THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608030145
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 72 lines
I am responding to Ronald L. Speer's editorial ordering ``Karolyi to the balance beam'' (July 28, Beacon).
In comparing Dominique Moceanu to the average teen, Mr. Speer wrote that most girls her age are still ``trying to discover who they are.'' At 14, Moceanu has already authored a book chronicling her young life. Clearly, Mr. Speer, she knows exactly who she is. She is a role model and an inspiration for millions of youngsters. And while other 14-year-olds are grappling with the insecurities common to their age, Moceanu exudes poise and confidence possessed by few adults.
To insinuate that young girls like Moceanu are ``ordered'' into performing gymnastics is absurd. The sheer determination, effort and countless hours of work behind each routine prove one thing only - they do it because they want to.
Speer likens the challenge of performing in the Olympics to ``hell.'' Yes, there is pressure, but at this point in their athletic careers, these gymnasts have performed in hundreds of meets, and certainly at least several at the international level. As for performing with ``billions watching,'' is it not evident that most of these athletes literally feed off the crowd's energy and enthusiasm? I dare say we'd have walked away with such medals before a foreign crowd of spectators.
So, you call that hell, Mr. Speer? How many of us would not walk through hell to trade places with these athletes? After all, why do we relish the Olympic Games, glued to our TV sets every fourth summer? These little girls of summer are everything we aspire to be and more. And what athlete has not said that the chance to compete in the Olympics - medal or no medal - was worth every bit along the way?
Mr. Speer suggests that a childhood spent in the gymnasium and a life in the limelight of a TV camera robs one of a normal childhood. I would choose to believe that such an upbringing enhances a child's lifetime experiences. At 14, Moceanu has already realized some wonderful accomplishments. Yet at such a tender age, her life stands before her. And, after all, she seems still pretty normal to me.
As for Kerry Strug, she epitomized the spirit of a true Olympian. She vaulted on an injured ankle thinking not of herself but of her team and country. Bela Karolyi did not ``order'' her down that runway for a final vault. When he yelled to her, ``Kerry, you can do it,'' he merely echoed what she already knew - and had long before made up her mind to do.
Julie Lynn Storms-Proctor
July 31
My heart was filled with so much pride and adoration when our American female gymnasts won the team gold medal at the Olympics. That is, until Ronald L. Speer felt it necessary to rain on my parade with his tainted views in his July 28 column.
His comments were unfounded and based on pure speculation. I can't believe he would actually attempt to convince anyone that those female gymnasts are forced, against their will, to endure extensive hours of training, injuries, and separation from their families because their parents are on some kind of glory hunt.
These athletes are born with killer competitive instincts. Their goal in life is to excel in gymnastics. They have trained many hours and endured much pain for one moment of glory or one gold medal. To them, it was all they wanted.
I don't agree that Bela Karolyi would risk the health of his athletes for some kind of personal satisfaction. He did not make Kerri Strug perform that vault. He merely encouraged her from the sidelines as any coach would.
He has the reputation of being a tough coach, maybe even a perfectionist. But he is not the inhumane ogre Mr. Speer made him out to be. Kerri Strug did what she was trained to do. Would you have missed your chance to be an Olympic champion because your ankle was hurt?She did what any highly skilled athlete would have done under the circumstances.
Leslie Schiefer
Suffolk by CNB