Zmeskal

Zmeskal takes floor title in world gymnasticsKim Zmeskal bopped her way to the floor exercise title yesterday at the World Gymnastics Championships in Paris.Zmeskal, 16, performed to a medley of '50s rock 'n' roll music, including "Rock Around the Clock." She won the world all-around title last year, and she will be on center stage at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials, June 6-13 at the Baltimore Arena.In the men's competition, ex-Soviet Vitali Scherbo won the rings, tied for first in the pommel horse and came in second in the floor exercise.

INDIANAPOLIS -- In gymnastics, grace is usually cast aside at mat's edge. So was it really a surprise yesterday that an athletic Cold War was reborn inside the Hoosier Dome?Is it a shock that two tiny gymnasts, one from the Soviet Union and the other from the United States, refused to shake hands? And really, did anyone expect U.S. coach Bela Karolyi to ignore the opportunity to unload a few verbal shots at his longtime rivals?"Politics, it's always politics," Karolyi said.After nine days of beauty and triumph, the World Gymnastics Championships ended with an ugly little encounter on a medal stand.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The wave of kids and parents followed Kim Zmeskal out of the arena and across the street to a hotel. There were thousands of them, screaming in the night, asking for autographs and handshakes and pictures, jostling for a spot next to the 4-foot-7, 80-pound, 15-year-old girl.Zmeskal had taken this leap of faith in the Hoosier Dome on Friday night, becoming the first U.S. gymnast at the World Championships to win the women's all-around gold medal. Now, she was given this dose of superstar reality.

INDIANAPOLIS -- One comes right out of the Romper Room that is women's gymnastics. The other is an elegant ballerina who can flip over the vault.Last night, 15-year-old Kim Zmeskal of the United States and 18-year-old Svetlana Boguinskaia of the Soviet Union staged a tumbling contest filled with style and substance. Zmeskal used her speed and power. Boguinskaia countered with grit and grace. When it ended, women's gymnastics had a new all-around champion.Zmeskal, a 4-foot-7, 80-pound dynamo from Houston, scored 39.848 out of 40 points to claim the gold medal in the all-around at the World Championships.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The youngest is 13 years old. The oldest is 16. They not only are the future of women's gymnastics in the United States, but they also are the present.Last night, under the bright lights and the big top at the Hoosier Dome, the U.S. women put a silver stamp on the 1991 World Championships.Using Kim Zmeskal's perfect 10 on the final vault, the U.S. women tumbled and leaped their way to a first-ever team medal, finishing with 394.116 points and the silver behind the Soviet Union (396.

"Born in the USA" was rocking through the Inner Harbor amphitheater as gymnasts bounded around to kick off the promotion of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials that will be held here in June 1992.Better it had been "Made in Maryland," for the state's best hope to make the Olympic team is Maryland-bred and Maryland-trained. Dominique Dawes, a 14-year-old from Montgomery Blair High School ranked ninth in the nation, hasn't packed off to Houston and gymnastics mentor Bela Karolyi. And she doesn't plan to do so."