Romania Wins World Women’s Gym Title; United States Finishes Disappointing Sixth

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands —  Romania edged the Soviet Union to win the overall women’s title Friday in the World Gymnastics Championships, while the United States finished sixth.

Romania, with three 10s by Aurelia Dobre, finished with 395.400 points. The Soviets had 394.950. East Germany was third, followed by China, Bulgaria and the United States.

The Soviets led after the compulsory exercises as Elena Shushunova earned 10s on the vault and in the floor exercise. Shushunova was the only Soviet to get a 10 during the freestyle portion, while Romanians earned seven 10s.

The U.S. team was sixth after the compulsory competition, following a disappointing performance by Kristie Phillips, the overall winner at the Pan American Games in August.

Phillips, 15, scored only an 8.925 on the balance beam in the compulsory exercises and finished with 38.675 points, second among the Americans behind Sabrina Mar, who had 39.100.

“It is definitely a little disappointing,” U.S. Coach Greg Marsden said. “But we have a very young, inexperienced team, and they were a bit tentative.”

In men’s competition that concluded Thursday, Dmitri Bilozerchev led the Soviet Union to its fourth world title in five years.