Monday, 7/21/97 Mink captures gold medal in all-around competition GYMNASTICS: Bruin wins top honors among large field of talented athletes
By Traci Mack Daily Bruin Senior Staff A member of the Bruin family triumphed despite an atmosphere of sorrow and controversy last week. Deborah Mink, a second-year student and member of the national champion UCLA gymnastics team, captured the gold medal in the all-around competition at the Maccabiah Games held last week in Israel. The excitement of the games was marred by the deaths of two participants when a makeshift bridge collapsed during opening ceremonies. The games went on after a delay of only one day, during which a candlelight vigil was held in remembrance of the dead. Mink was not available for comment in Israel, but her mother, Jerri Mink, has been in close contact with her daughter over the duration of the games. When asked about Deborah's reaction to the tragedy, her mother talked openly of the emotions involved in competing despite the horrible occurrence. "Deborah was very concerned. She was sad and troubled that the participants had lost their lives," stated Jerri Mink. "Most young people think that they are invincible, and the reality of what happened was a real eye-opener (for a lot of the participants)." Despite the catastrophe, Mink went on to compete in and win the gymnastics event at the games. The decision by officials to resume the games after the deaths was looked upon with great distaste by many Israelis, who saw the disaster as another calamity in a long line of Israel's faults. Michael Oren, a former competitor in the Maccabiah Games, said, "The deaths of two participants, the injuring of scores more, is indicative of what Israel has come to represent. Not strength and stamina, but recklessness and greed. Not rebirth, but indifference to human life." Public opinion was in favor of cutting the games short after the accident. A Gallup poll found that 54 percent of the people polled thought that the games should have been cancelled. Only 41 percent agreed with the officials' decision to let the games go on. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was unaware that anyone had died, and had he known, he would have ordered the ceremony stopped. As for the point of view of the participants, Jerri Mink felt that their overwhelming opinion might match the officials'. "All the preparation, the tryouts, the sponsors, the travel, the packing ... it all would have been for nothing. I think that they had to go on. They did recognize the deaths through the evening candlelight ceremony." Mink did not let the incident affect her performance in the event, in which she captured top all-around honors. However, the deaths did weigh on Mink's mind. "She was very saddened by what happened, but she internalized it in a way that was very grown-up and real. As her mother, that was the feeling that I got," said Jerri Mink. Coach Valorie Kondos said of Mink: "Deborah is an unbelievable competitor. She has the ability to not let anything faze her or deter her from her goal." These qualities were evident in Mink's inspired performance at the Maccabiah Games. Israeli officials felt that the show must go on, and it did indeed. For Deborah Mink, their decision resulted in a bittersweet win. Previous Daily Bruin Story: Mink to compete against world's best, 7/7/97