USA smells 'psychological warfare'

0 Comments | USA TODAY, August, 2008 | by Janice Lloyd

BEIJING -- After losing the gold medal to China on Wednesday, the national team director for U.S. women's gymnastics made several charges about how officials are running the competition.

Team coordinator Martha Karolyi said Alicia Sacramone was made to wait too long to compete on the balance beam, causing her to lose her concentration. Sacramone fell off the beam, got a low score and pushed the USA further behind the Chinese team. The USA finished with silver.

"It was an extremely long time," Karolyi said. "It's the little things. It's a psychological warfare."

USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny said he would not file an inquiry, adding delays are normal with live television. Penny attributed two factors: "They were having some keypads issues,...