I mean...in terms of raw talent, yes. Unfortunately they weren't brought up with good basics in some important areas which resulted in poor form, scary technique, and execution that was often less than optimal.
@@unknown-lf6zxshe went to Sydney but was dealing with a very painful foot injury. It caused her to have to withdraw from the AA final. Fortunately she still did beam final and got the bronze, along with her team silver but a lot of untapped potential was left behind.
Yeah, it was a real down quad. I think of all the top teams, the U.S. had the roughest time rejuvenating after an Olympic cycle because almost everyone from that ‘96 team retired. Then there was the rule change in the age eligibility, and the return to making worlds every two years instead of every year. So a lot of our best talent, like Atler, who was co-national champion in 1997, didn’t get to worlds until 1999. The only reason Moceanu was on that ‘97 world team was because three of the girls who beat her at nationals were too young to compete. So the U.S. was just so behind on rolling out their newer talent and develop them for the big stage. Even with all that, Atler was in great shape through much of the year. She had a horrible time at worlds because she’d just split up with her longtime coaches, wasn’t training properly and was in a meltdown in her career.
@@intldawn so true. Great analysis of this era. It seems the group of girls was almost rushed, and by the time Olympic year came around they were beaten up and almost defeated. Everyone kind of failed them. There was definitely talent in this quad.
I will never forget MLT telling Morgan "confident, fun, unleash it" and Morgan looks like she is in front of a firing squad. She was a fabulous gymnast, though.
I love that NBC asked the coaches to wear mikes. Since I wasn't old enough to watch it back then, I started watching it 2010 and they didnt have the mikes so I always was wondering what they were saying to girls like Simone after they stuck Amanars
Just curious. I’m not a gymnast but have watched gymnastics all of my life. I’m gymnastics obsessed. Am I wrong in saying that this type of coaching works with some kids who ‘want to go to war’ in competition. I’m sure everyone could name a few great gymnasts who work better with more pressure and want to go to war on the mat. But I’m assuming that coaching is very individual……and a coach has got to deal with each gymnast differently on a psychological basis. The first young gymnast is really struggling with nerves. Why add additional pressure to the first gymnast and use this ‘war tactic’? Clearly, it’s adding to her severe anxiety, which could lead to serious injury. She’s also terrified of the vault she’s doing. Why not find a vault that she’s confident with, and take a different psychological approach. I would have said to a girl of this young age that….in the big picture, this is just a small part of your life…….so it’s vital that you enjoy it! Have fun! If it doesn’t work, that’s just the way things happen in life and it’s not the end of the world. Just give it your best and I’m here on the sidelines believing that you can do it, but I’m already very proud of you for getting here and that’s enough. How much do you want to bet that her nerves would be much more subdued and this child would be smiling and able to breathe. I hate this coaching style. It terrifies some…..works for others. Coaches should be able to adjust to each gymnast they’re training.
@@trodairebeag yep! Also called the vault of death since it's the current toughest vault along with the biles vault. I haven't seen anyone attempt it since Rio
probably doing an exhibition? USA Gym used to invite other gym disciplines to demonstrate at artistic meets (there was a rhythmic performance at the conclusion of the 1995 American Cup, for example)
That handstand that Morgan White did at the very beginning in front of her coach was so awkward. Her coach went to grab her legs but pulled away quickly and didn’t really know where to look or do 🤪😂
Matt Beck LOL. Probably because we sweat too much 😂. I was at skyzone and I did a double full and landed with 1 leg under my body, 1ST SKILL. Lol, my life is terrible. I have a stress fracture in my ankle but, 1st meet is clear of injuries rn.(I hope 😂😂😂)
I was never a fan of Morgan White's gymnastics. She just wasn't that impressive to me. As a matter of fact the 2000 team as a whole was not all that impressive. I did like Jamie's floor and bars though.
She wasn’t that remarkable to me, either, but she put in the work and was definitely improving a lot leading up to the Olympics. That she broke her foot and couldn’t compete in Sydney is so devastating. Never came back from that.
