SCORE ON THE FLOOR.
THEY THINK THAT THE START VALUE
WAS INCORRECT.
.2 TOO LOW AND IF YOU LOOK AT
THE SCORE, I THINK IT WAS LOW
EVEN IF THE START VALUE WASN'T
INCORRECT.
>> Al: MEANWHILE, THE
COMPETITION MOVES ALONG.
AND ALICIA SACRAMONE HAS TO FEEL
LIKE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE HERE.
>> Elfi: A BIGGER TEST FOR
ALICIA, CAN SHE HIT IT FOR A
SECOND NIGHT?
>> Tim: BUT SEE, THIS SO
CRITICAL AND I HATE TO SOUND
LIKE I'M NITPICKING, BUT THOSE
JUDGES, THAT ONE RIGHT THERE,
EVERY TIME SHE'S NOT EXACTLY
VERTICAL WHEN SHE FINISHES THE
ELEMENT LIKE RIGHT THERE, SHE'S
GETTING CLOBBERED.
AND --
>> Elfi: AND TIM, SHE REALIZES
THAT.
SHE KNOWS THAT THIS NOT HER
STRONGEST EVENT.
SHE'S ACTUALLY AFRAID OF UNEVEN
BARS.
SHE'S GOING TO BE THRILLED THAT
SHE JUST GOT THROUGH THIS EVENT
AND SURVIVED.
>> Tim: YES.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT JOB FOR
ALICIA, BUT THAT'S A HIT
ROUTINE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SEE ANYWHERE
NEAR 15 POINTS.
>> Al: YOU CAN SEE THE HUGE
EMOTIONAL RELEASE AFTER EVERY
EVENT THAT'S HOW MUCH THE
GYMNASTS PUT INTO THIS, BUT
SHE'S GOT A VERY COOL
PERSONALITY.
SHE'S A FUNNY WOMAN.
NOW BACK TO CHELLSIE MEMMEL.
NOW ON THE VAULT.
>> Tim: AND SHE'S NOT DOING A
DIFFICULT VAULT AND THEY CAME
HERE, THEY HAD A PLAN.
THEY'RE STICKING TO IT.
SHE CAN PROBABLY DO SOMETHING A
LITTLE BIT HARDER, BUT THEIR
GOAL IS WORLDS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NASTIA DOES
THAT VAULT WITH AN EXTRA HALF
TURN AND THE DIFFICULTY VALUE IS
5.5.
>> VERY NICE.
>> Tim: THIS VAULT IS WORTH ONLY
A 5.0, SO SHE'S ALREADY A HALF A
POINT IN THE HOLE RELATIVE TO
NASTIA ONHIS VAULT.
>> Ei: SO WHAT CHELLSIE IS
CAPABLE OF DOING IS ADDING
ANOTHER TWIST TO THIS VAULT.
THIS IS A SIMPLE FULL.
SHE'S GOING TO BE WORKING
TOWARDS HER DOUBLE TWIST AGAIN.
>> Tim: WHICH SHE HAS COMPETED
SUCCESSFULLY MANY TIMES.
>> Al: YOU KNOW WHAT ANDY SAID
TO HER?
NOT BAD FOR A GIRL.
HOW CRUEL IS THAT?
ALICIA SACRAMONE DOES GET
CLOBBERED TO USE YOUR WORD, TIM.
14.45.
BUT SHE GOT THROUGH IT.
SHE STILL HAS THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
ABOUT IT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW BACK TO THE GIRL,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT
DONE.
>> Tim: WE'RE NOT TALKING OF
14's OR 15's, THIS COULD BE MID
16's.
>> Elfi: SHE SCORED 16.4 IN THE
FIRST NIGHT.
THAT'S A BIG SCORE.
>> Tim: BEAUTIFUL LINES.
YOU SEE THAT PERFECT POSITION AT
THE END.
WHERE THIS ROUTINE REALLY GETS
AWESOME IS RIGHT HERE.
WATCH THIS.
SHE'S GOING TO DO A FULL AND A
HALF SPIN ON ONE ARM.
WHOA.
SHE'S OFF BALANCE.
ADDS A GIANT THERE.
BUT SHE -- OH, GOSH, IT'S LIKE
JUST WHEN SHE DOES BARS, IT
LOOKS FUN.
>> Elfi: SHE FLOATS.
IT'S EFFORTLESS.
>> Al: THIS TIME NO WORDS ARE
NEEDED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS UP WITH
HER?
DO YOU THINK SHE'S JUST TIRED?
HAVING A BAD DAY, NOT
CONCENTRATING?
>> Tim: I THINK THAT IT'S JUST A
BAD DAY.
YOU KNOW?
