USAGO: 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials Rhythmic

1996 U.S. Olympic Trials-Gymnastics
Boston, Massachusetts / June 25-30, 1996

Rhythmic Competition

1996 U.S. Olympic Team for Rhythmic Gymnastics

pending approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee

Individual
Jessica Davis

Group
Aliane Baquerot
Mandy James
Kate Nelson
Brandy Siegel
Challen Sievers
Becky Turner

Nineteen ninety-six will mark the first time that the rhythmic group competition will be a part of the Olympic Games. At the Olympic Trials, one rhythmic gymnast will be selected to represent the USA in the individual competition, and six gymnasts will be chosen to form the U.S. entry into the group competition.

Davis Wins the U.S. Olympic Trials

The 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials rhythmic competition was won by Jessica Davis, from San Anselmo, Ca. Her name will be submitted by USA Gymnastics to the U.S. Olympic Committee and, upon their approval, she will represent the United States as the sole competitor in individual rhythmic gymnastics in Atlanta at the Olympics this summer.

Davis, the 1995 and 1996 U.S. Rhythmic National Champion, scored 74.90 points at the Trials held at the Wang Center in Boston, Mass. Just graduated from Drake High School, Davis has plans to attend the University of Massachusetts in the fall.

"I couldn't believe how much pressure I felt," said Davis, regarding her position as the leading favorite coming into this competition. "It was mostly from myself."

Placing in the top twenty is Davis' goal for the Olympics, although she admits that "top fifteen would be the ultimate goal." Davis was 24th at the 1995 Rhythmic World Championships. "You want to prove to everyone and yourself that you're worthy of being there."

In Tuesday night's competition, Davis had errors in her ribbon routine to score 8.55 on that event. In the finals on Wednesday night, however, Davis scored an impressive 9.525 with her ribbon routine. "I was very upset about ribbon [last night] but it made me stronger. I went into it thinking 'I can't relax.' I knew I was ahead but I decided that what happened last night wouldn't happen again. I dove for everything."

Rhythmic Group Team Named

Nelson hopes that the Olympic Games will increase the exposure to rhythmic gymnastics. "American people tend to be interested in team sports... the Olympics will help greatly," she said.

"No one in our country knows what we're doing. This is our chance," added Siegel.

When asked to comment on the difference between individual and group categories of rhythmic gymnastics, Baquerot said, "Synchronization. In individual, you have more room to improvise. In rhythmic, you have six people thinking as one."

Davis Leads Day One

Jessica Davis, two-time National Champion, leads the rhythmic competitors with 36.85 points after the first night at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials-Gymnastics. Davis, from San Anselmo, California., scored the highest of all competitors on every apparatus except for ribbon, during which she had two significant errors to score only 8.55. Her other scores were 9.35 (rope), 9.50 (ball), and 9.45 (clubs). Davis, who trains at from Gymmarin Pacific and is coached by Jan Exner, described her night as "three good, one bad."

"I was very upset about ribbon. I've had that routine for four years; I should be able to do it by now," said Davis. She was quite happy, however, with her ball routine, noting that she'd been having problems with it in practice.

In second place is Natalie Lacuesta, with 35.981 points. Lacuesta has a stress fracture in her left fibula which has forced her to withdraw from the Olympic Trials competition. Per the selection procedures, her scores from day two of the 1996 Rhythmic National Championships are used for her score at Trials. Alicia Albe, who at nineteen years of age is the oldest member of the 1996 Rhythmic National Team, is currently tied for third place with Tina Tharp. Tharp, from International Rhythmic Gymnastics, earned the highest score on ribbon, a 9.30.

The rhythmic group performed two routines: one with five hoops, and one with three ribbons and two balls. The group, who recently placed sixteenth at the Rhythmic World Championships in Budapest, was very well received by the knowledgeable crowd. The group traveled directly from Budapest to Boston for this competition.