@@intldawn It was sad. Still she was lucky to have the opportunity to hit her peak in 2000. She wouldn't even be a candidate for the teams in 96, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 I believe.
It's funny to hear the coaches talking to the gymnasts while they're doing their routines. I can guarantee you the girls don't hear a thing. I was an athlete myself and during competition, when it was my turn I tuned everything and everyone out and shut my mind off (most of the time anyway). I'll bet it's the same here.
I have a hard time watching the American cup because of the biased scoring and unbearable commentary; it's not as bad because the Americans did not end up winning for once. I hate how they put mikes on the coaches and pipe them in during the routines. There's enough drama without the network trying to manufacture it.
@@saragrant9749 What an asinine comment. By the way, you cretin, the entire Russian (whatever they were called then--CIS or some such) TEAM had DTYs in 1992. Boginskaya didn't do hers but she trained it.
Morgan needed some therapy. It was so obvious that she was ridden with anxiety. She is almost insufferable to listen to. Fumbling her words, appearing neurotic. Her coach acting as a therapist? Just not the right environment for her.
It was amazing that she was still able to go out and perform as well as she did though. I cringed hearing her coach give her feedback. I know they do it to be tough on them but I imagine if the athlete is nervous enough, they probably don't wanna be reprimanded
She was neurotic because A) she was vastly inferior technically to the other elite gymnasts of the time and B) Mary Lee Tracy is a psychotic Christofascist BITCH who manipulates her athletes to a degree that's basically criminal.
classic sexism playing "Im just a girl" for the montage of Prudonova. Look, a woman who does a sport, but she also wears tank tops and leaves the house/gym!? Scandal
Yes this was from a very long period of time where they always had to infantilize the female gymnast. Produnova was a strong, tough, fun, sexy, hard working WOMAN but they had to have her doing dumb shit and acting like an 8 year old because god forbid a gymnast grow tits and act older than single digit age. Remember when they had Dominique Moceanu at age 14 gigging and riding the see-saw? Holy fuck the girl is a freshman in high school and you won't show her doing anything older than a toddler.
This was definitely the heyday of 'little girl' gymnast portrayals (as others have commented). Though I would have to advocate that Just a Girl is a very tongue in cheek song -- it's mocking how women are treated. Maybe NBC didn't realize that lol, but it's not a song that belittles women; it calls out those who do.
This was such a disappointing quad.. Weird in-between without a lot of depth, and routines and athletes that were just mediocre and forgettable, at best.
Wrong. Atler was superb. Elise Ray was a great bars worker, as was Jamie Dantzscher. Kristin Maloney was vastly underrated (one of the most difficult floor routines in the world at the time.)
Elena could have easily been olympic champion in that form. One of the all time greats along with Vanessa Atler
I mean...in terms of raw talent, yes. Unfortunately they weren't brought up with good basics in some important areas which resulted in poor form, scary technique, and execution that was often less than optimal.
Damn foot.
I never heard of her before. What happened to her?
@@unknown-lf6zxshe went to Sydney but was dealing with a very painful foot injury. It caused her to have to withdraw from the AA final. Fortunately she still did beam final and got the bronze, along with her team silver but a lot of untapped potential was left behind.
This was such an odd time for USA gymnastics.
Sarah McClure best description.
Yeah, it was a real down quad. I think of all the top teams, the U.S. had the roughest time rejuvenating after an Olympic cycle because almost everyone from that ‘96 team retired. Then there was the rule change in the age eligibility, and the return to making worlds every two years instead of every year. So a lot of our best talent, like Atler, who was co-national champion in 1997, didn’t get to worlds until 1999. The only reason Moceanu was on that ‘97 world team was because three of the girls who beat her at nationals were too young to compete. So the U.S. was just so behind on rolling out their newer talent and develop them for the big stage. Even with all that, Atler was in great shape through much of the year. She had a horrible time at worlds because she’d just split up with her longtime coaches, wasn’t training properly and was in a meltdown in her career.
