SYDNEY
OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC TEAM
Many
remember the "Magnificent Seven". This is the term used to describe
the 1996 Olympic gymnastic team after they won the first team gold medal
for the United States in gymnastics. We may be seeing some of the same
faces during the next summer Olympics.
Jaycie
Phelps is coming out of retirement in attempt to make the Sydney Olympic
team. Phelps gave up Olympic-level competition after winning her gold
medal in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympics. Now, the 20-year old gymnast
has decided to return to competition to provide some leadership to a
U.S. women's gymnastics team that has recently been struggling.
Phelps
states, "I feel like we have a lot of talent, (but) there's really no
one who has the experience we had in '96. If the girls have questions
or need help, just the experience I've had hopefully can help out."
Phelps
started training again 1 ½ months ago in Mesa, Arizona. She is 5 feet
1 inch tall and weighs 105 pounds. This is two inches taller and eight
pounds heavier than in 1996.
Two other
1996 Olympians are also attempting to make the 2000 Sydney Olympic team.
They are Dominique Moceanu and Amy Chow. Kidnewsroom.com will follow
the quest to make the Sydney Olympic Women's Gymnastic Team in the months
to come.
