Meet Olympic gymnast
Kerri Strug

Kids Stuff
By William Feldman

Welcome to Kids Stuff. Today’s column includes an interview with Kerri Strug, two-time Olympian and gold medalist.
Kerri is a great role model for kids. She not only fulfilled her athletic dreams, she has also exemplified the value of receiving a strong college education.
The Wachovia Center will be jumping and flipping from June 19 to 22 when U.S. Olympic team trials will select the new gymnastic team that will go to Beijing in August. Top gymnasts from the U.S. men and women’s teams will compete for Gold in the Olympic games.
At age 14, Kerri was the youngest United States Olympian at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. I could only imagine how difficult it was to be on the world stage, seen by millions, at age 14.
"In the sport of gymnastics you grow up very quickly," Kerri said. "I was proud that I made the Olympics. I felt like I had put in my time. I had worked so hard, and it is awesome to achieve one of your goals."
The other issue that was probably difficult for a 13-year-old is moving away from your family to train with your coach, who just happened to be the famous Bela Karolyi.
"It was definitely hard. I am the baby of the family and I am very close to my parents, but I knew that in order to achieve great things in life, you often have to make sacrifices. That was one of the things that I had to do," Kerri said.
The year, 1996, was about to change the life of then-18 year-old Kerri, who had additional training for four more years before capturing a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
I asked Kerri to relive that famous vault at the Olympics that won the gold for the American women, when she was injured.
"There were a lot of mixed emotions in my mind. I was pretty proud of myself that I pulled through on that final vault. I was well known as the gymnast that had a lot of talent but could not put it together when it mattered most. So, finally when all eyes were on me, I was finally able to do what I was trained to do," she recalled.
"I think going into that last vault I was pretty confident in myself, in my abilities, to do it successfully. But, it was definitely an adrenaline rush. It was in the Olympics and my teammate had fallen on both of her vaults and I thought I had to make that final vault in order for us to win the gold. I had two torn ligaments but I was fortunate that all of the training kind of paid off, because it was like automatic pilot — I knew what to do," she said.
I wondered how athletes deal with injuries. Kerri described to me that in athletics, injuries are a "part of the game." She feels she was able to overcome all of them, including the ligament injury at the Olympics. Kerri has some occasional aches and pains that anyone her age has.
On the personal side of Kerri, her parents are Melanie and Burt and her siblings are Lisa and Kevin. Her father is a cardiac surgeon. Kerri mentioned during our interview that the greatest influence on her as a child was her sister.
"I idolized and wanted to do everything that she did," said Kerri, who described her siblings as very supportive all of the time.
What impressed her about Mary Lou Retton when she was 6 years old?
"She just had a lot of spunk and made gymnastics look easy and fun," noted Kerri.
Kerri Strug earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s in sociology, social psychology.
She felt that it was important to try something outside of the sport of gymnastics. She presently works for the Office of Juvenile Justice in Washington, D.C.
"I like D.C. and all that it has to offer," she said. "I think that it is important that we focus on the youth and the different ways we can help them. Not everyone is as fortunate as I was. I feel like what I am doing is worthwhile."
Prior to that job, she was a teacher right out of college. Kerri is even an author. Her book, A Diary of Dreams, is her autobiography.
"I kept diaries through my entire gymnastics career, so a lot of the book came from them," she said. "It talks about my life before and after the games" up to 1997, when the book was published.
Her involvement in gymnastics involves helping her federation with public relations and related issues. She also attends gymnastic camps in the summer to help coach young children. She does not compete and does not coach on a regular basis.
Kerri is also involved in marathon running. How does she compare the difference in challenges of gymnastics and marathon running?
"It is very different for me," she explained.
With gymnastics she had very clear, set goals and everything revolved around it, whereas she really runs for fun.
"Marathon running is for enjoyment. However, I easily can get bored at the gym. I need an incentive, so if I know I am going to run a marathon, I know I had better train," she said.
She has run in four marathons so far. When she practices she runs different numbers of mile per day. She progresses each day, and on certain days may run up to 20 miles, but not every day.
What I think is refreshing is reading about athletes, actors and actress getting involved with various charities.
Kerri has been involved with the Junior League of Washington, D.C.; the Child and Family Network Centers; the March of Dimes; Main Street Theatre in Houston; the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation; and Prader -Willi Syndrome Association.
Mayor Michael Nutter met Kerri Strug and her legendary coach Bela Karolyi at LOVE Park to celebrate the official countdown to the trials.
"I was impressed with your new mayor. I only met him briefly, but he seemed very concerned about his city and the citizens within it," Kerri remarked.
Are you wondering how Kerri balances her time?
"That is one thing that sports and gymnastics did for me, in that it helps you manage your time and how to prioritize," said Kerri.
Five to 10 years from now she hopes to be married with a family, because she feels that at the end of the day, family is most important.
Her advice to those interested in a career in gymnastics: "You have to put in a lot of time and effort. Anything is possible, but not without a lot of hard work."
My personal Kids Stuff comment: Kerri is extremely nice and down to earth.
Schedule for the trials: June 19 at 7 p.m., men’s first day competition; June 20 at 7 p.m., women’s first day competition; June 21 at 3 p.m., men’s final; June 22 at 6 p.m., women’s final.
For tickets: ComcastTIX.com, 1-800-298-4200, the Wachovia Box Office, select Acme locations, and through participating area gymnastics clubs.
Next week, Kids Stuff interviews Kerri’s former coach Bela Karolyi.
CONTEST EXTENSION
Jonathan Deglin, owner of Mainline Oogles n Googles, generously offered to donate two full party gift certificates for two lucky Kids Stuff contest winners. Yes, you read this right! So listen up parents, grandparents or guardians: Please submit an e-mail with your name, and in five sentences or less, tell why you would like a party for your child.
Party arrangements will be made directly by the contest winner recipient and Oogles n Googles of the Main Line. However, personal information supplied by the winner will be passed directly onto Oogles n Googles.
Deadline for contest is June 19. After your e-mail entry is received, you will receive a return e-mail.
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Answer to last week’s cryptogram:
NEVER MESS WITH MOTHER NATURE
Columnist William Feldman can be contacted by e-mail at wmkidscolumn@aol.com