Kerri Strug American gymnast Date of Birth: 19.11.1977 Country: USA

1. Introduction
2. Early Gymnastics Career
3. Training and Injury
4. 1996 Olympics and Victory
5. Life after Gymnastics

Introduction

Kerri Strug is an American gymnast who was a member of the "Magnificent Seven," the American women's Olympic team that won gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Born on November 19, 1977, in Tucson, Arizona, Kerri began her gymnastics career at a young age.

Early Gymnastics Career

Kerri participated in her first competition at the age of eight under the guidance of American coach Jim Golt. In January 1991, she joined the United States National Team, where she was trained by Bela Karolyi. In the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Kerri and her team won a bronze medal.

Training and Injury

After the 1992 Olympics, Kerri decided to move to Edmond, Oklahoma to train with Steve Nunno at the Dynamo gymnastics club, where she trained alongside Shannon Miller. The following year, Kerri achieved third place in the all-around, second on the balance beam, and third in the floor exercise at the national gymnastics championships. She then moved to the Forster's Gymnastics club in Colorado.

In 1994, while training, Kerri suffered a serious injury when she fell from the balance beam. She required extensive rehabilitation but fully recovered in time for the 1994 World Championships.

1996 Olympics and Victory

Kerri Strug represented the USA as a member of the women's gymnastics team, famously known as the "Magnificent Seven," at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. In a fierce competition against the Russian gymnasts, the Magnificent Seven managed to secure the gold medal. Kerri played a crucial role in the team's victory by delivering an exceptional performance on the balance beam despite a severe ankle injury. Her determination and resilience earned her the respect and admiration of the nation.

Life after Gymnastics

Following her Olympic success, Kerri became a national hero in the United States. She received congratulations from President Bill Clinton and was offered numerous opportunities to appear on television shows. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine and was featured on the Wheaties cereal box along with her teammates. Kerri also participated in shows such as "Ice Capades" and "Disney on Ice." Eventually, she announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics and enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After UCLA, Kerri continued her education at Stanford University.

After completing her studies, Kerri worked as an elementary school teacher in San Francisco before moving to Washington, D.C. in 2003. In Washington, she began her career as a staff assistant in the Office of Presidential Correspondence for the United States government. She then worked in various positions, including General Counsel's Office at the Department of Treasury and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Kerri remained involved in sports, attending the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as a correspondent for Yahoo! and being a member of the official U.S. presidential delegation at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

In her free time, Kerri is an active participant in marathons, having taken part in races in Houston, New York, Boston, and Chicago.