UCLA gymnastics signs ’92 Olympian Strug
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 30, 1994 9:00 p.m.
UCLA gymnastics signs ’92 Olympian Strug
Freshman recruit will add depth to
Bruin program after 1996 Olympics
By Esther Hui
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
The future looks bright for the UCLA women’s gymnastics team,
which just signed one of the top U.S. national team members, Kerri
Strug.
Strug placed second on the U.S. team and eighth overall at last
weekend’s World Championships in Dortmund, Germany, helping the
U.S. team to a silver medal. Just 14, she was the youngest U.S.
Olympian in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
There had been some doubts as to the stability of women’s
gymnastics at UCLA after the athletic department cut the program in
the fall of 1993. However, with a 4.0 GPA, Strug was one of the
most recruited gymnasts in the country and her decision to attend
UCLA makes the Bruins a definite force on the collegiate scene.
"(Strug) is the most significant women’s gymnast UCLA has ever
signed," UCLA head coach Valerie Kondos said. "Without a doubt,
getting an athlete of this caliber, and the fact that she feels she
will fit in here, is a tremendous compliment to this program. It
should finally put any remaining questions about the security of
our program to rest."
Strug was formerly trained under Bela Karolyi, coach of 1976
all-around champion Nadia Comaneci and 1984 all-around champion
Mary Lou Retton. Strug trained with several clubs during high
school, eventually ending up with Steve Nunno, coach of 1992 silver
all-around medalist Shannon Miller. Because of dietary
restrictions, Strug suffered a torn muscle and she moved back to
her home town of Tuscon, Ariz., to train. Strug’s letter of intent
is for the season following the 1996 Olympics.
"Kerri is an extremely talented combination of grace and
strength, due to the rigorous training and competition levels she’s
been at," Kondos said. "She had her pick of any university in the
world. We have a lot of hopes that she’ll propel this team to a few
national titles."
Other gymnasts signed were Susan Erickson from Huntington Beach
and Kiralce Hayashi from Kailua, Hawaii.