SHE -- THE ROOM FOR ERROR IS SO
SMALL BECAUSE HER EXERCISES ARE
SO DARN DIFFICULT.
>> Al: SPEAKING OF DIFFICULT,
HOW ABOUT 1984,OW ABOUT THE
GOLD MEDAL OF MARY LOU RETTON?
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS EXERCISES
IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT, AND
SHE'S A MOM AND HER FOUR KIDS
TRAIN IN NATASHA KELLEY'S GYM.
SHE'S THERE ALL THE TIME AND
SHE'S SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO BELA
KAROLYI.
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU THINK, GUYS?
DOES SHE KNOW SHE'S THE LEADER?
>> Tim: IT'S AMAZING, HER
COACHES SAID THAT SHE'S JUST
UNAWARE OF THAT STUFF.
>> Elfi: YOU CAN'T MISS THAT
SCOREBOARD THOUGH.
♪♪
>> Tim: BAKER SAID I DON'T
BOTHER TALKING TO HER DURING THE
MEETS BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T NEED
TO HEAR ME.
IT DOESN'T GET THROUGH.
♪♪
>> Al: WELL, NO CRUMBLING.
SHE MAY HAVE HOPPED A LITTLE
BIT, BUT SHE SEEMED FINE.
>> Tim: I THINK IT WAS BETTER
THAN THE FIRST NIGHT.
>> Elfi: SHE'S HITTING.
THESE ROUTINES ARE COMFORTABLE
FOR HER.
>> Al: SHE WASN'T EVEN BORN WHEN
MARY LOU RETTON HAD HER GOLD
MEDAL MOMENT.
BELA AND MARTA KAROLYI ARE
WATCHING.
>> ONE MORE.
>> Al: ONE MORE TO GO COULD
NATASHA KELLEY BE THE UPSET
NATIONAL CHAMPION OF 2006?
AND THAT'S BECAUSE NASTIA LIUKIN
FELT LIKE AN ABSOLUTE LOCK.
HER BEST SCORE, ON THE UNEVEN
BARS.
SHE IS AN ABSOLUTE STAR ON THAT
APPARATUS.
MEANWHILE, CHELLSIE MEMMEL'S
FATHER PROTEST ADDED A TENTH OF
A POINT TO HER SCORE.
DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL AFFECT
THE STANDINGS.
NATASHA KELLEY GETS HER SCORE.
WE'LL
>> Al: BACK AT ST. PAUL,
MINNESOTA.
SHE HAS BEEN OKAY, NOT UP TO HER
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS STANDINGS IN
THIS COMEBACK FROM INJURIES.
SHE WANTS TO SHOW MARTA KAROLYI
AND USA GYMNASTICS SHE'S OKAY
AND GOOD TO GO FOR THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING UP.
>> Tim: SHE'S DONE WAY MORE THAN
THAT.
SHE WAS OUT FOR 3 1/2 MONTHS.
JUST DID HER FIRST FULL BAR
ROUTINE ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT.
WITH ONE WEEK.
IT HELPS THAT YOU ARE A FORMER
WORLD CHAMPION ON THIS EVENT,
THOUGH.
>> Elfi: CHELLSIE HAS SO MUCH
EXPERIENCE.
SHE SAID WHEN SHE STARTED TO
WORK BARS AGAIN, EVERYTHING CAME
BACK SO EASILY.
NOT A PROBLEM.
>> Tim: THAT'S A WALK IN THE
PARK FOR HER.
>> VERY GOOD.
NICE START.
>> Tim: NICE START.
>> Al: AN THIS IS THE END FOR
HER.
SO WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT,
THIS IS A NICE START TO THE BIG
JOURNEY.
>> NUMBER TEN ROUTINE, VERY
SUCCESSFUL.
>> Al: SO HI TO MOM AND HER
FANS.
SHE'S SO POPULAR.
CHELLSIE DIDN'T GET GO TO THE
OLYMPICS IN 2004.
INJURY PREVENTED THAT.
THAT'S THE BIG GAPING HOLE.
NOW BACK TO JANA BIEGER ON
FLOOR.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> Elfi: YOU KNOW, JANA HAVING
ANOTHER NIGHT OF GYMNASTICS,
SHE'S PROVING TO BELA KAROLYI,
HEY, PICK ME.
I'M READY TO GO.
>> Al: WHEN MISTAKES ARE BEING
MADE, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO
DO.
>> Tim: NOT JUST THIS NIGHT, THE
FIRST NIGHT NO MISTAKES EITHER.
>> Al: IN GERMAN, REALLY GOOD.
LET'S DO THE MATH ON CHELLSIE
MEMMEL.
15.45.
