Kerri Strug is best-known for one vault: a Yurchenko 1.5 twist she nearly stuck, on an injured ankle, to secure the US team the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. But before that vault, Strug was a solid contributor for the US at the 1992 Games, an American Cup champ, and a member of the world team every year from 1991-95.
The Barcelona Olympics:
Strug was the youngest member of the women's team in 1992, and helped the Americans win a bronze behind the former Soviet Union (called the Unified Team at this Olympics due to the recent break-up of the USSR) and Romania. She placed 14th all-around in preliminaries, but was fourth place among the US gymnasts, and only three per country were allowed to advance to the all-around finals, so she did not qualify.
Post-Barcelona:
After the 1992 Games, Bela Karolyi announced his retirement, and Strug went to several different gyms, including Dynamo Gymnastics, Shannon Miller's club. She placed third at the 1993 US nationals, and made the floor finals at worlds that year, placing sixth.
In 1994, Strug suffered a scary back injury on a fall from the uneven bars, but recovered in time to help the team win a silver medal at worlds. In 1995, she earned a bronze as part of the US team, and, when Karolyi came out of retirement, she returned to his gym.
American Cup 1996:
Kerri Strug earned her first major all-around title at the American Cup. She bested Svetlana Boguinskaya and Oksana Chusovitina to take the top spot, tying for the individual event titles on beam and floor as well. Full results of the meet.
The Atlanta Olympics:
Strug was one of several veterans on the 1996 team: Shannon Miller and Dominique Dawes had competed at the '92 Games, and Amanda Borden was an alternate in '92. The team was a favorite to win gold, but Russia and Romania was expected to provide stiff competition. Russia led after compulsories, but the US pulled into the lead early in optionals, and looked like they'd win it. But then Dominique Moceanu fell on both of her vaults, and Strug fell on her first. Strug landed her second vault, though, despite an ankle injury, and ensured the US team its first gold ever in women's gymnastics.
Strug's ankle was too injured to compete in the all-around, vault, and floor finals, but she became the face of the Atlanta Games.
Personal Info:
Kerri Strug was born on November 19, 1977, to Burt and Melanie Strug. She trained with Bela and Martha Karolyi most of her elite career, only training with other coaches when Bela Karolyi retired.
After the Olympics, Strug attended UCLA before transferring to Stanford. She's worked as a project manager for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in Washington, DC, and married Robert Fischer, an attorney, on April 25, 2010. Former teammate Moceanu attended the wedding, held in Tucson, Arizona.
Gymnastics Results:
International:
- 1996 Olympic Games: 1st team; (qualified to all-around, vault, and floor finals but was unable to compete due to injury)
- 1996 American Cup: 1st all-around; 2nd vault (tie); 2nd bars (tie); 1st beam (tie); 1st floor (tie)
- 1995 World Championships: 3rd team; 7th all-around
- 1994 World Championships (team): 2nd team
- 1993 World Championships: 6th floor
- 1992 Olympic Games: 3rd team
- 1992 World Championships: 5th vault; 7th bars
- 1991 World Championships: 2nd team
- 1996 US Olympic Trials: 2nd all-around
- 1996 US Nationals: 5th all-around; 2nd vault; 2nd floor
- 1995 US Nationals: 5th all-around; 3rd bars; 4th floor
- 1993 US Nationals: 3rd all-around; 4th vault; 2nd bars; 3rd floor
- 1992 Olympic Trials: 3rd all-around
- 1992 US Nationals: 2nd all-around; 1st vault; 3rd bars; 1st beam (tie); 2nd floor
- 1991 US Nationals: 3rd all-around; 1st vault; 3rd bars (tie); 4th beam; 4th floor
