1999 U.S. Gymnastics Championships - Women - Day 1 - All Around - Full Broadcast

[@6thwilbury2331]

A little rabbit hole sent me to this video. Lots of memories. I was on the media staff for this meet. Back then, this meet aired on a one-day delay, so a bunch of us watched the telecast from the ARCO Arena media room (no smartphones and tablets in those days). At what is the 36:06 mark of this video, I heard a little voice behind me: "Do they have to show it again??" I turned around, and it was Vanessa Atler. The other thing about this meet - and actually what drew me to look for this video - was that a tremendous amount of the media's attention was on Kristie Phillips. That part doesn't show up in the telecast. But at the end of each session, when we got the media request list, it would be for Maloney, Atler, Dantzscher and Phillips. Or Maloney, Atler, White and Phillips. Phillips every time. I'm surprised she didn't get asked to the men's pressers (e.g. Roethlisberger, Hamm, Wilson and Phillips). Funny to think that Phillips was drawing a lot of interest for being a 27-year-old still in the sport. Meanwhile, Oksana Chusovitina, who is roughly the same age as Phillips, is still going in 2020.

[@uwoeric]

It's too bad there was so much focus on the AA because Vanessa could have been a great specialist on VT/BB/FX like Alicia Sacramone and Cheng Fei and had a great career being team captain while raking in individual medals. Oh what should have been...

[@darlenesleeth-poirier1997]

I just commented that

[@thetigerbeat007]

Vanessa's coaches were idiots for keeping that move in her bars routine... how did it not occur to them in the thousands of hours they spent with her to throw it out? They probably shattered her confidence keeping that move in.

[@StacyA1000]

I agree !!

[@dejuanmitchell7687]

thetigerbeat007 they kept it bc she hit it in practice. She hit in competitions. 1997 us champs for instance.

[@colleenbauhaus7486]

It was purely a mental block for her. And it was all mental from the very beginning. Yes she was hitting in practice and choking in competition (the vast majority of the time). It was stubbornness on Steve Rybackie's part in my opinion. His stubbornness is the reason it was kept in. Vanessa was past her peak as a gymnast by the time 2000 rolled around. If Vanessa would have been paced properly and if her uneven bars routine was revamped...it could have been different. But adult pride and adult stubbornness prevented that. Sad.

[@owhite7478]

I mean you are correct but I think they wanted to push her (so she won’t think she can just get by or whatever is in their mind),but they also could have added a different release or just something else(more twisting for instance)0 but yeah I still agree though and she is a great gymnast ,but if she believes in herself more she could be the best in the entire USA.

[@casandraleff4462]

Vanessa did an interview with Gymcastic in 2017, where she discussed the Comăneci, and it was very interesting. One of the things she said was that she wasn’t really that consistent on it in practice. She had a hard time on bars in general, which you can really see if you go back and watch her routines. She also said she was the one who wanted to keep doing that release, because she didn’t have to go over the bar to do it.

[@NYCBlonde]

Good Lord, the Rybackis were terrible. Take the Comaneci OUT, what is the big deal? She was amazing on every other event, and she rocked most of her bars set as it was. Steve ripping her on national TV after her set, and then Beth cooing in her ear after the results were finalized about what she'd done wrong? Classis example of BAD COACHING. Vanessa, you were great.

[@Cmc995]

It’s true, they seem caring but at the same time maybe a bit hard on her? After her beam routine which was pretty darn solid except one part, Beth says ‘wasn’t your best but..’ maybe she should have worked with Kelly Hill, she always had a smile and positive feedback even if a mediocre performance, or Mary Lee Tracy(..though Morgan White claimed she advised her not to eat, Mary lee says she actually encouraged Morgan to put on weight..hmm) seems she was more encouraging than the Rybackis that were focusing on her weaknesses instead of celebrating her strengths

[@gymcentric5727]

@@rolandgreen7484 she went about 9.5 with an extremely downgraded routine, she was a decent bar worker.

[@timothygruber2587]

@@gymcentric5727 you say downgraded routine as if she were capable of anymore. The only thing she was ever capable of doing on bars was the downgraded routine you refer to. Which is what she should have been doing all along mind you, since anything more she is guaranteed to fall.

