Gymnastics gold medalist says Ukrainians were looking past team competition (08/11/96)

Gymnastics gold medalist says Ukrainians were looking past team competition

by Roman Woronowycz

ATLANTA - Rustam Sharipov, the 24-year-old gymnast who won the men's individual gold medal in the parallel bars, suggested on August 1 that winning the bronze in team gymnastics had not been the Ukrainians' main objective.

He explained that he and others prepared more for the individual competitions, although they thought all along that they were good enough for at least a bronze in the team portion.

"Before the Olympics I decided I was going to concentrate on individual rounds," he said. "I had one plan: to repeat my win on the parallel bars." Mr. Sharipov took the gold in the parallel bars the first time in Barcelona in 1992 with the Unified Team.

He also explained why Ukraine's leading gymnast, Hryhoriy Misiutin, qualified for only four of the six men's events, which hindered any chances the team had to rise above the bronze.

"He only trained for four events. He learned compulsories only for four events (floor exercise, the rings, the vault and the pommel horse). You have to understand that it is tough to maintain your training."

He said that Misiutin also had geared himself to the individual rounds, specifically for the floor exercise, where he ended up in eighth place. In 1992, Misiutin won the men's all-around individual silver with the Unified Team.

Sharipov, an ethnic Tadjik who has lived in Kharkiv since 1986, also shed light on a story that appeared in The New York Times a day after the men's team competition, which said he will be moving to Australia. "I am not sure yet," said the husband and father of an infant daughter. "I have an offer. It's an athletic opportunity. The National Federation of Australia said they will take care of me. But I am not sure. I need to think about it."

He said his most immediate interest is to take the best possible care of his family.

He also said that he and Liliya Podkopayeva are very close friends, who have a sibling-type relationship. "I am like her older brother. Sometimes I have to explain to her about life," he said. "For her it is the first time receiving so much attention. It is difficult. I love her like a sister. Inside she is still like a kid."

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