Reigning Olympic champion Romania, paced by Catalina Ponor, edged reigning world champion United States here yesterday in a women’s gymnastics qualifying preview of tomorrow’s team finals showdown.
The Romanians led after the second of four qualifying sessions to decide eight team finalists, Thursday’s 24 all-around finalists plus apparatus finalists. The Chinese, third at the Sydney Games, are in the third session.
Paired in the same qualifying group, the US and Romanian teams provided an hint of thrills to come with dazzling performances by 2003 world runner-up Carly Patterson and Ponor, world runner-up on balance beam and floor exercise.
American star Patterson had the top all-around total with 38.337 points while Ponor received top marks on beam, 9.775, and floor, 9.687, to boost Romania’s team total to 152.436 with the US women second at 151.848.
“It’s not a big deal,” Patterson said. “It’s important to do your best in the final. I felt like I did a really good meet and after the way I started I am confident heading into the finals.”
The seven-time world champion Romanians, who departed without comment, have revamped their lineup since Sydney, sparked by Ponor and all-around contenders Daniela Sofronie, second at 38.062, and Oana Ban, third at 37.975.
The Americans boasted three all-around hopefuls in Patterson, Courtney McCool and Courtney Kupets, but a poor beam showing ended McCool’s hopes. While ninth overall, she was fourth on the US team, which can send no more than two.
“I was more nervous than anything,” McCool said. “It wasn’t my best.”
Mohini Bhardwaj, a 25-year-old American whose training was funded by $20,000 from Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson, paid back the investment with a strong performance to stand seventh overall.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be,” she said. “I was more nervous at the trials.”
Cuban-born American Annia Hatch, denied a chance to compete at the 1996 Olympics for her native land despite ranking third in the world, achieved her dream by competing in the Games. She scored a 9.387 in vault, her lone event.
“It could be better,” Hatch said. “I was a little nervous.” Reigning world all-around champion Svetlana Khorkina stood fifth in the all-around at 37.836, .099 behind fourth-place Kupets in the start of her farewell to the sport.
If Khorkina wins the all-around title here in her farewell competition, she would be the first non-teen since 1968 to claim that Olympic gold medal.
Khorkina seeks her third consecutive Olympic title on the uneven bars, where she has the top qualifying score so far at 9.750. She owns five world uneven bars crowns and three world all-around titles.
The lanky blonde beauty, a model who posed nude in Playboy magazine, is performing in the final competition of a legendary career, defying the standard short teen dynamos that dominate her sport.
