2002 US National Gymnastics Championships Notes: Karolyi Feels USA Gymnasts Ready for the World Note: For the The News Herald (TPNS) - 10-Aug-2002 - Cleveland, OH, USA -- Gymnastics success internationally for the United States has been cyclical over the years, largely related to the United States hosting World Championships and Olympic Games. And with the next world championships set for Anaheim next August, that cycle of success is now clearly on an upswing, believes coach and USA Gymnastics spokesperson Bela Karolyi. He should know. The Romanian emigre, who came to the United States nearly two decades ago, has loomed large in the shadows of some of the most brilliant performances in gymnastics history, from Nadia Comaneci's unprecendented string of perfect 10's at the 1976 Montreal Olympics to the more recent heroics of US legends Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug. "When you see these girls flying and jumping, it's so exciting," he said, referring to the young gymnasts competing in Cleveland this week who he is convinced will be ready to take on the world. "Watching those girls perform Thursday was one of the greatest satisfactions of my life. You can't see it right now, because they're still divided into the juniors and seniors. But you'll see it next year, and after that in Athens." He had similar words of praise for the men. "Blaine Wilson is trying to win the national championship for the sixth time. That's never been done. He's still trying. That's what's important. And he's still improving." Karolyi has been criticized over the years for his unique brand of egotism and spotlight-grabbing antics. But if he's guilty of that, he is guilty too of packing a ferociously infectious passion and excitement about his sport into his bulky frame. "Next year should be as big as 1984," he boldly proclaimed. "I guarantee it, if you're in the arena in Anaheim in 2003, you'll be excited."... Just before the men's all-around final began, Chevron, a partner of the USA Gymnastics men's team since 1999, added some incentive into the mix for their sponsored athletes -- a total of $15,000 in bonus earnings. Any Team Chevron member who won gold would take home $7,500, the silver winner $5,000, and the bronze winner $2,500. The eleven Team Chevron members competing here already receive base funding throughout the year, enabling then to train year-round at a world class level... Blaine Wilson, who won the parallel bars and still rings titles on Wednesday, will not compete in October's World Individual Event Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. "I'm going back for surgery on August 22," he said, "basically to clean out the shoulder." Wilson has been plagued with shoulder injuries the past several seasons, and hopes that an early end to his 2002 season wil give him ample opportunity to prepare for next year's team World Championships.

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