Did you hear about this?
Poor form, in my opinion.
… Karolyi said immediately after the US loss to China that officials at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium disrupted Sacramone’s beam routine by delaying her performance for an extended period, breaking her concentration.
“First they called her name up, then they did not even put her name up even though the Chinese had finished … (it was) totally unusual holding,” she said.
“She was mentally prepared and then she had a mental break, then after not doing the job, the beam, on the floor exercise her concentration was bothered.”
Sacramone fell off the balance beam then slipped over during the floor exercise, opening the way for the Chinese to post a 2.375 point victory.
Karolyi insisted the world champion US team would have won gold if Sacramone had not become unsettled.
But a few hours later, USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny said the delay involving Sacramone’s beam routine happened because of scheduling issues related to the Games’ television feed.
“It’s a normal television thing that’s typical in international competition,” he told AFP.
“I don’t know if Martha knew exactly the details of what was happening when she said that.”
Asked if the outspoken Karolyi had lashed out due to the disappointment of seeing her team lose, Penny replied: “You could say that.” …
US clears Beijing officials of blame for gymnastics loss – AFP
Of course if Alicia had not fallen on either apparatus, the USA would still have finished with Silver. All other things remaining the same.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 