@Jameshistory Well, I will tell you why. Oksana grew somewhat and already had a lot of problems landing the full in as early as 1986. After the Goodwill games she changed to triple twist. Her growth, lack of strength relative to her size, and the injuries all combined in her lowering of difficulty. After she messed up in Rotterdam, the Soviets put her in a alternate position for most of the 88 season
@metsdudenj I always thought it was the other way round, rather than "watering down" the piked full-in for a triple full-punch front, I think she upgraded her difficulty there. Actually, she did a triple twist-punch front in '87, and in '88 (USA vs. USSR Invitational) a triple twist punch front 1 and 1/4! I always thought this was an amazing pass, and IG Mag quoted it as one of the innovations at the Rotterdam Worlds
@Jameshistory Oksana came to Argentina on exhibition shortly after this competition, end of '88 (she actually wore the same leo!). She looked kinda out of shape, she stumbled out of her double-full bars dismount, and wobbled her way on the beam (no aerials), really sad, I think she looked really disappointed after Seoul. I saw her 2 metres away, she had turned into a very beautiful young woman from the pixie she'd been in Montreal
I always wonder why the soviet changed her first pass (formerly a pike-full in to immediate back handspring) to a triple twist or triple twist punch front. During those standard in the 80's a triple twist was considered a difficult maneuver but never considered a true international skill like a full-in or double layout. I know she battled injuries in the late 1986. I wonder is that could have been a factor in the decrease of skills in 1987. The Soviet really overworked this great gymnast.
@emmyjo720 Yes a tripple twist is hard. From there on out it goes to VERY elementry stuff. A full twist to punch front for second pass? Double twist to end? Sorry, not hear to argue with someone who doesn't know what she herself used to do difficulty wise or what the standard and difficutly level in elite gymnastics is and or was even back then. No one does it but everyone can do punch fronts into next passes now becuz it's not difficult in the CODE and was a fad. I MYSELF could do it and did!
For someone who has a huge pedigree and difficulty level she sure has the worst amplitude. Even worse than Shannon Miller & Henrietta Onodi. I can’t how many times she barely made her dismount of piked double back. It makes me cringe how she misses hitting her head each time.
