Shannon Miller - 1996 Olympics Team Compulsories - Balance Beam

[kryceksangel]

It became more evident how much better the US Champ was then her teammates when they kept falling off of the beam and she didn't.

[Sunnyhaze2006]

I always know its Shannon by that white clip she always wore..it was her trademark @ every single meet.

[DC205504]

9.737

[shardyshaw]

JUST EFFORTLESS!

[mortella23]

This was flawless! No one can compare on this event!

[MargaretLeighh]

Her fouette was sooooo much better than every body else's. She didn't even wobble.

[gk891]

@MargaretLeighh I thought Mo Huilan's fouette was better. It had huge air time and she held the landing position amazingly well. That's not to say that Shannon's was bad or anything like that because it wasn't by any means!

[DowisK]

I wish they would bring back Compulsories, hey are beautiful and truly tell who is the true winner...gymnastics today is lacking because of that.

[tmwalkerm]

@DowisK I totally agree, puts everyone on a level playing field, and its not so subjective when they all do the same skills.

[bananas1and2]

I always loved compulsories. I love seeing the differences between the gymnasts' styles.

[peepers2221]

so fluid and graceful!

[RobDiVo]

What was her score?

[EdGringo78]

@RobDiVo 9.737

[37tonya]

I adore Shannon on this routine. Awesome form and control on all the dance moves.

[heyginny]

She made this look way to easy!!

[lucyric76]

I remember watching this when it aired and it still gives me goosebumps. The team was falling apart and it didn't phase her at all. This is what makes the great ones stand out. She was not the most talented out there, but what a hard worker and beautiful style she had - she put it together in competition to win medals. I do agree that we are too quick to give people perfect scores. The only performance of Shannon's that I REALLY feel deserved a 10 was her 1st vault at the 1992 Olympic AA.

[lucyric76]

@lucyric76 It makes me cringe watching the 1984 Olympics how they dished out 10s. Even when Mary Lou tripped during her floor routine.

[markedexclusive]

Do you mean the one she performed in the team finals? She tripped on her full twisting double back but that routine didn't get at ten. It was during the All Around she got a ten on floor.

[TwisterFlipp95]

@markedexclusive

i think lucyric76 means the step mary lou took on her last pass in the all around.

[lostlyrarose]

she did not trip. she covered up what could have potentially been a step. and everyone mentions mary lou on floor, but not szabo landing low and taking a hop on a full-in and scoring a 9.95. Far more egregious.

[JLFAN2009]

Times were different back then: not only were difficulty levels low but also, gymnasts could get away with taking steps on their dismounts. Look at Nadia Comaneci's routines, and you'll notice her scoring 10's -- despite failure to stick landings. This is precisely what led to score inflations later on -- the 1980's being the most notorious decade.

[luv4cookie1]

@JLFAN2009 um.. shannon took no steps in her routine

[luv4cookie1]

@JLFAN2009 excuse me gymnast could get 3 tenths off for the tinest steps now a days you can fall off the beam and still win a medal in the AA. Now a days gymnastics is so suckish they don't care about steps or grace all about the horribly preformed tricks. My motto for gymnastics : if you can't preform it with perfect form don't preform it at all

[JLFAN2009]

@luv4cookie1 The history of gymnastics scoring has had numerous ups and downs. Before 1976, a flawless routine earned at most a 9.9. Also, back in Nadia's days, it was acceptable to take slight steps or hops on dismounts. This fact, along with the introduction of the perfect 10, led to a massive score inflation in the 1980's. It didn't get curbed until after the 1992 Olympics (the last time a 10 was awarded). Since then, gymnasts have been severely punished for steps on landing.

[violet46]

@JLFAN2009 You are right about the tolerance of steps/hops on landings. Even Mary Lou's landing on her famous vault earning her the all-around gold medal didn't have a perfect landing, but she got the 10. Same thing with Nadia's compulsory bar routine in '96, she hopped slightly but still got the 10. They were focusing on the routine itself, and not so much on the landings.

