Women’s gymnastics never fails to provide the most outrageous moments in Olympic history. This year we watched bittersweetly as we watched Jordyn Wieber’s Olympic dreams. But, for anyone who remembers the 1996women’s gymnastics competition, Kerri Strug’s vault is still the most offensive moment in Team USA history.
Kerri Strug’s famous vault in the 1996 Atlanta women’s gymnastics team final is one of the most shocking and exciting Olympic memories. The USA women’s gymnastics team, later called the “magnificent 7”, put all their hopes on the youngest Strug to take home the gold in the vault competition. Up until that point, Strug was seen as one of the career players for Team USA, somewhat overshadowed by Shannon Miller’s poise and leadership; spunky and fresh Dominicus Moceanu; and the powerful Dominic Dawes, among others. But somehow he found the fate of a lowly Arizona horse to stand at the top of the medal with a single feat.
In his first initiative, Strug quickly pushed to the mat and landed square and behind it, just as Dominic Moceanu had done in his two initiatives moments earlier. Strug seemed to be taking it at a good pace, until announcer John Tesh noticed that his steps were unsteady. “Kerri’s hurt,” he said, and a terrible strain of concern struck the hearts of all those watching. Something didn’t look right as he limped and jumped to his feet to get some kind of support. But you knew, in his great moment, that all he had to do was one time, to give you even a chance at gold. In such a way as the pain.
He brought the fight back to the starting place, took off his clothes in a hurry, and with a clap of his foot fixed the thunderous thrust. With grace, he finished his presentation, then immediately grabbed his injured leg. Unable to support the weight of his small body, Strug dropped to his right knee where he was standing. She took her coach, the famous Bela Karolyi, to take her to the podium and back to her teammates. In his father-in-law’s arms they were told. It was 9,712, which took the gold for Team USA.
The sacrifice of struggle and intrepidity runs out to all the watchers. Standing there and looking at the turtle, Strug must have known how much pain he wanted in completing the second vault. He put the injury on the side for his teammates, coaches, and his country. The competition shows the depth of dedication of a true team athlete, and consequently as a person. We all learned a little something about greatness that day.
