American Gymnast Kerri Strug Provided the Olympic’s Most Amazing Moment

The modern Olympics have always had a lot of tumultuous and unexpected events. One of the most exciting things women’s gymnastics has ever done. Whether it was Nadia Comaneci’s magic in 1976, or Mary Lou Retton’s first American women individual gold medal in 1984 , or the fab 5 team’s monstrous win in 2012, this Olympic event was always sure to excite fans and casual observers alike. Part of the allure is that you just know what’s going to happen. In fact, women’s gymnastics provided, in my opinion, the most surprising event in modern Olympic athletic history. This one event embodies everything that the Olympics stand for.

On July 23, 1996 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, The American women’s gymnastics team stood on the brink of history. No American women’s gymnastics team has ever won an all-around team gold medal. On the evening of the 23rd ^rd the team that became the Magnificent Seven stood on the threshold of making history by winning team gold – then the unthinkable happened in the final event, the turtle. At first the Americans had two consecutive falls on the mound. But when the final American competitor was standing at the end of the team, all he needed to do was score 9.493 for the gold.

I remember standing in the shearing with excitement at the thought of such a historic event. Then on that landing Strug fell to the third line American. When she got up, it was obvious that she was hurt, and probably hurt badly. She limped as she walked back onto the bridge to her second crypt. His first fall was nowhere near the arcade score that the Americans needed to secure the gold medal.

As I watched it on television, I thought if she couldn’t make it to the safe port, there was no way she could pull the port off her injured leg. You almost turned off the television thinking it was over. But I and millions of others around the world watched as Strug began to run towards his second dome.

In retrospect it was an amazing feat of pure power to simply make it run across the dome. I think the only testament to the human spirit and the perfection of the American spirit is never to give up. Then it blew up into the air, and I thought for sure it would crash. I was totally amazed that Strug not only stayed upright during the ascent, but I virtually knocked down a perfect vault on one leg. Just as Strug moved his arms to close the shell The American Dream the first gold medal was suddenly there again. would reach Strug dropped to the mat in what appeared to be extreme pain, but he did it. Twenty Hor. 9,712 gold medals were more than enough. The fairytale ending ended with Strug standing at the medal stand with his teammates, on one leg, to receive the gold medal.

I consider this the most remarkable Olympic moment for several reasons. First, the historic significance of the Magnificent Seven winning America’s first women’s gymnastics team gold. More importantly, though, I think Strug was involved in all the Olympics, producing a magnificent performance under great pressure and overcoming extraordinary adversity. But Strug’s gutsy performance also went beyond the Olympic spirit. The competition was in the hunt to qualify every woman around the competition. She must have known that she limped off the bridge in the second vault, which could have worsened the injury again and taken her out of the rest of the women’s gymnastics. But he put aside his individual interests and risked everything for his teammates. He had not made American Olympic gymnastics history that night. Even today, I watch a Youtube video televised in the final two caves of Strug and I still feel chills like everything is happening for the first time. What more could you ask for than the most exciting and amazing Olympic moment ever.