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PAGE 22, WIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1988 Our Olympic Gymnas Whitby will be well rep- resented at the women's gym- nastic competition in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea this September, with three of the six girls on the team hailing from Whitby. "I was happy. I really wasn't expecting anything, I just wanted to do a good show and see what needed work," said 15-year-old Lori Strong who placed first in the Olympic trials held in Montreal last week. Strong will be joined on the womens' team by 18-year-old Christina MacDonald and 16-- year-old Larissa Lowing. All three belong to the Winstonettes Gymnasties Club of Scarborough. Coach Debbie Vidmar was very pleased with the girls' perfor- mance. "I couldn't be more happy. I knew all three should make the team but you have to be prepared for the unexpected. A disasterous event can happen," said Vidmar. That discription could have fitted Strong's performace during her mat routine when she fell twice on one of the first days of competition. "The last time Lori fell twice during that event was when she was nine," joked Vidmar. For Strong, the falls meant she had to try that little bit harder. K i ~NCt~o$ I "After that first day it was like a dogfight for first place. You felt a little more pressure but you have to keep fighting," says Strong, who admits it took her a while to get used to the floor. Strong finished the four-day event with a score of 154.825 points. Finishing second at the trials with a score of 153.650 points was MacDonald who admits that, at her age, this is her only chance at going to the. Olympics. "I didn't expect to finish second but I competed consistently," said MacDonald. While for many of the girls at the trials the competition was tense, MacDonald said she looked at the competition differently. "I tried to enjoy the meet. This was my last chance," said Mac- Donald who broke her ankie and required surgery just before the 1984 Olympic trials. She said she had no problems with her foot at this year's competition. While she was consistent throughout the trails, MacDonald says she has not yet hit her peak. I hope to do my best for the team," she said. The Canadian gymnastics team finished eighth in the world championships last year, the highest a Canadian team has ever placed. "Our (Canada's) reputation is getting stronger," said MacDon- ald. Strong agrees. "We're going into the Olympics with the team finish in mind. Good individual scoring comes out of the team approach," said Strong. "As a team we are strong. We are making a mark for ourselves," said Lowing, who placed sixth at the trials with a score of 152.450. Lowing's family recently moved to Pickering after living 13 years in Whitby. "I knew if I just did my job I would have a shot. I fell on the beam on the last day of competition so I thought I would end up as the alternate. I was pretty pleased when I placed sixth," said Lowing, 16. "When you fall you have to place it out of your mind. If you let it linger it ruins your chan- ces." She was also unware of ber scores or standing during the four-day trial. "I didn't want to know at all," said Lowing, who wants to make the finals in at least one event at the Olympics. Now, the three teammates will begin training with the rest of the Olympic team, Janine Rankin of Palgrave, Cathy Giancaspro of Montreal, Monica Covacci of Richmond Hill and alternate Lynette Wittmeier of Winnipeg. Training will be held at the Winstonettes gym in Unionville and in Toronto. "We will be developing team strategies and start bringing the girls up to standard," said Vid- mar who noted each girls' strong- est apparatus. "Lori's is the uneven bars, 'Christina also the bars with the beam a good second, and Larissa is good on the vault although she is quite competent in all four events." The three girls leave for Seoul on Sept. 5. "They need a good 10 days to adjust to the time difference and climate," said Vidmar. The three join swimmer Lori Melien and judoist Glenn Beau- champ as Whitby's representa- tives at the 1988 Olympics which begin Sept. 17.