Vanessa Atler - 1998 US Nationals Finals - Uneven Bars

[garyj79]

Lots of flexed feet here - always on that Comaneci skills she did ! not nice too see..........

[adw7984]

I remember watching this live when I was younger! I cried now and I cried then - amazing!

[Timic83pronc]

"Is the demon gone?" Man! I wish it was. It would've been great if she had her shot at the Olympics even though the U.S. didn't medal. She could've contributed greatly on Vault, Beam, and Floor if only she didn't prove in Day 2 of the trials that she folds easily in pressure-packed situations. So sad :(

[tumblefan101]

you could tell that she was nerverous she was rushing she wanted to get off but she knews as soon as she landed that it was her best bar routine ever !

[Rynryn99]

9.8 is very apprpriate. A routine with three release moves and a stuck landing deserves a 9.8 and this was back in 98 when scores like that were given out more often. Maloney and Ray got scores like that too.

[benrobinson77]

@Rynryn99 3 release moves??? i only see 2

[ericmaine]

@benrobinson77 at :39, her Pak salto to the low bar is considered a release move

[Rynryn99]

@benrobinson77 the release between bars also

[russianskatingfan]

@Rynryn99 If this deserved a 9.8 then Elise Ray should have gotten a 10.1. The reality is this routine would only get a 9.5 at best at the World level with all the form, swing, and technique issues.

[intldawn]

@russianskatingfan True, but scores are always a bit inflated at Nationals. All things considered, the judges probably wanted to give her some encouragement for finally putting it together.

[tbee20101]

@russianskatingfan It's funny how you never criticize Russian gymnasts for having inflated scores.

[russianskatingfan]

@tbee20101 False I have said Zamolodichkova is one of the most overscored gymnasts ever, the 2nd most overscored of this era after only Atler. 

[ants2876]

A 9.8!?! Did the judges think this was the NCAA Championships. What an insult to gymnasts like Ray, Beckerman, Antolin, even Maloney who deserved to score much higher than this.

[NYCBlonde]

Bless her heart, good for her.

[TwisterFlipp95]

i remember when dionewarwick had this video up, that they ended the video so that you couldn't see the reaction she had and now i see it im surprised that she was crying! I just thought she would be reallly happy but not to the point of tears.

what a great moment for vanessa!

[tmwalkerm]

amazing, you can see the sheer relief on her face. People who don't know her history have no idea what a huge deal that was, really proud of her :).

[estefi2005]

great routine!!! :)

[kawaiichick]

Awesome routine. Its too bad she didn't hit her routine like this every time. :/

[Viovirtuosity]

Way to go Atler!