[garaa9696]

@luv4cookie1 But remember 01'-04' ? Where people were winning medals with scores as 9.212? When just about NO ONE was sticking their vaults because only the crazy vaults had a 10.0 SV? You make valid points, but I feel that trend started when they began to grade individual moves and introduced the SV... but the old system was ripe with favoritism and blind eyes. I really miss some of that polish and finesse... but it's still out there! (Ferrari's fall-win will probably and hopefully be the last)

[dmann3g]

@lucyric76 - she was the best @ compulsories

[lostlyrarose]

I agree, but would say she also had a natural talent, a ballerina-like quality that really showed in compolsories.

[luv4cookie1]

whenever i see this routine it gives me the chills! it was absolutley gorgeous! her score was a 9.737 the higest beam compulsorie score of this olympics! it was so graceful fluent and perfectly done. 10.

[lostlyrarose]

Not a 10.00, because though no balance breaks, in compolsories, they were looking for every move to be at its optimum. Moceanu had better styles on a few moves. Having said that, miller's cartwheel and dismount and turns were great.

[luv4cookie1]

@lostlyrarose no moceanu's styles were optional and she had a big mistake on her handstand and she took a hop on her dismount, and miller's style represented grace and elegance

[vonnam21]

I think looking at her score by saying it was way too low is wrong because I think she actually had the highest compulsory beam score in the competition

[missmouse35]

well, thats the NBC comentators for u, if it were up to them, all americans would get 10's and everyone else would get 1's

[NYCBlonde]

@missmouse35 Complete nonsense. Tim and Elfi are very quick to point fingers at US gymnasts who mess up--watch the Athens team optionals & Sydney team prelims, they do not hold back. Ditto Beijing team optionals. And they praise non-American gymnasts all the time--watch Sydney (they praised the Russian style--eg. Kata Lobaznyuk, the Romanians--Raducan) and Athens (Li Ya, LePennec, Ponar). You don't know what you're talking about.

[JTGPCFL]

flawless.

[pappysprite]

What a horrible mistake to remove compulsories! You could see real talent differences between all the gymnasts. Shannon Miller was phenomenal. I loved this beam routine - it was absolutely perfect....it was great seeing Steve Nunno run over to her and tell her what a gorgeous perfect routine and Peggy Liddick telling her she couldn't have done it any better. I thought it deserved a perfect score.

[intldawn]

I don't know about a perfect score, but I do believe that taking away the compulsories was a silly idea, akin to taking away figures in skating. These routines force the athletes to master the basics and practice them every day. The quality of these athletes and of their technique is far superior to nearly anyone we saw from '97 on. IMHO.

[pappysprite]

I agree with everything you said...However, I would challenge anyone to find any flaws to this routine - I really do think it deserved a 10.

[intldawn]

If I had to nitpick, she bent her knee just a little in her Valdez and had an ever-so-slight break after her gainer back handspring. You could see her arm waver just a tiny bit. I imagine that's where the judges took deductions. That said, a 9.737 is too low. Both those "mistakes" were half a tenth, at most. That routine should have been 9.85 plus.

[pappysprite]

You have great comments. She seemed more perfect than any of the other competitors.

[uwoeric]

Totally, Podkopayeva got 9.700 for a routine with more several errors. This one should have been at least 9.8.

[PeaceLuvGymnasticz]

i see the break but not the knee bend......

[lostlyrarose]

I also think the score suffered cause it followed a fall. The setup score is important.

[JLFAN2009]

A very similar thing happened in Athens 2004, when Carly Patterson performed on the beam right after Courtney McCool fell. Because it was the best of the Americans, and the second highest score (Courtney Kupets') was only a 9.55, the judges gave Carly only a 9.725 -- despite it clearly deserving at least a 9.80. By contrast, Catalina Ponor of Romania got a 9.775, despite failure to stick her dismount.

[tmwalkerm]

@pappysprite I agree, not just because of how amazing Shannon was. I just like the idea of seeing the athletes go head to head doing the exact same routines, it eliminates the subjectivity, or some of it, that comes with the judging. If they hit the elements, then they get rewarded, there's no pitting one athlete's style against another. Sure they do them their own way, but at least its fair if everyone does the same thing.

[ShawnVikaKomova2012]

@pappysprite I know. Ever since compulsories have been removed there has been no artistry and the Chinese have terrible kips and dead hangs. Those are the few problems.

[ladodgerschick]

It would be awesome if there were still compulsories!

