Post by Taxigirl on Aug 18, 2004 10:42:02 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/gymnastics/3574604.stm
Romania's women gymnasts produced a superb all-round display to defend the Olympic team gold they won in Sydney.
The favourites faced stiff competition, but edged out a bitterly-disappointed US team and third-placed Russia.
Romania ended on 114.283 points after an excellent series of floor exercises, with the Americans back on 113.584.
A Svetlana Khorkina-led Russia paid the price for erratic performances, while the Chinese women - like the men's team before them - finished well adrift.
With an average age of just 17, the Romanians constantly impressed the judges with routines of dazzling difficulty.
And Daniela Sofronie, Catalina Ponor and Monica Rosu nailed double-twisting vaults to signal their team's intent early.
"All of Romania had been waiting for this," said Andreea Raducan, a member of the winning team at Sydney in 2000.
"People didn't know what to expect as they are so young and don't have a senior member to look up to but they proved they can do well themselves. It is a great night."
Romania's women gymnasts produced a superb all-round display to defend the Olympic team gold they won in Sydney.
The favourites faced stiff competition, but edged out a bitterly-disappointed US team and third-placed Russia.
Romania ended on 114.283 points after an excellent series of floor exercises, with the Americans back on 113.584.
A Svetlana Khorkina-led Russia paid the price for erratic performances, while the Chinese women - like the men's team before them - finished well adrift.
With an average age of just 17, the Romanians constantly impressed the judges with routines of dazzling difficulty.
And Daniela Sofronie, Catalina Ponor and Monica Rosu nailed double-twisting vaults to signal their team's intent early.
"All of Romania had been waiting for this," said Andreea Raducan, a member of the winning team at Sydney in 2000.
"People didn't know what to expect as they are so young and don't have a senior member to look up to but they proved they can do well themselves. It is a great night."