[@neilstewart486]

Do other clubs look at the Parkettes and go wtf? Why do they have six coaches on the floor. It’s absurd.

[@JennaLeigh]

Why is Kristen Maloney's coach trying to get in Atlers head like that? Then later at the 2000 Nationals he blatantly HELPED Kristen with a release element and got ZERO deductions. Thats DIRTY. PERIOD. Why in Gods name did they keep that damn Comaneci in? Just take it out! Terrible coaching.

[@DizzyedUpGirl]

The announcers even called out that assist.

[@LoliNana]

Vanessa Atler was so amazing, i wish she would have been competing 10 years later.

[@willsbob123]

Vanessa was one in a million.

[@DizzyedUpGirl]

I swear, announcers just love to bring up Vanessa's falls and mistakes on bars like as if each one is a present on Christmas morning.

[@katq4503]

They did note though that it's the same release three years in a row. They should've changed her routine...

[@DJDiegoGarcia]

Love that they have used Massive Attack's music in the beginning. It doesn't get more 90's than that...

[@MissLilRedRooster]

If Vanessa had only come along in the next two quads, she could easily have given up bars entirely and been a specialist. Sigh.. What could have been.

[@murasakino101]

I agree. She was absolutely solid on floor and vault even with a few balance checks on beam, she always hit that as well so she definitely could have taken out bars and rocked in the next comps. She was good on bars as well, just couldn't get passed her nerves and her coach certainly didn't help by keeping in the main skill she was inconsistent on smh. Still breaks my heart that she never got to fully shine

[@Emmehxx]

Jack Carter going over to Vanessa seemed... odd. Especially pointing out her "demons" with UB, right before she was going to compete. Obviously he would be rooting for his gymnast and I'm sure he knew how close the standings were.. perhaps trying to rattle Vanessa a bit?

[@sopranomegs]

Not doubt in my mind it was to rattle/psych her out. Her problems with bars (take out the freaking Comaneci Steve!) were well publicized. Carter knew exactly what he was doing IMO.

[@sjekci]

Yup. He saw the two amazing vaults Vanessa had just done and knew she was in the zone. He also knew that Vanessa was more talented than Kristen and was going to win easily as long as she didn't fall. So he tried to psyche her out. I never liked the Parkettes. Vanessa was the only gymnast I even cared about in this broadcast.

[@williamt594]

excuse me, why did Kristen maloneys shit in a handbag dty score ONE TENTH lower than Vanessa Atlers? wtf?

[@benrobinson77]

That whole Parkettes group of coaches seem really weird, same with their dynamic with their gymnasts. Adler, Maloney, Kim Kelly, etc. Always controversy around them. Weird.

[@kras118]

Who is Adler?

[@JennaLeigh]

@@kras118 obviously they mean Atler. 😐

[@NYCBlonde]

Yes! Bill's always crying (see EBee in 2012), there are always *way* too many people invested in the success of this teenage gymnast which is creepy AF. Stop placing so much importance on the success of your gymnast. Their responsibility is to *them* and *their* success, not yours. Just effing chill. Teenage gymnasts don't need to see Pa Bill cry. That's putting WAYYYY too much weight on their success. (And frankly, treat them a little better--JENNIFER SEY--and maybe it won't be so long until the next one.)

[@MeganWoodard1984]

Beth and Steve destroyed Vanessa's career, she blames it now on Valeri but if Beth and Steve are the ones who destroyed any confidence she had

[@JennaLeigh]

Agreed totally. A good coach.....hell, a DECENT coach could see that the issues she was having with her UB routine all stemmed from and centered around the Comaneci. All the had to do was take it out. She was absolutely lights out good on everything else. Remove the Comaneci, build on Vanessa's strengths-- she had so many! And boom! Champion gymnast. Vanessa Atler, in my opinion, stands as one of the strongest examples of how USAG coaching can destroy a world of potential and talent. My heart breaks for Vanessa when i think about it.

[@sjekci]

Keeping this in perspective, Vanessa was still the silver medalist in the country at this meet. Things were still fine, and would have continued to be fine if Vanessa and her coaches would have sat down and actually talked to each other about bars and routine construction. They needed better communication, but I really thought Beth and Steve were right for Vanessa. Leaving your coaches a month before a World Championships is never a productive move, and then Vanessa got sick under Valeri. Regardless of bars, things didn't start to unravel until Vanessa felt hopeless without a coach and then got sick.