DOING OKAY.
GET THE BIG PICTURE.
MEANWHILE, NATASHA KELLEY IS
STILL TO COME ON VAULT.
NASTIA LIUKIN ON BEAM.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE NOW TO
DETERMINE WHO'S GOING TO BE THE
2006 VISA NATIONAL CHAMPION.
COULD YOU HAVE A LOOK THAT'S
MORE INTENSE?
WELL, IT'S COME DOWN TO ONE LAST
PERFORMANCE FOR NATASHA KELLEY
WHO LEADS, AND VALERI LIUKIN'S
DAUGHTER, NASTIA, WHO STAYS WARM
AS HE COMMANDS IN THE
BACKGROUND.
NATASHA KELLEY IS ON THE VAULT.
SHE HAS HAD A 15.7, A 15.75 AN A
15.4.
>> Elfi: EVEN.
>> Al: EVEN.
SOLID.
>> Tim: YOU SHOULD SEE NOTHING
DIFFERENT HERE.
DOES A MORE DIFFICULT VAULT THAN
WE HAVE SEEN FROM MOST OF THE
COMPETITORS.
SHE'LL DO THAT DOUBLE TWIST.
IT WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM
DIFFICULTY SCORE OF 5.8.
>> Al: BIGGEST VAULT OF HER
LIFE.
>> Elfi: BUT NOT HER BEST
TONIGHT.
>> Tim: NO, NOT HER BEST, BUT
I'LL TELL YOU --
>> STILL COULD BE STRONGER BUCKS
THAT WILL WORK.
>> Al: IT CAN WORK TO PUT THE
PRESSURE ON NASTIA LIUKIN.
>> Tim: THAT WAS REMARKABLE.
SLIGHT UNDERSTATEMENT.
>> Elfi: THEY HAVE GOT TO BE
THRILLED WITH HER PERFORMANCE.
FIRST TIME ON THE SENIOR STAGE
AT THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
8-8.
FANTASTIC JOB.
SHE WAS CALM.
SHE JUST -- SHE DID HER THING.
GOT TO LOVE IT.
>> Al: WELL, THE JUDGES DIDN'T
LOVE IT.
14.85.
THAT'S HER LOWEST SCORE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
NASTIA LIUKIN?
>> Tim: IT MEANS SHE NEEDS
BETTER THAN A 15.05 ON THE
BALANCE BEAM TO WIN THE TITLE.
IT IS THE BALANCE BEAM.
IT'S SCARY, IT'S HARD, BUT SHE
IS THE WORLD CHAMPION ON THE
BALANCE BEAM, BUT SHE HAS BEEN
STRUGGLING TONIGHT AS WELL.
>> Elfi: FIRST NIGHT OF
COMPETITION, SHE SCORED A 16.3.
SO THIS REALLY SHOULDN'T BE A
PROBLEM.
>> Tim: VERY, VERY CAPABLE.
SHE ONLY HAD .4 DEDUCTED IN THE
EXERCISE, THE LOWEST I BELIEVE
OF ANY ATHLETE.
BUT IT'S ALL -- IT'S THE BEAM,
YOU KNOW?
>> Elfi: AND IT'S THE SKILL
COMING UP HERE.
>> Tim: IT IS FOUR INCHES WIDE.
>> Elfi: WOW.
WHAT A SAVE.
>> Al: WAS THAT A BIG ENOUGH
MISTAKE TO PUT THIS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP IN JEOPARDY?
>> Tim: WELL --
>> Elfi: WHEN YOU GRASP THE
BEAM, IT'S A .5 DEDUCTION.
WHEN YOU PHYSICALLY BEND DOWN
AND GRASP THAT BEAM.
IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT WAS A
FALL.
THAT'S HOW MUCH A FALL WAS
WORTH.
>> Tim: AND SHE HAS A LOT MORE
TO GET THROUGH, BUT STAYING ON
THAT BEAM MIGHT HELP HER TO
RETAIN HER NATIONAL TITLE.
WELL, IF YOU COULD ERASE THAT
MISTAKE AT THE TOP OF THE
EXERCISE, AFTER THAT POINT THIS
ROUTINE HAS BEEN AS PERFECT AS
YOU CAN BE.
>> Al: SO, ELFI, LET'S REVIEW.
HER TOUCHING THE BEAM AND NOT
FALLING OFF SAVES HER .3?
IT'S .8 AND .5?
>> Elfi: THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Al: SO THAT WAS A .3 SAVE BY
HER IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT
ROUTINE.
YOU SEE DAD IS -- HE'S NOT DOING
HIS USUAL --
>> Tim: OFF COMES THE
MICROPHONE.
