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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.

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