Sovetsky Sport. September 24, 1966. So, we return to what happened in Dortmund the day before yesterday. It must be said that the last shift, which ended when it was well past midnight in Moscow, considerably reshuffled the results.
Now it can be stated that in women's world gymnastics there is no longer a 'big two' but rather a 'big three' - the teams of the USSR, Czechoslovakia, and Japan - and that the order in which they are listed here is not fixed. It's difficult to sort out the strengths and weaknesses of the leaders. But the numbers themselves will give rise to some interesting thoughts. For example, our team received 47.364 points on the vault, the Czechoslovakian team 47.632, the Japanese team 47.3. On the uneven bars (respectively) 48.098, 48.066, 48.397. On the balance beam - 47.598, 47.531, 47.265; and on the floor - 48.298, 47.766, 47.932.
Before the duel with the Czechoslovakian team, our coaches expected to win only the beam and floor exercise. As you can see, the plan was overfulfilled. It was hard to expect that dazzling concert, consisting entirely of solo numbers, that the Japanese gave on the uneven bars. As for their victory over the Czechoslovak girls on the floor, it can be explained by the leniency of the judges.
In physical preparation, the 'big three' are equal. Having such a solid foundation, you get freedom for creativity, for inspiration, without which any 'finishing fabric' is dead. It seems to us that our team, less experienced than the Czechoslovak one, is higher in skill of molding details, purity and, if you like, spirituality. Hence our success in the filigree events - in the floor and balance beam. The Czechoslovakian team has a more abrupt, stormy, forceful style. The Japanese went further in this sense: they are swift and surprisingly brave, but their execution is very one-sided, closer to a man, devoid of gracefulness.
I wanted to tell you a little more about our girls. They got nervous before their performance on the balance beam, and the fact that they calmed down in time is thanks to the elders, especially Latynina. She distracted the young people from their gloomy thoughts as best she could, made them laugh, and told them something about a dress that she managed to finish knitting (for the first time in her life!). There was a bit of greed in this and a lot of kind and experienced wisdom. Thanks to her for this more than for the scores!
You already know the scores. Let's note the success of Druzhinina and especially Kharlova. They alternately had the difficult role of being the first to perform on the apparatus. And their composure in this situation commanded respect. Natasha Kuchinskaya simply delights with this quality, raised to the highest degree and supported by skill.
If Larisa Petrik hadn't had what - alas! - happened, look - she would have been in third place, and the brilliant Kuchinskaya would have felt more uncomfortable. We noticed that little Larisa was fidgeting and laughing a little more than usual, exchanging gestures with her friends in the stands. This disorganization was a deadly sign that something was wrong with Larisa that, not finding peace inside, she was looking for it outside. And so she fell off the bars. "No problem, at least I got some exercise!" She went for a second time. During one of the elements, she felt like she was falling again, and she grabbed the top pole not as she should, but like a drowning person grabs a straw. She caught it - too late!
Let's not judge her. The fight is tough, and even a 17-year-old can get nervous. After all, right now in the top twenty places there are only tenths and even hundredths of a point separating them.
TECHNICAL RESULTS
Compulsory program. Women. 1. Caslavska (TCH) - 39.032; 2. Kuchinskaya (URS) - 38.865; 3. Ikeda (JPN) - 38.599; 4. Ikenaga (JPN) - 38.266; 5. Barth-Zuchold (GDR) - 38.265; 6. Shibuya (JPN) - 38.232; 7. Latynina (URS) and Sedlackova (TCH) - 38.099; 9. Krajcirova (TCH) - 37.999; 10. Petrik (URS) - 37.966; 11. Astakhova (URS) - 37.965; 14. Kharlova (URS) - 37.931; 15. Druzhinina (URS) - 37.831.
Team standings. 1. USSR - 191.358; 2. TCH - 190.995; 3. JPN - 190.894; 4. GDR - 187.494; 5. HUN - 186.527; 6. FRA - 181.193.
S. TOKAREV and A. CHAIKOVSKY