@@intldawn so true. Great analysis of this era. It seems the group of girls was almost rushed, and by the time Olympic year came around they were beaten up and almost defeated. Everyone kind of failed them. There was definitely talent in this quad.
I will never forget MLT telling Morgan "confident, fun, unleash it" and Morgan looks like she is in front of a firing squad. She was a fabulous gymnast, though.
@@mega7987 No. She was an extraordinarily mediocre gymnast who was by far the worst selected for the Sydney team.
I love that NBC asked the coaches to wear mikes. Since I wasn't old enough to watch it back then, I started watching it 2010 and they didnt have the mikes so I always was wondering what they were saying to girls like Simone after they stuck Amanars
I totally agree!!! I've complained about that for years with him. The word is HEIGHT!!;
Just curious. I’m not a gymnast but have watched gymnastics all of my life. I’m gymnastics obsessed. Am I wrong in saying that this type of coaching works with some kids who ‘want to go to war’ in competition. I’m sure everyone could name a few great gymnasts who work better with more pressure and want to go to war on the mat. But I’m assuming that coaching is very individual……and a coach has got to deal with each gymnast differently on a psychological basis. The first young gymnast is really struggling with nerves. Why add additional pressure to the first gymnast and use this ‘war tactic’? Clearly, it’s adding to her severe anxiety, which could lead to serious injury. She’s also terrified of the vault she’s doing. Why not find a vault that she’s confident with, and take a different psychological approach. I would have said to a girl of this young age that….in the big picture, this is just a small part of your life…….so it’s vital that you enjoy it! Have fun! If it doesn’t work, that’s just the way things happen in life and it’s not the end of the world. Just give it your best and I’m here on the sidelines believing that you can do it, but I’m already very proud of you for getting here and that’s enough. How much do you want to bet that her nerves would be much more subdued and this child would be smiling and able to breathe. I hate this coaching style. It terrifies some…..works for others. Coaches should be able to adjust to each gymnast they’re training.
Sadly Morgan made the Olympics and had to withdraw do to a injuring.
Produnova was the first to master a skill that the men usually do. Guess what it is.
Daniel Lara which event? Vault or floor?
Handspring double front on vault. Its called the Prudonava
@@trodairebeag yep! Also called the vault of death since it's the current toughest vault along with the biles vault. I haven't seen anyone attempt it since Rio
Can someone tell me what Tasha Schweikert’s (sp) second vault was called?
I’m fairly certain it was a round off, half-on, front tuck off.
Anyone notice the background at the very end when Leonid kissed Produnova? Looked like people practicing acro??
probably doing an exhibition? USA Gym used to invite other gym disciplines to demonstrate at artistic meets (there was a rhythmic performance at the conclusion of the 1995 American Cup, for example)
Is it legal for Tasha to have that yellow mat on the vault runway for her second vault?
That handstand that Morgan White did at the very beginning in front of her coach was so awkward. Her coach went to grab her legs but pulled away quickly and didn’t really know where to look or do 🤪😂
14:40 - Coaching Barefoot?
Matt Beck LOL. Probably because we sweat too much 😂. I was at skyzone and I did a double full and landed with 1 leg under my body, 1ST SKILL. Lol, my life is terrible. I have a stress fracture in my ankle but, 1st meet is clear of injuries rn.(I hope 😂😂😂)
it's pretty normal
I was never a fan of Morgan White's gymnastics. She just wasn't that impressive to me. As a matter of fact the 2000 team as a whole was not all that impressive. I did like Jamie's floor and bars though.
Morgan White was ugly and too skinny. I never thought I'd say a healthy gymnast could be "too skinny" but Morgan White was. She's just annoying.
@@peterpeterkins5776 wtf? if you can't say anything nice...
Vanessa was the most talented out of this lot! Unfortunately mental issues and other personal stuff really distracted her
She wasn’t that remarkable to me, either, but she put in the work and was definitely improving a lot leading up to the Olympics. That she broke her foot and couldn’t compete in Sydney is so devastating. Never came back from that.
