GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS : U.S. Is No. 2 Among <i> Everybody</i>

The United States women won a silver medal in team competition at the World Gymnastics Championships Wednesday night, marking the first time they had won a medal in this meet.

It also gave them a chance to delete the asterisk next to their silver medal from the 1984 Olympics. All the countries were here this time.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the United States entered a different arena tonight,” U.S. Coach Bela Karolyi said. “We have finally broken the close-knit chain set up historically year after year of the Soviets, Romania, the East Germans and China. Gold or silver, it doesn’t matter. We are now sending a strong message to the world that we are a competitor, and we cannot be disregarded anymore.”

Moreover, it’s an honor Karolyi has been awaiting 10 years, since he came to the United States from Romania and fought to coach the women’s team.

“This feels very good and is the happiest moment for me. I can guarantee it,” he said.

Tied with Romania going into the final rotation, the United States moved to its best event--the vault--and performed spectacularly. Kim Zmeskal was perfect, scoring the only 10 of the night. But the Americans didn’t need perfection. They had edged Romania after Zmeskal’s first vault to win the medal by 0.275 of a point, a mere step back on a dismount.

The gold medal went to the Soviets, who entered the day a little more than a point in front of the Americans and maintained their lead throughout to win by 1.939 points.

“We won by (almost) two points and that is a very big difference in gymnastics, so I am very happy,” said Alexander Alexandrob, the Soviet coach.

The intrigue here was brought about by the race between the Romanians and Americans for second place.

Entering the finals, the Americans were 0.143 of a point ahead of the Romanians. The U.S. gymnasts started well on the uneven bars, posting high marks, and followed with excellent performances on the beam to maintain an edge.

Shannon Miller made the individual apparatus finals in every event, the first time that has happened for an American in international competition.

Zmeskal made the finals in vault and floor exercise and Betty Okino in beam. Miller, Zmeskal and Okino also made the all-around competitions.

The difference with this team, Karolyi said, is that the gymnasts are hungry and aggressive, not afraid to compete. He has been saying all week that they always think they are going to win.

He can add a new quality: they are unafraid of pressure. They say they don’t feel any.

Moving to the floor exercise, the Americans had their first problem when Hilary Grivich missed on the landing of her first tumbling pass and scored a 9.087.

But Grivich’s score was thrown out when her five teammates performed well.

Zmeskal, dancing to Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood,” did one tumbling pass in which she did three consecutive handless backsprings, two handsprings and a double back flip. She hit all her moves and scored a 9.950.

Okino, who combines elegance with athleticism, also had an outstanding performance but was an inch or two short on two landings, scoring a 9.875. The same was true with Miller, who scored 9.887.

But Romania also had scored well and was tied with the United States going into the final rotation.

“I was concerned about the floor exercise, yes, but I knew we were going to the vault and that is our best event,” Karolyi said. “ ‘Bring it on, bring on the vault,’ I said.”

Michelle Campi, the leadoff gymnast the entire meet, opened with a mark of 9.787. Grivich followed with a 9.912, Okino and Miller scored 9.937’s and Kerri Strug a 9.925.

“We knew we were tied, but we are strongest in the vault. Then Hilary and Michelle got us started and the scores just built up,” Okino said.

The Americans didn’t win by default. They won by scoring big. When Zmeskal scored 9.962 on her first vault it was all over for Romania.

The top 12 teams from this meet qualify for the Olympics. China finished fourth, followed by Bulgaria, Australia, Spain, Hungary, North Korea, Germany, France and Canada. Japan finished 13th.