[mammabutterfly75]

I still think she was beautiful back then before she had all of the work done on her face. Either way one of the best gymnasts of all time in my opinion.

[ostentatiousvirtue]

What was her score what was her score???

[yngtxtopbear]

9.737

about .15 too low in my opnion. There was very little errors in this routine.

Nearly every balance beam routine in the compulsaries at these games were underscored.

[cleicsioluek]

Its so bizarre to see all the girls perform the exact same routine!

[mzmissa]

Slight wobble right before her back walkover, looking hesitant and cautious throughout...she performed it the cleanest but nobody attacked this compulsory set the way Huilan did. Not even Podkopayeva.

[yngtxtopbear]

I will agree with this statement. I was so bummed out when Mo and Kui did not make beam finals! Kui could have won the gold!

[caramelcreamsauce]

Really the best TC BB of the olympics :)

[WhoIsJohnGalt27]

she did have pretty bent arms in her BHS...

[icarrus4u]

Nice, nice, nice, nice, I love Shannon Miller what a great gymnast!

[Chuckie1028]

AWESOME ROUTINE, the only one on the team who was so fluid in that routine from her teamates, she made it look so easy and can you imagine that pressure after Jaycie fell, Kerri, Dominique and Amanda all having big wobbles, she had to pick the momentum back up again and she did that!

[Selecious]

she didn't make this routine look as easy as some of the other gymnasts i'm afraid to say. and i like miller a lot. but...polish is nothing if it's going to look cautious.

[maxy7792]

would you rather be cautious then fall of the fricken beam? ass

[Selecious]

left field much? are you a child?

i love miller. but when there's hesitation & caution quite visible in your routine and face, it takes away from the performance. i applaud her for being able to hit it, i'm just saying that she looked more cautious than other gymnasts.

[maxy7792]

sorry i just threw that at you, i was just saying i thought you meant it in a bad way, but now i know it is in a good way sorry

[saruhe]

Back when artistic gymnastics was still artistic. I miss these days.

[LhunGalad]

That is why she won beam in Atlanta! She is just brilliant from start to finish. No one owned beam in Atlanta like Shannon! Man, if only compulsories were still around.

[geishasecrets]

why didn't the favortistic commentators not comment on the balance check and ever so slight bobble at time 1:03, she wavers, interrupts the flow, and her left foot shifts to balance herself.

Pod's compulsory was cleaner!

[dbhmr]

@geishasecrets Disagree. If we're going to be as picky with Lilia as you were with Shannon, Lilia had a check on her fouette jump and on her full turn, and did not hold her leg up the way Shannon did after her cartwheel and gainer back handspring. Neither routine was 100% flawless, but each got the (conservative) score they deserved.

[nsyncchick8877]

@geishasecrets: I've seen the 1996 Olympic compulsories more times than I can count. What happened with Shannon, didn't break the rhythm of the routine. And by the way, it was as you said "ever so slight" so the judges didn't think it was enough to warrant a major deduction. She took maybe a half of a second to adjust.

I saw three places that Lily-pods compulsory beam had moments of being cautious. Both girls scores that were deserved.

[panic042]

sorry i didn't know how they scored and stuff and i just wanted to know what she did wrong! :]

[poKELIop]

it seemed a little safe instead of wow

[littlefairy1983]

That's as it was the compulsories. Moves set out by FIG not the gymnasts. All gymnasts did the same routine in the compulsories.

[dannyradar]

stfu

[littlefairy1983]

Is there any need to be so rude?

[dominiquemoceanu90]

shes just so elegant! look at her hands. the entire time she has her middle finger and thumb down doing "gymnast hands."

[panic042]

she got 9.737. i don't know why.. could somebody point out the mistakes for me plz??

[dbhmr]

Well it was probably a little lower because Jaycie had just fallen from the beam so judges usually tighten up. They were particularly picky during beam compulsories, but in this absolutely stellar routine I found two minute errors: slight knee bend in valdez, very slight pause before last back walkover in that final series. Also, if you watch Mo Huilan's routine, she shows more amplitude in some movements. But Shannon's routine was tops.

[bettycoltrane85]

It was the best score of everyone's in the night. but her gainer back handspring had bent arms, and yeah, some of the movements lacked the amplitude of others.

