Olympic Preview: Artistic Gymnastics First Olympic Appearance:
1912 (men); 2000 (women) by Mike Morrison and Mark Zurlo Always
one of the most popular summer Olympic sports, gymnastics has
given us some of our most memorable moments and personalities in
recent Olympic history. In 1972, Russia's Olga Korbut helped
take our minds of the horrors going on in Munich and in Vietnam.
In 1976, Romania's Nadia Comaneci recorded the first perfect
score in Olympic gymnastics history, then proceeded to record
six more for good measure. In 1984, American Mary Lou Retton
dazzled us with her smile and spunk, and in 1996, it was the
"Magnificent Seven" and Kerri Strug's gutsy vault that ensured
the gold for the United States. So the burning question this
year isn't necessarily, "Which country will win the gold?" but
rather, "Which gymnast will become the darling of the London
Olympics?" While rhythmic gymnastics are performed with an
apparatus (ropes, hoops, balls, etc.), artistic gymnastics are
performed on an apparatus. Me