Marie Walther, an Olympic Veteran and Pan-Am Medalist, is Determined to Take the Olympic Tour Again

By Bill Nichols
 

IF the television show, Gidget, ever returns to the air waves, Lakewood, Ohio's Marie Walther would be perfect for the title role.

She is vivacious, energetic and abounds with pixie-like beauty which nearly hides a determined personality known only by those who achieve success.

Twice National Champ. Marie has been very successful. The 5-1, 115-pound bundle of femininity is a two-time national gymnastic champion. She was a member of the 1964 United States Olympic team. And she earned three medals for the U.S. in the 1967 Pan-America Games.

"I was 12 when I entered my first meet," Marie recalled, "and I finished dead last.

"I was determined, right then and there, never to come in last again," she said.

Three months after her disastrous beginning, Marie entered another local meet in Cleveland. This time she won and has been winning ever since.

Marie's interest in gymnastics didn't just happen. Her parents were reared in the sport and it was natural for Marie and her four sisters to follow suit.

"Gymnastics provide activity for the entire family," her mother said. "We all took part in it, but I never forced any of the girls."

Marie, like so many youngsters, took piano and dancing lessons, but when introduced to gymnastics her early interests waned.

During her first two years of gymnastics she worked out four or five hours a week. In her training for the recent Pan-Am competition she spent nine hours a day perfecting routines.

When she entered high school, Marie became more and more dedicated to her new love. She would do free calisthenics one hour before school everyday. She would practice vaulting during lunch hour and worked on the balance beam after school. And often she went to a nearby gym for night workouts.

Marie won her first national title in 1961, winning the Junior Nationals. She won that crown again in 1962 and competed in the World Games in Prague, Czechoslovakia. As an alternate on the U.S. team she placed fourth.

"I was 17 then and it was my first big trip," Marie recalled. "I found life behind the Iron Curtain very interesting. Everything seemed gloomy, grey and very drab.

"I did notice that when we wore out team jackets on a visit to the city we were treated like celebrities. People were friendly and appreciated us as athletes. But if any of us were in town wearing civilian clothes, you could feel their dislike for Americans. They just didn't like American tourists," she added.

 Traveled around World. Since her first trip abroad Marie has traveled around the world competing in World, Pan-Am and Olympic games.

In 1963 she finished sixth in the Pan-Am Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"That was quite an experience," Marie said. "Brazil wasn't ready for us. We bunked 14 girls to a room and we had just two cold water showers. Each of us had one blanket and some nights the temperature dropped to freezing.

"We were all sick, but I think I was the sickest."

Her most successful year was 1964. She won five major meets, including the U.S. Nationals and North American championships. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic and World teams, finishing sixth overall in the Tokyo Olympics.

In 1966, gymnastics were the cause rather than the result of a happy occasion. While training for a meet at the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Long Island, she met Paul Bilski, a gymnast at the Point. They were married Oct. 15.

Paul has joined Marie's family to form one of gymnastics' largest band of cheerleaders.

Mr. and Mrs. Walther have devoted their parental lives to their children and their activities.

"My dad would drive nearly 300 miles a week taking me to gyms to workout," the pretty gymnast recalled. "In fact, he burnt up a car's engine hauling me around.

"Gymnastics aren't like other sports. The facilities aren't always available like they are for basketball and baseball. So I always had to look for places to practice. One year, we used a different gym every night.

"I worked out in the boys' gym in high school for it had all the equipment. And the girls' gym teacher was quite upset about it.

"But when I began winning some meets she became a big booster," Marie remembered.

Pan-Ams Top Thrill. Her biggest thrill came at Winnipeg, Canada in this year's Pan-Am Games. She earned two bronze and one gold (team) medal.

She won bronze medals in the all-around event and side-horse vaulting.

"I was well prepared for this feat and I did my best vaulting ever," she said.

Marie is the only U.S. girl to compete on two Pan-Am teams.

"This year's Pan-Am Games topped all the thrills I've ever had. And the only way I could better this is to earn an Olympic medal next year," she added.

Marie has stolen a page from football coaches who claim they can't win without films.

Her father has taken movies of Marie since she began and father and daughter study them constantly looking for ways to improve technique.

"After a meet we have some pretty good sessions," she laughed. "My folks would tell me where I should have scored higher and we would all plan for the next meet."

Czechoslovakia is the No. 1 ranking gymnastics nation in the world today. The United States rates sixth.

Favors Russian Style. "I like the Russians best, though," she said. "They have more flair and originality. I like their style.

"If we're going to improve we have to get gymnastics in grammar schools. We need more coaching and facilities. And I believe we have to convince parents that their children won't get hurt. That seems to be the fear of so many people."

Marie Walther, after 10 years of competing against the best in the world, now just takes one year at a time. Next on her agenda are the 1968 Olympic Games.