[@Lovememore231]

Completely agree they were super negative. And Beth was trying to fulfill her own Olympic dreams through Vanessa!

[@glaznflip1501]

Steve Rybacki creeps me out, is he still with USA gymnastics?

[@ilovesnoopy7018]

Steve and his wife are creepy

[@katevand]

@@ilovesnoopy7018 so much

[@Gymnastics-me8hu]

@@ilovesnoopy7018 how are they creepy? sorry i don't really know much of their personality to be honest

[@gymcentric5727]

@@Gymnastics-me8hu they said they wanted to be there for Vanessa when she got married and Beth wanted to watch her give birth 😥

[@stereotypea123]

Yeah that was highly suspicious that Maloney’s coach was talking to Atler right before her bars set ABOUT bars. I wonder if his little comment about how she “already slayed that dragon” got in her head 🤔🤔

[@susandilaudo9534]

was never a fan of Maloney ' s gymnastics. quit following the sport around this time. no comparison between she and Atler. Vanessa ' s gymnastics was far superior to anyone else at that time.

[@melissagold9491]

Too bad Atler choked when it mattered. At least Kristen was consistent.

[@ccaruso0404]

I wanted Vanessa to do well so badly on bars. I still think she would have contributed to team USA on floor and vault (maybe beam) at the Olympics. I was devastated for her.

[@Cmc995]

Vanessa could have been the next Shannon Miller but didn’t have the mentality. She wasn’t perfect but lots of good qualities. That dismount on beam, wow!

[@mht4908]

Kristen had the more difficult floor routine, but Vanessa was the only one that draws you in. No doubt that Vanessa was the better gymnast, looking at the results in both 1998 and 1999, had she not fallen she would've been the one on top. Such a shame that she let her problems on bars affect her other 3 events during the Olympic trials, of course, injuring her ankle didn't help either

[@sjekci]

Kristen's coach had no business approaching Vanessa like that and trying to get in her head about bars after she had just done two of the best vaults of her life. Vanessa was the better gymnast and Kristen's coaches knew it, so that guy resorted to inappropriate tactics to try to get the win. I really loved Beth and Steve and how they coached Vanessa, but they're stubbornness with that release move was confusing, especially since they did seem to have a very good relationship with her. Both sides should have communicated better. There had to have been other skills she could learn to get to a 10.0 start value.

[@nicolemccoy4798]

I’ll never get why they didn’t take the Comaneci out of Vanessa’s routine. Why did they just not go the route Maloney did and remove the release move and add some pirouette work for some extra points. The rybackis were awful coaches.

[@juanantoniomoreno3409]

34:00 bad coaching. He made her feel more anxious using sarcasm.

[@Tiger-cm1qc]

I won't say who but, when I watch this era of gymnastics, it drives me crazy that one of the successful gymnasts got away with such awful form ugh. Also, Atler's DLO on floor... unreal. I forgot about beautiful and sky high that was. What an amazing gymnast.

[@JennaLeigh]

That gymnast.....whose name may or may not rhyme with "misten baloney"....also has a coach who deliberately went and said uncalled for things to Atler RIGHT BEFORE she took the UB. Later on at 2000 nationals her coach blatantly assisted her during a release element on her UB routine, yet got ZERO DEDUCTIONS. Let's be real. "That gymnast" only saw success during this time because there just wasn't a superstar. The vets were finishing up and kinda in and out of the scene. Several potential top stars couldn't shake nagging injuries.....and that damn Comaneci was the bane of poor Vanessa Atler's existence. That girl would be a STAR in today's system. Its a shame... if it wasnt for the extenuating circumstances, "that gymnast" wouldn't have been in sniffing distance of National Championships.

[@Lovememore231]

Kristen's tumbling was hideous

[@dustintillman3101]

Y'all sound like the dumb commentator "Kristen didn't win Vanessa lost". Which is sad cause Kristen worked for what she got. But...I don't know why any body would send there kids to the parkettes or rybackis. Seriously, so frustrating.

[@bigbennie96]

Vanessa's 2nd vault should have been in the 9.9 range not 9.7 robbed

[@mulliganbrian]

Atler's second vault: BOOM!!!

