Kerri Strug - 1994 Worlds Team Finals - Floor Exercise

[MTVMANN]

Geza and Marta taught her how to dance!

Interesting her 1991 routines weren't THAT bad compared to what she did later. At least in 1996 in wasn't horrid.

[herzchen666]

I'm feeling conflicted in that I strongly dislike the music but the composition goes with it well (as in, I am not a fan but they match up and I can imagine other people enjoying the combo) and I find the routine strong in other ways (e.g. skills performed).

Ugh; I admire Kerri but probably would not be friends with her in real life, I'm guessing.

[hotwaiter]

was this a gymnastics routine or a ho-down? That was awful music.

[jukodebu]

shes a republican

[MelleAndKev]

The choreography and music are a little different than what I expect from Kerri, but I wouldn't say it's horrendous. The tumbling was top notch. The choreography went with the music (which I didn't care for) but let us remember that she wasn't training with the Karolyis at the time. (They wouldn't have had her use such a horrible piece of music on her best apparatus.)

[tannalv]

I could do better...

[moopoo66]

the music kerri the music! Uck! and that choreo! It's so unlike her! this didn't fit her at all, but great tumbling

[keishaloveschelsea]

Goofy dance but great tumbling and awesome landings especially for Kerri.

[memyselfandialwayz]

this is such a tiring routine. for the first 30 sec i wuz thinking BREATHE GIRL!

[No1ZmeskalFan]

So to all you people on here that DONT like it....yall dont matter, only the judges did. And they like it.. and She walked away with a silver medal from here...so im quite sure Geza AND Kerri could care less about all the hate you guys have up here!

[Dunntosh]

Lol. The matter of choreography is quite subjective. So to say those things is an opinion. Most people would agree that she's no Lilia Podkopayeva, and no, she isn't ethereal in her dance. HOWEVER, her choreo was not spastic, ugly or painful to watch to quite a lot of people.

I'll tell you who looks like a wind up doll? Nastia Liukin. The grace is there, yet the expression looks like it has been shot out of her head. Once again. MY opinion. I could say I ALSO have an eye for dance as well.

[metsdudenj]

the routine is horrendous in terms of its composition

[adventuregirl76]

@No1ZmeskalFan It was ugly. Period. Look at the routines of the Soviets from the 1980s if you need evidence of true dance and beautiful choreography. I like Kerri, but this is horrific.

[No1ZmeskalFan]

I'm not arguing that the russians were beautiful to watch. But just because this isnt balletic doesnt make it bad. Its a totally different style. You dont like it and thats cool. I did...and Judges did. We each have our own tastes and I can appreciate everything from wonderful dancers like Mostepanova and Frolova and Omelianchik to spunky energetic performers like Zmeskal Strug and Shawn. I see nothing wrong with either style. They both have their place in the world of gymnastics IMO. :)

[adventuregirl76]

@No1ZmeskalFan I didn't like the choreography at all. However, I THINK this could have worked for the right person. The fact is, Kerri had little to no expression and was pretty stiff in her movements. I think it might have worked fine for someone like Shawn Johnson, who has more personality on the floor. IMHO, this was just painful to watch.

[No1ZmeskalFan]

point taken.....:)

[adventuregirl76]

Is this the music from the "Beef. It's what's for dinner" commercial. Aargh.

[TuesdayPillow]

Actually they are similar but they are not the same. I actually knew a girl in my gym that HAD the Beef music. That was actually better than this routine.

[laurendee21]

What music was this? It reminded me of some kind of Riverdance theme, especially with the choreography and all.

[marieked]

it's by Aaron Copeland, "Rodeo". It's a ballet that was written and he did the music.

[adventuregirl76]

Worst floor music and choreo EVER. This is painful to watch. And what's with that guy in the crowd yelling at her in the beginning?

[Ashimrak]

You know what is so ridiculous? When I was in the fifth grade, I performed this exact routine (minus the watered-down tumbling) for my talent show. This choreography is so much worse in retrospect. I feel embarrassed for anyone who watched me.

[HeyButtahfly]

I wish people wouldn't use the word "retarded" like that. It's really insensitive. IMO, Kerri really pulled her weight in this competition. And the crowd really seemed to like this routine.

[tide32athlete]

I agree. She did amazing at this meet. Kerri is one of the only gymnasts who never counted a fall in world or Olympic competition. She made every turn count and always delivered. This routine was definitely entertaining and on of her best.

[escaflowne9282]

She had the most retarded floor routines ever.

[No1ZmeskalFan]

I think this is my favortie routine she ever had. The music was cute and the dance really reflected that. Geza is a genius and a personal hero of mine. That double lay was SICK!

[TuesdayPillow]

Geza is a genius? Personal hero? Oh my.

[No1ZmeskalFan]

Yes to come from where he came and be one of the most sought after and well respected choreographers of his day? To me thats a hero. Don't matter if you dont like him, I do. I think hes great. His routines are full of energy and fun to watch. And say what you will but Kerri scored VERY well here with this routine.

[TuesdayPillow]

I'm very glad Kerri scored well regardless of who choreographed her routine. I always wished she had done better individually but she got her fame from 96 - and deservedly so. As for people that seek out Geza for choreo (do they really still seek him out)? there's no accounting for taste. After all, look at what is considered "dance" these days.

[No1ZmeskalFan]

Not to mention that he also coached Michelle Campi who was a goddess

[iloveyourstory]

@No1ZmeskalFan who says she's a goddess?

[rfillangi]

One of her best floor routines ever. Great double layout.

[tide32athlete]

I love this routine! One of her best and even just a few months after that nasty fall from the unevens where she could easily have been paralyzed. She was always so energetic on floor and looked to really be having a great time!

[GaGuy1]

Awesome tumbling! I loved all of her floor routines, except for the one she had in '93 when she was training with Steve Nunno. That routine was horrible and probably cost her a medal at the world's that year. She had the best tumbling in the meet, but the choreography and music sucked!

[BindiGymn]

Actually, I believe it was the skill selection that cost her a medal. Nunno didn't plan her skills to fit the new rules for '93 so it was the little elements that weren't correct that cost her. A bit like Mohini Bhardwaj in 2004, losing an Olympic bronze medal because of her dance skills (turns and jumps) when her tumbling was fantastic.

[sirgio]

She was a very good gymnast, but I never thought in all her years of competing, that she used floor exercise music that suited her ability until the 96 games.

[Joeda6]

wow. i've never seen her land a double layout so high! and her last pass was landed really high too.