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CU Soviet ???nast Nicolai Andrianov on the rings in Philadelphia, U.S.A.
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SV Spectators applauding
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TV Soviet gymnast Ludmilla Tourischeva doing floor exercises
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Fans of the Soviet Union's great girl gymnast Ludmilla tourischeva had that could be their last chance to see her in action before she retires. ??? Monday (20 December) she staged her final performance in the current Soviet tour of the United States, before a delighted Philadelphia audience. The Soviet Union's top male gymnast, 24 year old Nicolai ???, also appeared.

SYNOPSIS: It is powerful and stylish displays such as this which put Andrianov in the rank of men's gymnastics. He is considered the best male allrounder in the world and as such has broken the Japanese stranglehold on the men's events. A member of the Soviet team which took the silver medal in the men's team championship at the 1976 Olympics, Andrianov proved his prowess on the rings with a good clear win in the individual items at the Games. He also won the horse vault and the floor exercise and took the combined exercises section from Kato of Japan.

But the show really belonged to Ludmilla Tourischeva, regarded as one of the great gymnastic stars of all time. Until July of this year she dominated the international arena, together with her team mate Olga Korbut, Then, at Montreal, the 14 year old Rumanian, Nadia Comaneci, ousted Ludmilla to become the new queen of Olympic gymnastics, even though the Russian girl took four gold medals at the games. Ludmilla now plans to concentrate n training younger gymnasts. Olga Korbut, incidentally, also stages what could be her final public performance on Monday, before the same Philadelphia audience.

She's retiring from competitive gymnastics to get married next year. Ludmilla, now 24 years old, is a sports psychology graduate from Rostov. She says she's lived her life in stages and now the major stage has come to an end. Whether that's true or not, she certainly gave a marvellous farewell performance.