[@darlenesleeth-poirier1997]

It's too bad vanessa came along when you had to be an all arounder. She was great

[@amelie5539]

I LOVED how kristen maloney used music from west side story for her floor routine!!!

[@MzKaylcC]

I just don’t know why they didn’t change her bar routine...

[@dustintillman3101]

I wouldn't let my daughter be around steve rybacki for 30 minutes. No way!!!! he would coach her.

[@StacyA1000]

I never liked Maloney ' s gymnastics. She was so bottom heavy.

[@martinakrans3796]

I love Vanessa she should been winning not malony dont like kristen at all

[@JohnDoe-me6lh]

morgan's dance, ugh! She is only 16 though.

[@kaylajones4356]

WAS only 16. This was a LONG time ago dude

[@gcc9588]

Can anyone explain to a novice the deductions to Atlers second vault? Thank you 27:25

[@E_Love83]

i don't get the same reaction everyone got from the parkettes coach coming up to atler. i felt the good spiritedness in it. plus, jack carter was the guy who refused to turn over sang lan's unfortunate vault crash to the press, right?

[@trodairebeag]

That wasn't Jack Carter. That was Tom Forester

[@PeirsolFan2]

@@trodairebeag WRONG - it was Jack Carter.

[@coldplaylover89]

What song is this!??? I can’t figure it out!! Yes I know it’s random, but what is the song they’re playing in the beginning!!?

[@kras118]

Always love Vanessa's ro-bhs-dbl tuck dm on beam. so efficient

[@mariajeronimo1427]

u guys are. really good

[@Cmc995]

I don’t know, I don’t feel Morgan and Alyssa Beckerman were quite ready to be Olympics ready in a year. They seem a bit to young mentally and their skills and form etc too inconsistent. As for Vanessas’s coaches, first thing when she comes off the beam harping on the one mistake ‘Wasnt your best but..’, for someone with low self esteem that really doesn’t help, she needed someone like Kelli Hill or Steve Nunno, who almost jump for joy after every element regardless of perfection.

[@ppasszeessn4419]

Take the Comaneci OUT,

[@crised5]

Great vídeos :-)

[@FlorzinhaDraw]

this year while these women were shining I was being born in a city in Rio de Janeiro, more accurately speaking I had already been born when this championship happened, I was born in February kkk

[@MzKaylcC]

Jennie Thompson idk why she didn’t stick around

[@rexjdk]

I believe she had an ankle injury that required more surgery.

[@ashrose214]

Morgan White is a true 90's kid :) I wish Vanessa Atler could do like an interview of what her life is like now and how she's grown since then. I mean I know she's a gymnast instructor for a recreational special needs place, but I'm dying to see the kind of person she's become!

[@willsbob123]

Vanessa has an interview that she did and it’s on KZbin. Just type Vanessa Atler 2021.

[@vanni6230]

Ho Visto Ora Anche la, Ginnasych!!!?!!!*** VANESSA ATLETE!?!* "BRAVISSIMA"! VG. 20:9:2022 BAY!?!* 🤗❤🤗💚🤗💙🤗

[@191peacelove]

Geez morgan white says like way to much

[@foodculture6355]

The late 90's were so bad for US gymnastics. All these gymnasts are horrible.

[@JennaLeigh]

The camp system beat these girls to death. They were run ragged. Granted, this was definitely a very rough patch for USA, with vets like Dawes, Miller, and Moceanu being iffy. I've always believed the age prejudice in WAG was a factor in those 3 in particular- announcers spoke of Shannon Miller like she was elderly when she was 19. So while Dawes, Miller, Borden, Strug, Moceanu, and even Zmeskal could have been more present, they weren't. Several girls were dealing with awful personal issues as well.... this time was rough. But Atler, Thompson, Ray, Maloney...were good. Unfortunately they just weren't the superstar caliber we were used to.

[@Cmc995]

Jenna Leigh's Beauty Slam Vanessa had qualities that were ahead of the others just not the mental strength unfortunately

[@alicemcfarlane9717]

I dare to disagree. Vanessa Atler was a revelation, talent on a stick. She simply lacked the grit & mental strength of a girl like Kristen Maloney.