International GYMNAST Magazine Online: Mazeika: Pre-Olympics "Invaluable Experience"

Mazeika: Pre-Olympics "Invaluable Experience"
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IG Online on Friday, November 30, 2007
 
Despite an eighth-place finish in Thursday's team final at the "Good Luck
Beijing" meet, U.S. coach Kevin Mazeika told IG his team has had a positive
experience here.
"It was an up-and-down day, but overall it's always great to get the 6-3-3
experience," he said, referring to the team final format in which six gymnasts
comprise a team, three compete on each event and all three scores count. "And
being in the Olympic arena is always an invaluable experience."
Fourth at the World Championships in Stuttgart in September, the U.S. earned
the eighth and last position for the team final here during qualifications. In
the team final, the Americans performed inconsistently to finish eighth, more
than 14 points behind the winning Chinese.
There was no all-around competition held for the men. David Sender, who
qualified fifth to Saturday's floor exercise final and eighth to Sunday's vault
final, will be the only American in the men's event finals.
Mazeika said he and the American gymnasts will learn from their performances at
the National Indoor Arena, the same facility that will house the gymnastics
competition next summer.
"Having been in the arena, on the equipment and in the warm-up gym here has
been really helpful," he said. "We're going to go back and continue our mission
of improving our Start Values, work on details and get ready for the Olympic
year."
Watch streaming video of the men\'s competition!
For results, schedule, photos and more, visit the official event Web site
http://www.gymnastics2007.org.cn