@@intldawn It was sad. Still she was lucky to have the opportunity to hit her peak in 2000. She wouldn't even be a candidate for the teams in 96, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 I believe.
Half of the USA leotards from this quad look like rejected Spiderman costumes.
From the late 90's to early 2000's the US had boring and dull leos. Glad this changed.
Yes, what was the deal - USA should never look so sloppy!
It's funny to hear the coaches talking to the gymnasts while they're doing their routines. I can guarantee you the girls don't hear a thing. I was an athlete myself and during competition, when it was my turn I tuned everything and everyone out and shut my mind off (most of the time anyway). I'll bet it's the same here.
This Bela fluff piece is vomit worthy.
OMGoodness, yes, ugh. 🤢
Especially knowing what we do now. He and his wife should be in prison.
I have a hard time watching the American cup because of the biased scoring and unbearable commentary; it's not as bad because the Americans did not end up winning for once. I hate how they put mikes on the coaches and pipe them in during the routines. There's enough drama without the network trying to manufacture it.
Someone like Produnova is just so superior to White even usual American Cup fuckery could not produce someone that sketchy unless Produnova fell.
Morgan. Nice gymnast but that’s it. Not upto that level. Yurchenko full? Ridiculous.
Could you do ANY of what she did? No? Didn’t think so, speaks for itself. This was 2000, not 2023. DTY was less common back then.
@@saragrant9749 Sweetiepie, Y 1.5 had been STANDARD for several years in 2000. Get a clue!
@@saragrant9749 What an asinine comment. By the way, you cretin, the entire Russian (whatever they were called then--CIS or some such) TEAM had DTYs in 1992. Boginskaya didn't do hers but she trained it.
Morgan needed some therapy. It was so obvious that she was ridden with anxiety. She is almost insufferable to listen to. Fumbling her words, appearing neurotic. Her coach acting as a therapist? Just not the right environment for her.
It was amazing that she was still able to go out and perform as well as she did though. I cringed hearing her coach give her feedback. I know they do it to be tough on them but I imagine if the athlete is nervous enough, they probably don't wanna be reprimanded
She was neurotic because A) she was vastly inferior technically to the other elite gymnasts of the time and B) Mary Lee Tracy is a psychotic Christofascist BITCH who manipulates her athletes to a degree that's basically criminal.
I'm just watching this because of Produnova. At this time, american's gymnastics was so weak and ugly
Patrick Sousa her leotard is of epic proportions.
Patrick Sousa Yeah, the talent was ruined.
1:39
classic sexism playing "Im just a girl" for the montage of Prudonova. Look, a woman who does a sport, but she also wears tank tops and leaves the house/gym!? Scandal
Yes this was from a very long period of time where they always had to infantilize the female gymnast. Produnova was a strong, tough, fun, sexy, hard working WOMAN but they had to have her doing dumb shit and acting like an 8 year old because god forbid a gymnast grow tits and act older than single digit age. Remember when they had Dominique Moceanu at age 14 gigging and riding the see-saw? Holy fuck the girl is a freshman in high school and you won't show her doing anything older than a toddler.
I agree totally Peter
This was definitely the heyday of 'little girl' gymnast portrayals (as others have commented). Though I would have to advocate that Just a Girl is a very tongue in cheek song -- it's mocking how women are treated. Maybe NBC didn't realize that lol, but it's not a song that belittles women; it calls out those who do.
This was such a disappointing quad.. Weird in-between without a lot of depth, and routines and athletes that were just mediocre and forgettable, at best.
if only Vanessa Atler was able to hold on... her vaulting and floor took my breath away. That double layout punch front double stag pass was ICONIC.
Wrong. Atler was superb. Elise Ray was a great bars worker, as was Jamie Dantzscher. Kristin Maloney was vastly underrated (one of the most difficult floor routines in the world at the time.)