Two sides
same coin
Ex-gymnast fades
from performing
into coaching role
It’s always tough for a person to fade
out of the limelight. One minute people are
admiring you and patting you on the back,
and the next minute you’re by yourself.
Things have not been any different for
Randy Beard, the ex-gymnastics star who
is now an assistant coach for the Flying
Ducks. “It has left one
hell of a time slot,"
Beard says of not
competing. "You
don't know what to
do with yourself.
mm m
Photo by Steve Dykes
“I've watched two
meets now, and I
want to jump in there each time It’s
hard to watch other people do what you
have done for so long. But coaching
helps fill the gap.”
Beard was one of the main reasons
for Oregon's impressive third place at
the NCAA national tournament last
year.
The high bar specialist was one of the
best in the nation, earning fame for his
routine in which he would sometimes
swing the wrong direction on the bar, a
feat few in the world have accom
plished.
"It helps to have originality in your
routines,” he says.
Former Duck gymnast Randy Beard,
known for his high bar routine (right)
which earned him third at the 1980
NCAA national championships, has re
turned to Oregon as an assistant coach
(left).
During his years at Oregon, Beard
has seen a lot of new moves develop on
the high bar
' You’re gonna see them a lot,
because that’s the kind of event the
high bar is. They're high risk, but they
are great. You just have to let yourself
go.” All high bar moves involve releas
ing from the bar and recatching A
wrong move can result in a serious
injury.
Although he was nosed out for the
Pac-10 title by heralded UCLA fresh
man Mitch Gaylord, Beard came back
to return the favor, outplacing Gaylord
in the NCAA meet on his way to a
third-place finish and All-American sta
tus.
But the glory is over for Beard, and
so, apparently, are the workouts.
‘Tve messed around on the bar a
couple of times, but nothing I would
consider a workout. The workouts have
pretty much stopped."
And what about coaching? "It’s really
rewarding, but touchy at times," Beard
says. "A lot of my best friends are on
the team, and I must be critical of them
I give my piece of advice, and they can
listen to it or ignore it."
A physical education major, Beard
plans to finish his student teaching, get
his degree, and become a coach — but
not for a while. "I'm definitely going to
take some time off."
But while Beard will be missing from
the spotlight, as a coach he still has
strong feelings for his team.
"I've had a lot of publicity since I’ve
been here, but people reporting the
news should concentrate on all of the
performers. They come in every day
and work just as hard as anyone else. I
don't think it's fair to not mention
them."
Story by Doug Levy
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