LAST TIME around the memories got burned in like tattoos. Made to last images. Bela Karolyi lifting little Kerri Strug in his arms. The red faces. The tears. The happiness.
Atlanta. The US built their tally steadily all the way through to Strug's leap. Last day and it was clear Strug would hit nine only if she took her jumps and nailed it to the floor. Bingo. Gimpy foot and all, she did it.
America won, thereby ending a Russian dominance which had been unbroken since 1952. With the qualifying rounds getting under way tomorrow the world is a little different. America will find it tough to rule here again.
In 1996 Karolyi put together a gang of kids who would become known as the "Magnificent Seven". On home turf they managed to pull off America's first women's team title. Since then the troubles have arrived. Kids get old quickly, get other lives, new distracted talents emerge.
Shedding members quickly the American's struggled at the following two World Championships finishing sixth both time. Desperate times require desperate remedies. Karolyi was lured out of retirement yet again to take over as national team co-ordinator.
The Americans have been working hard for the past couple of weeks here. Their presence has certainly excited the local populace in Sydney. People have been trying to put faces to the names of the gymnasts. Easier said than done. Karolyi has brought the new wave with him.
Only two of the "magnificent seven" remain - Amy Chownow (22), who was a silver medallist on the uneven bars and Dominique Dawes who claimed a bronze on the floor in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Russians reacted strongly on the issue. They have appointed Leonid Arkaev as head coach to both the men's and women's teams. Results have been promising. The Russians announced they were back with a win at the recent European championships in Paris.
Reflective of the changed times is the age of their superstar Svetlana Khorkina, the 21-year-old material girl who captains the team. Khorkina recently shocked Russia by doing a Playboy spread but if critics were looking for a weakness they were forced to wait. In Paris Khorkina won three out of a possible five gold medals as well as a team gold. Together with the gloriously moody Elena Produnova, the current world vault champion, and a handful of other younger stars, Khorkina looks set to become of the characters of these Games.
The Russians will be strong favourites and if there is excitement it will probably be something to do with the struggles of the Australian team to live up to the crazy partisanship already on display here.