[FireDannyAinge]

It didn't lack amplitude at all. It was the best routine of the night and should have been scored a lot higher then 9.737

[caramelcreamsauce]

Yes! If it were '92, it would have been at least 9.95 or 9.975.

[russianskatingfan]

Umm that was the best score in compulsory beam. That was actually a great score. The judges were extremely hard on compulsory beam, much more then any other event.

[gohlkex3]

what did she score

[audie83]

Shannon hit one out of the ball park for the USA here-as well as Moceanu. Experience and the new kid on the block. I remember I felt mildy ill as up to that point the U.S. seemed no better than the Romanians (except for Marinescu who at least showed some grace, and flow)-until Shannon and Dominique Moceanu rocked their sets.

[audie83]

Shannon and Domique Moceanu came through like Champs on compulsory beam. :)

[TuesdayPillow]

Best routine of the American team, possibly of any gymnast.

I miss compulsories - it seems like gymnasts had more style and presentation back when they were around.

[Smurfjr2000]

best dance of gymnastics

[LadyJynjr]

I know absoloutely nothing about gymnastics other than the fact that it's gorgeous and those girls are insanely talented, so all of you gymnasts who know what you're talking about, I'd be grateful if you could answer a question for me: Are all gymnasts competing in compulsories given the same routine to perform? I've watched videos of Mo Huilan and Lilia Podkovayeva's 1996 compulsories, and they look very similar, if not identical, to me. Thank you very much!

[lashenova]

Yes. They have (well actually had) compulsory exercises whiche had the same choreography and skills. Then the optionals in finals, All around and Event finals. These were the last compulsory exercises ever.

[gimkid94]

Yes they are all the same but they took out the compulsories after the 1996 games. Not sure why but they did.

[Kris87]

Apparently they took them out because they felt it hindered the artistic origninality of the gymnastics or something like that. Seems like they were extremely difficult so maybe some contemporary gymnastis are quite happy about the decision.

[LadyJynjr]

Ah, I understand now. I suppose that makes sense. Thanks everyone!

[dodgedakota1979]

i miss compulsories =(

[Satellitegirl41]

That was great!  She really knew how to deliver under pressure. Awesome routine.

[fatalbeauty]

Me also!

[gbnflipsta]

WHy did they stop?

[fatalbeauty]

I think it's because it was to "heavy" physically for the gymnast... too long...

[gymns411]

Thousands of people in the arena yell when she lands the dismount...BUT i you can still clearly make out Steve Nunno yelling when she lands too....hilarious.

[gw2012ogm]

hey thats steve nunno for you, right?

[mrparke007]

This routine is incredible for so many reasons. First, the needle scale is the best I think I've ever seen that done, including Yang Bo. Second, the handstand series is PHENOMENAL. No one could do that as well as Miller under that amount of pressure. God bless her!

[priscilla280]

beautiful routine...i wish they would bring compulsories back

[muffycat26]

Superb execution of this incredibly complex and tricky compulsory beam routine which many of the Worlds best had trouble even performing relatively smoothly or well. Miller, Podkopayeva, Kochetkova, Huilan, Moceanu, and maybe Marinescu were the only ones who did a good job. Miller got the highest score of anyone and well deserved.

[todosobretodo]

muffycat26, I am so glad to say that I finally agree with you as well! Outstanding routine by Shannon! She really proved to be a true master of this event with each routine at the 96 Olympics!

[7Millionaire7]

sick.

[audie83]

World class. Superb routine. Her grace, and flow-what a difference compared to the stiff as boards Romanians (with the exception of Marinescu) and frankly Shannon's teammates with the exception of Moceanu. Breath of fresh air after watching the gag-inducing Dawes, Milo, Gog, and Amanar back to back (I purposely watched their routines first over most). Thank you dionnewarwick for posting all these vids! I can't thank you enough! :)

[nassauking]

my name is shannon to so of corse she has skill

[chavbb]

love this routine! prefere it to alot of optional beam routines! mo huillans compulsory at atlanta was great too!

[ceedum]

The CLEANEST routine on the Beam compulsories! Shannon Rocks!

[caitlinette]

What did she score?

[tivofanatic]

9.737