Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 23, 1994 TAG: 9404230021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA LENGTH: Medium
The 17-year-old from Edmond, Okla., completed two spectacular vaults Friday night to win the women's all-around title at the World Gymnastics Championships for the second straight year.
Miller needed to score 9.775 with her two vaults to win - and she scored 9.812.
She totaled 39.274 points for the four disciplines in retaining the title she won last year at Birmingham, England.
It was a remarkable performance considering she injured a stomach muscle last month and missed two weeks of training.
"It meant a lot to win last year because it was my first time, but this means even more because I had to come back from injuries," Miller said.
Lavinia Milosovici of Romania won the silver medal with a score of 39.236 - only 0.038 behind. Dina Kochetkova of Russia was third with a total of 39.125.
Miller scored 9.850 on the uneven bars, 9.862 on the balance beam and 9.750 for her floor exercise.
The last woman to win consecutive all-around world titles was Ludmilla Tourischeva of the Soviet Union in 1970 and 1974, when the championships were held every four years. Only four women ever have achieved the feat.
Miller's victory did not surprise coach Steve Nunno, who was confident despite the gymnast's inconsistent training form.
"I've seen this movie before," Nunno said. "A lot of people counted Shannon out, but I know what makes her tick and I knew she was going to give 100 percent and a valiant effort, if not a gold medal. We look at pressure as a challenge."
Miller said she was unaware of what she needed to score with her final vaults.
"I don't look at the board," she said. "I'm focused on my routines. I just knew I had to do the two best vaults I could and leave the rest to the judges."
Gina Gogean of Romania finished fourth with 39.061 points, and Dominique Dawes, 17, of Silver Spring, Md., was fifth with 38.968. Dawes was the co-leader after three routines but stumbled on the first of her two vaults, scoring only 9.250. She improved with her second vault for an average of 9.506 but had lost her chance.
Dawes was in tears after her vaults and had to be comforted by coach Kelli Hill. Dawes also led at last year's World Championships before miscalculating a vault and finishing fourth.
"I felt OK on all the events except vault," Dawes said. "I just pulled it too hard."
Hill said the vault had been Dawes' weakness.
"Dominique has struggled with this vault all week," Hill said. "It was a very technical vault. She had problems with it in training and overcompensated."
Mo Huilan of China received a 9.9 - the highest women's score at the meet - on the uneven bars but finished seventh overall.
Nearly 300 competitors from 53 countries are competing in the six-day meet, which ends Sunday.
Individual apparatus finals will be held today and Sunday, with Vitaly Scherbo of Belarus, winner of six gold medals at the 1992 Olympics, in four men's finals.
by CNB