Kerri Strug facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kerri Strug |
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Strug in 2007
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| Full name | Kerri Allyson Strug | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 19, 1977 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
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| Spouse |
Robert Fischer
(m. 2010) |
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| Height | 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years on national team | 1990–97 (USA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kerri Allyson Strug is a famous American gymnast who retired from the sport. She was born on November 19, 1977, in Tucson, Arizona. Kerri is best known for her incredible performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She was a key member of the "Magnificent Seven," the U.S. women's gymnastics team that won the gold medal. Kerri bravely completed a vault that secured the win for her team, even though she had injured her ankle.
Contents
Kerri's Gymnastics Journey
Starting Young
Kerri Strug began her gymnastics training when she was just three years old. By the age of eight, she was already competing. Her older sister, Lisa, was also a gymnast. Kerri first trained with coach Jim Gault. In 1991, she moved to Houston, Texas, to train with the famous coach Béla Károlyi. At this time, she also joined the U.S. National Team.
First Olympics and Challenges
In 1992, at only 14 years old, Kerri was the youngest member of the entire U.S. Olympic team. She helped her team win a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics. After these Games, Kerri moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, to train with coach Steve Nunno. She trained alongside fellow gymnast Shannon Miller. During this time, Kerri faced a serious stomach injury.
In 1993, Kerri placed third in the all-around competition at the U.S. Nationals. She also earned second place on the uneven bars and third on the floor exercise. After this, she returned to Tucson, Arizona, to train with Arthur Akopian and her first coach, Jim Gault.
Overcoming Injuries
In 1994, Kerri suffered a bad back injury during a competition. She fell off the high bar and landed awkwardly. This injury required a lot of recovery time. However, she worked hard and was able to recover in time for the 1994 World Championships.
In 1995, Kerri moved again to train in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Later that year, she helped the U.S. team win a bronze medal at the 1995 World Championships. She then returned to Houston to train with Béla Károlyi once more, getting ready for the 1996 Olympics. In 1996, she won the American Cup all-around competition by a large margin.
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics
Kerri Strug was a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. This team became known as the "Magnificent Seven." The team competition was very close, especially between the U.S. and Russian teams. It all came down to the very last rotation on July 23, 1996.
The U.S. team was on the vault, and the Russian team was on the floor exercise. The U.S. had a good lead, but they still needed strong performances to win. Kerri's teammate, Dominique Moceanu, fell twice on her vaults. This made the pressure even higher for Kerri, who was the last U.S. gymnast to vault.
The Famous Vault
On her first vault attempt, Kerri didn't rotate enough and fell, injuring her ankle. The score for this vault was not high enough to guarantee the gold medal. Kerri knew her team needed a better score. Her coach, Béla Károlyi, encouraged her, saying, "Kerri, we need you to go one more time. We need you one more time for the gold. You can do it, you better do it."
Despite her injured ankle, Kerri bravely limped to the runway for her second attempt. She landed the vault briefly on both feet, then quickly hopped onto her uninjured foot and saluted the judges. After that, she collapsed onto her knees and needed help off the mat. Her amazing vault scored 9.712, which was enough to secure the gold medal for the American team!
After the Vault
Kerri's teammates refused to go to the medal ceremony without her. So, Béla Károlyi carried her onto the podium to join her team. She was later treated at a hospital for a serious ankle sprain and tendon damage. Because of her injury, she couldn't compete in the individual all-around or event finals, even though she had qualified. Her teammates, Dominique Dawes and Shannon Miller, took her place in those events.
Kerri Strug became a national hero for her courageous vault. She met President Bill Clinton, appeared on many TV shows, and was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She even appeared on a Wheaties cereal box with her team.
Life After Gymnastics
After her Olympic success, Kerri Strug retired from gymnastics. She attended UCLA and later Stanford University, where she earned a master's degree in social psychology.
In 2000, Kerri was honored by being inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. After college, she worked as an elementary school teacher. Later, she moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the White House, the Treasury Department, and the Justice Department. Kerri has also competed in several marathons.
During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kerri worked as a correspondent for Yahoo!, reporting on artistic gymnastics. She has also appeared in TV commercials.
Kerri's Family Life
Kerri Strug was born to Melanie Barron and Dr. Burt Strug. She is Jewish. On April 25, 2010, she married attorney Robert Fischer in Tucson, Arizona. Kerri and Robert have two children: a son born in March 2012, and a daughter born in 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Kerri Strug para niños
- List of select Jewish gymnasts
- List of Jewish Olympic medalists
- List of Olympic female gymnasts for the United States