YIKES.■
>> Al: SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
SHE'S JUST WON ANYTHING, THAT'S
FOR SURE.
>> Tim: BEING CONSOLED BY
ANOTHER COACH.
CARLEY PATTERSON'S PERSONAL
COACH.
>> Al: AGAIN, THEY'RE TALKING
RUSSIAN, AND THAT'S USUALLY WHEN
THINGS ARE BAD.
SO NOW EVERYONE IS WAITING.
WHAT'S THE NUMBER GOING TO BE?
WHERE DO I STAND?
>> Tim: YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO
BE CLOSE BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE --
I MEAN, THAT ROUTINE WAS SO
BEAUTIFUL AFTER THAT ERROR.
IF THE JUDGES --
>> Al: OH, TIM, THAT WAS ICING.
>> Tim: BUT HE SAID IT, HE SAID
NOTHING I HATED MORE THAN COMING
IN SECOND PLACE.
AND MY DAUGHTER IS EXACTLY THE
SAME.
>> Al: AND EVERYBODY IS WAITING
FOR THE SAME NEWS.
ALL RIGHT.
SO DAMAGE CONTROL.
15.55.
SHE'S GOING TO DO IT.
SHE'S GOING TO WIN THIS NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT BEND DOWN TO PREVENT
HERSELF FROM FALLING TOUGH BEAM
IS GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE.
AND NATASHA KELLEY KNOWS SHE
JUST MISSED, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, SHOW'S PROVEN TO
HERSELF AND SHE'S PROVEN TO THE
PEOPLE WHO LOOKED INTO THE
FUTURE OF THE USA GYMNASTICS
PROGRAM, TO THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE OLYMPICS
IN BEIJING THAT SHE COULD DO
THIS.
SO FINALLY, A LITTLE BIT OF A
SMILE FROM NASTIA LIUKIN.
SHE'S GOING TO DEFEND HER
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND NOW
SHE GOES INTO THE BOOKS.
BACK TO BACK NATIONAL CHAMPION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
NOT BAD FOR A KID THAT WAS BORN
IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA, AND NOW DAD
IS DAD AGAIN.
HE PUTS THE MAD COACH, THE
FRUSTRATED COACH ASIDE FOR A
MOMENT.
>> Tim: YEAH.
HE KNOWS HOW TIGHT THIS COULD
BE.
SHE LOST THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS TO CHELLSIE MEMMEL
BY .001.
>> Al: A GOOD FINISH.
BUT LET'S FINE OUT WHAT'S GOING
ON IN THE MIND OF NASTIA LIUKIN.
>> Andrea: SECOND STRAIGHT
ALL-AROUND TITLE, BUT TONIGHT
YOU LOOK LIKE A SAD CHAMPION.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THINGS WENT
DOWN TONIGHT?
>> WELL, I GUESS OBVIOUSLY I
WASN'T LIKE YESTERDAY OR -- I
MEAN, SORRY, THURSDAY.
BUT I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A
ROUGH DAY ON BEAM PROBABLY
ESPECIALLY AND FLOOR.
I HAVE HAD SO MANY CHANGES IN
THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND, YOU
KNOW, CHANGES ARE REALLY HARD
FOR EVERYONE TO GET USED TO.
INCLUDING MYSELF.
SO I THINK JUST TO TAKE MORE
TIME TO GET CONSISTENT AT THE
SKILLS WILL HELP A LOT.
>> Andrea: BUT YOU WERE SO SHARP
ON DAY ONE OF THE COMPETITION.
WAS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT
WAS DIFFERENT OUT THERE TONIGHT?
>> UM, NO, NOT REALLY.
JUST EVERY GYMNAST HAS THEIR OFF
DAYS AND I GUESS TODAY WAS ONE
OF MINE.
>> Andrea: WE HAVE SEEN ALL WEEK
THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT
YOU HAD WITH YOUR DAD.
IT LOOKED LIKE NEITHER ONE YOU
WAS HAPPY TONIGHT, WHAT DID HE
SAY TO YOU?
>> OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU'RE NOT
DOING THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN
DO, YOU WON'T BE TOO HAPPY.
HE'S ALWAYS THERE FOR ME.
HE TELLS ME NEVER TO GIVE UP,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP PULLING
YOUR WAY THROUGH AND IN THE END
YOU'LL SEE WHERE YOU FINISH.
>> Andrea: CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Al: THEY ARE SOME OF THE
YOUNGEST AND TOUGHEST CHAMPIONS
WE WILL EVER SEE.
SOME BURST ON THE SCENE AND SOME
SHOW US HOW THEY WIN WHEN
THEY'RE NOT AT THEIR BEST.