Sovetsky Sport. June 30, 1972. Competitions for the USSR Cup in gymnastics and the national championship in individual events began at the Luzhniki Sports Palace. The women opened the competition. They competed in the compulsory program. All candidates for the Olympic team came out on the platform, with the exception of N. Dronova and R. Sikharulidze who were injured.
The strongest group of eight gymnasts started on vault. The first event was rather nervous. True, Lyubov Burda set a good tone (9.4). Olga Karaseva got 0.2 less. Lyudmila Turischeva and Tamara Lazakovich managed to get the same mark - 9.4. Now it was Olga Korbut's turn. During the warm-up, she vaulted just brilliantly. But, apparenty, Olya was worried. The run was feverish but the landing didn't work - 9.3.
Lazakovich does the arc with a turn on the bars differently. Antonina Koshel also stands out, with the so-called 'false flight.' This time Tonya took off, as usual with height, but couldn't hold on and touched the mat with her heels (9.0). Burda also had several errors (9.1). Turischeva completed the routine in one go, and the dismount was excellent (9.6).
Turischeva became the leader after two apparatus, and it seemed that nothing would prevent her from successfully completing the entire program. True, she was only 0.15 points ahead of Lazakovich. However, Turischeva made two gross errors on beam (9.2). Lazakovich managed to get 9.35. And the two of them became the leaders. Their rivalry intensified. And Korbut was nearby. Elvira Saadi showed off her virtuoso performance on the balance beam (9.5).
On floor exercise Lazakovich received 9.6, and Turischeva also got 9.6. So, after the compulsory program the leaders were: Turischeva (37.8), Lazakovich (37.7), Saadi (37.65), Korbut (37.45), Burda (37.35), and Tatiana Schegolkova (37.0).
V. GOLUBEV