Amazing Moments in Olympic History: Kerri Strug

Thirteen years ago, gymnast Kerri Strug landed a vault that won the team gold medal for the Magnificent Seven at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. But what everyone remembers was watching her courageous feat, hobbling on one leg afterward.

Strug needed a score of 9.493 on the vault to determine whether Team USA would remain in first place or whether the Russians would win the team gold. At the time, gymnasts had the opportunity to perform two vaults, with the best score counting.

Strug executed her first vault, fell short on the landing and ended up on the ground. Her vault scored 9.162. She needed to go again.

The 18-year-old immediately popped up off the ground, but something was wrong. Strug was limping as she walked back to the start. She had injured her left ankle in the previous vault, and now she had to stick a near-perfect vault for the Magnificent Seven to win gold.

All of America held its breath as Strug ran toward the vault. Her coach, Bela Karolyi, was yelling, "You can do it! You can do it!''

And boy, did she take those words to heart.

She flew up into the air, executed her turns, and landed perfectly -- on one foot. After sticking her landing, she collapsed to the ground in pain. The audience roared as she was escorted off the mat.

When the judges revealed Strug's score, 9.712, the cheering from the hometown crowd only got louder. For the first time in American Olympic history, the gymnastics team had won gold. The burly Karolyi scooped up the 4-foot-9, 87-pound gymnast into his arms and carried her over to the rest of her teammates. Dominique Moceanu and Shannon Miller helped her to the top of the podium, and the gold medals were placed around their necks.

Strug, who grew up in Tucson, Ariz., became interested in gymnastics at a young age. She competed in her first meet when she was 8. When she was 12, she had to make a difficult decision. If she wanted to take gymnastics seriously and make the national team, she had to get a better coach, which required moving by herself to Houston to train with Karolyi.

The gymnast's decision paid off. Strug made the national team, and at 14, was the youngest Olympian at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The women's team won bronze that year.

Now, 31, Strug works for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. She still does work for USA Gymnastics, promoting events and garnering interest in children. She also has worked with Visa to help gain support for Team USA.

Strug's dream was to be an all-around champion, as her idol, Mary Lou Retton, did in 1984. Strug placed 14th in the all-around in 1992, and in 1996 she was unable to compete in the all-around because of her ankle injury. That dream never was reached, but she won the gold for her country, and always will be remembered as the girl who sacrificed herself for her team.

Tags: Kerri Strug, Team USA, USA Gymnastics, USOC