Sovetsky Sport. May 18, 1971. We knew that the second, final day of the European Gymnastics Championships would be difficult. But who could have imagined it would be this difficult! It started with bad luck. During the warm-up before the floor exercises, Viktor Klimenko, while performing a double somersault, stumbled. Our coaches V. Smolevsky and E. Korolkov, and the president of the Spanish Gymnastics Federation F. Fernandez, carried him off the platform in their arms. Doctors from different countries held an impromptu consultation. Soon Viktor appeared in the arena, but this time as a spectator. The announcer noticed this moment and announced it on the radio. The audience reacted with thunderous applause. The people of Madrid had managed to fall in love with our wonderful athlete in just one day.
As pleasant as it may have been, the ovation did nothing to alleviate our team's difficult situation. The European Championship is held in the principle of individual competition. But no matter how many of our gymnasts take to the stage, they are always a team. After Klimenko's injury, only two remained - Voronin, who is not in the best form right now, and the debutant Andrianov. Who doesn't know that competing behind the leader is much less stressful? But the new European champion could only help his friends with his kind and slightly apologetic smile.
The first event was the floor exercise, and Nikolai Andrianov was the first to take to the platform. Where did this seemingly unassuming young man get so much self-control from! Andrianov performed cheerfully and with enthusiasm, received a score 0.1 points better than on the first day, and with it his whole demeanor seemed to prove: "We didn't flinch, everything is fine with us, we are ready to fight and ready to show some great gymnastics!". Andrianov, of course, couldn't beat the excellent floor exercise master Hristov - the gap was simply too wide, and the Bulgarian performed brilliantly. But the first contribution to the medal tally had been made.
This did not escape the public's attention, who had not previously paid much attention to Andrianov. In any case, his next appearance on the platform was met with approving murmurs. A tricky apparatus awaited Nikolai - the pommel horse - but this was precisely the apparatus that Andrianov knew how to master. He performed his complex routine, which included many modern elements, flawlessly, preventing his rivals from catching up with him, and opened the scoring for gold medals earned by our gymnasts in the individual event finals. Voronin, who was in a disadvantageous position, performed somewhat hesitantly and allowed the persistent gymnast from East Germany, M. Brehme, to overtake him.
But then it was time for the rings, and Mikhail, for whom third place on the horse was a disappointment, overturned all skeptical calculations. He demonstrated both the Voronin willpower and the Voronin skill. He performed his excellent routine with even greater brilliance and inspiration than on the first day. Voronin seemed to be demonstrating that there were no obstacles or problems for him on the rings, neither in the swinging elements or in the strength elements. In none of the finals did the champion have such a convincing advantage over his closest rival: Voronin scored a total of 19.25 points, while the silver medalist - Andrianov, who by this point had completely captivated the audience - scored 18.8.
The vault competition turned into a duel between young athletes. A. Szajna, a rising star of Polish gymnastics, scored 9.225. In total, the young athlete from Bydgoszcz achieved 18.675. This, however, was not enough to beat Andrianov with his brilliant double somersault. Nikolai also distinguished himself on the parallel bars, receiving the same score as G. Carminucci. However, the Italian veteran had a 0.05-point advantage, which put him in first place. Carminucci rejoiced with youthful exuberance. Returning to the European stage after a break and with a new appearance (a lush head of hair and a thick mustache - he had shaved off his beard) he remained the same great master of gymnastics.
Voronin did everything he could on the horizontal bar, performing much more confidently and harmoniously than on the first day. His strong will did not fail Mikhail this time either. And it was not his fault that K. Koste from the GDR proved to be stronger in Madrid.
Among the medalists and finalists were representatives of countries that in recent years had little to show for themselves in competitions of this level - Switzerland, West Germany, Spain, and Hungary. Alongside them were athletes from traditionally strong gymnastics nations - Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, and East Germany
However, Soviet gymnasts still remain the leaders of European gymnastics. Names and generations change in our team, but the class remains. This is primarily evidenced by the medal count at the championship. We have four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals - more than half of all the medals contested at the European championships!
It's not just the number that's encouraging. The image of the team that will compete in the Olympic Games in a year's time is becoming clearer. Andrianov has fully justified the trust placed in him by being given a place at the European gymnastics forum. The good performance of G. Bogdanov, who was the alternate gymnast this time, is also beyond doubt. And the leaders, Klimenko and Voronin, need no introduction.
But whenever the conversation turns to world gymnastics, we can't help but think of the Japanese. To catch up with them, we need to move forward with long strides, confidently and quickly. It seems that our gymnasts are capable of maintaining such a pace.
TECHNICAL RESULTS
European Championships in individual events.
FX: 1. Hristov (BUL) - 19.1; 2. Ginez (ESP) - 18.75; 3. Andrianov (URS) - 18.7; 4. Laino (FIN) - 18.55; 5. Mossinger (FRG) - 18.55; 6. Koste (GDR) - 18.5.
PH: 1. Andrianov - 18.9; 2. Brehme (GDR) - 18.75; 3. Voronin (URS) - 18.7; 4. Berzci (HUN) - 18.6; 5. Hurzeler (SUI) - 18.5; 6. Vratic (YUG) - 17.9.
RG: 1. Voronin - 19.25; 2. Andrianov - 18.8; 3. Szajna (POL) - 18.7; 4. Brehme - 18.65; 5. S. Kubica (POL) - 18.5; 6. Rohner (SUI) - 17.8.
VT: 1. Andrianov - 18.75; 2. Szajna - 18.675; 3. Koste - 18.5; 4. Molnar (HUN) - 18.4; 5. Voronin - 18.375; 6. Gienger (FRG) - 18.0.
PB: 1. Carminucci (ITA) - 18.85; 2. Andrianov, Voronin, Koste - all 18.8; 5. Netusil (TCH), W. Kubica (POL) - both 18.75.
HB: 1. Koste - 19.05; 2. Voronin - 18.95; 3. Hurzeler (SUI) - 18.85; 4. Szajna - 18.8; 5. Brodnik (YUG), Netusil - both 18.65.
M. SUPONEV, our special correspondent