Sport: Coming of Age in Fort Worth

U.S. male gymnasts finish third in World Championships

It was the last men's event in the World Gymnastics Championships, the finals in the individual competition on the high bar, and the Soviets' Alexander Tkachev went first. He was trailing Kurt Thomas, the finest male gymnast in U.S. history, by just .025 points. Leaping up to the bar, Tkachev spun through a series of dazzling maneuvers. He launched himself into a twisting flyaway somersault, swooped down, then grabbed the bar a split second before crashing to the floor. Finally, Tkachev arched his body...

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