4
80 Friday, July 13, 1984
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
BRINGING
THE GOLD
TO THE RE
WHITE,
& BLUE
This Soviet Jewish
gymnastics coach
gave up prestige to
escape prejudice.
Now living in Detroit,
she is headed for the
OlympicGames.
Zina Mironov, right, directs student Mavis Atlas, 16, of Detroit as she practices an arch during one of the many ltiltrohotr2clucyd
gymnastics classes.
BY ALAN HITSKY
D
News Editor
r. Zinadia Mironov, De-
troiter by way of Kiev,
U.S.S.R., will be watch-
ing some of the competi-
tion at the Los Angeles Olympic
Games in the coming weeks from one
of the best seats in the house.
She will be judging the rhythmic
gymnastics competition, the first
time this "athletic ballet" involving
hoops, small clubs, a ball and a rib-
bon will be included in the Olympic
Games. Zina will also be assisting
her prize pupil, Michelle Berube of
Rochester, who qualified for the U.S.
Olympic team last month by finish-
ing second in the rhythmic gymnas-
tics trials in Atlantic City. Another
Mironov product, Wendy Hilliard of
Detroit, barely failed to make the
U.S. team by placing fifth.
Zina empathizes with Wendy:
"She started late — at age 12 — like I
did, but she did very well." An old-
timer at 23 in a sport of young teens,
Ms. Hilliard may be going to the
Olympics as a radio or television
aide.
The 50-year-old Zina is used to
struggles, triumphs, disappoint-
ments, and hard work. Life has not
been easy for the Mironov family
Mrs. Mironov proudly watches her
charges as they warm up for class, and,
hopefully, for the Olympics.
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since they decided to leave Russia
sian. They are sometimes asked by
nearly ten years ago. "Our friends
spectators why they speak Russian
thought we were stupid," Zina ex-
since they are not Russian. But our
plains in her heavily-accented
coach is Russian,' they proudly say."
English. "They said we had every-
Zina loves "her girls," her teen-
thing and that we were too famous to
age athletes who "look forward to the
get visas."
next Olympics" — JoAnna Munro,
Both Zina and Vladimir Mironov
Cheryl Stevens, Kelly Rottenberg,
had earned doctorates in biology, in
Mavis Atlas, Ursula Watkins.
the fields of aging and movement
"The girls always bring me flow-
both had earned the title Master of
ers," she says. "They know I love
Sport; both were considered heroes of
flowers. But it must be an odd
the Soviet Union. So, why leave Rus-
number. For instance, three means
sia?
love. Red also means love. White
"I ask you, do you know someone
means good bye, and yellow ." she
in Russia who doesn't want to leave?
pauses, with a jesting glance at Vla-
It takes money, it takes knowing the
dimir, ". . yellow means you are
right people, it takes courage," Zina
cheating on your wife."
explained. Vladimir's friendship
Zina's mood changes as she dis-
with a visa office official helped im-
cusses the meaning of flowers to a
mensely. The Mironovs timed their
Russian. "I love Russian culture,
request for the summer, minimizing
Russian tradition. I love the land.
the effect of the Soviet Union's knee-
But I love flowers in the window — I
jerk reaction to 'immigration re-
love freedom."
quests: loss of employment.
Then she discusses the reasons
for leaving her beloved homeland:
With the help of the visa official,
"There is a lot of injustice for
Vladimir, Zina, then 18-year-old
Alex and toddler Natasha were out of Jewish people in Russia. I was not
invited to judge championships, I was
Russia within a few months.
not
permitted to go to the 1964
"I love Russia, but no one likes
Olympics ... all because I am
the system," Zina said during an
Jewish. I had to fight all my life,
interview in the Mironovs' small
three times as hard as anyone else,
Lathrup Village ranch home. "The
because
I am Jewish.
system makes people aggravated and
One friend called us when he
jealous. Of course I miss Russia, but
heard we had applied for visa. He
you get used to the better thingsvery
quickly. But you always love the land • said, 'You are a three-time hero of the
Soviet Union: for completing your
where you were born, your music,
doctorate, for having Natasha when
your culture.
her brother was 18, and for having
"My girls use Russian songs in
the courage to leave Russia.' "
their (rhythmic gymnastics)
routines. They even speak some Rus-
Continued on Page 50
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