In 1996, the Olympic Summer Games were held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The USA women’s gymnastics team was a force to reckon with, earning the highest Team all-around honor, the gold medal. The women’s team comprised of Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps, and Kerri Strug.
I was 8 years old and would watch the gymnasts in amazement as they tumbled across the mat, showed unbelievable strength on the balance beam and uneven bars, and watched in slight fear as they attempted the incredibly difficult vault.
At 8 years old, I was finally able to appreciate just how talented the athletes were, and how important the Olympic Summer Games were to the global community. My mom would move all the furniture out of the living room so I could try and imitate what these amazing women were doing as they performed their floor routines. The USA women’s team inspired me to take two years of gymnastic classes, before I quickly realized I would never be as good as those women.
Kerri Strug was center stage for one for the most memorable summer Olympic moments; she was able to land her second vault on just one foot, after she sprained her ankle on the first vault attempt. This amazing feat, which resulted in a score high enough to ensure Team USA the all-around gold medal.
Throughout the competition, the women on team USA continually posted high scores in all events, this strong showing was a big part of their success. In addition to the Team all-around gold medal, individual athletes won medals as well. Shannon Miller was a star, winning the only individual gold medal for the USA for her performance on the balance beam. Amy Chow earned the silver medal in the uneven bars, and Dominique Dawes won the bronze medal for her floor routine.
This group of incredible women maintained their popularity and iconic status after the Olympic Games, touring the United States and performing for millions of people. I, of course, was one of these people; to say I enjoyed myself would be a severe understatement, the t-shirt I bought that night still hangs in my closet more than 15 years later.