2006年VOA标准英语- Rhythmic Gymnastics Gains US Following

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
30 January 

Rhythmic¹ gymnasts practice  
  
Immigrants from Eastern Europe have brought rhythmic gymnastics to the United States, where the sport that combines gymnastics and dance is gaining a following.  A recent competition brought gymnasts from more than a dozen countries to Los Angeles.

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They came from around the United States, and some competitors came from Mexico, Canada, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. 

To the sounds of music, they stretched and danced, and twirled ribbons and hoops², as a team of judges graded their performances.  Alla Svirsky formed the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics 30 years ago, and coached the U.S. rhythmic gymnastics team in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I started rhythmic gymnastics in Russia when this sport was the premier³ sport, number one," she said.  "Every parent, every mother dreamed to put her daughter in rhythmic gymnastics, because the girls looked beautiful.  They looked gorgeous, excellent.  When the kids walked in the street, everybody turned their head to look at them."

There are about 100 rhythmic gymnastics clubs in the United States, and many of their members are the children of immigrants.

Olga Karmansky, 19, is the top ranked U.S. rhythmic gymnast.  An immigrant from Moldova, the Brooklyn college student loves the music. 

 
Olga Kaarmansky 
  
"It's also cool because it's not only dance.  It's also the equipment, and there's a lot of risk, and it's really fun learning new tricks and stuff," she explained.

Tanya Garber is manager of the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics, which hosted the recent competition.  She says this is a European-dominated sport.

"Most of the European athletes [are] from Ukraine, Russia Belarus medal in most of the Olympic games.  Therefore, they have a much larger following in the European countries," she noted⁴.

But the U.S. audience in growing, and U.S. rhythmic gymnasts are holding their own in international competitions.  Former Olympic coach Alla Svirsky says the sport makes an impression on those who see it, and those who participate.

"Music and flexibility⁵ and dance and grace.  You cannot ever forget this," Ms. Svirsky added.

1 rhythmic   

adj.有节奏的，有韵律的

参考例句：

• Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
• Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。

2 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。