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he 191 6 I therine, ed at t asti(s. t Dear '? Nadia 'onta~o start gynt ne day (ontWat(hl~9 'nspired nte f ntine to on 't becaUse OlyntPI(S I s a drea.nt 0No I never qUI ery fruswaS alwa: OlyntPI(s. . 'uries are v pete at t e however, Inl be patient. f an injury, ust always otratlng. . You nt -D;;;w~~;-;;:;::=:-:---__ Dear MARY
Dear Jessica, , was 7 years old when' began gymnastics. Yes, sometimes' do miss it. But being a mother now takes up most of my time. Some of my friends were Dianne Durham, Paige Spiller, Tracee Talavera and Julianne McNamara.
I'm in the 8th LOU RETTON . . Heights Middle Sch I grade at Broomfield inSpired you to d 00 In Colorado Wh to go all th 0 gymnastics? What d ~ at nastics b e way to the Olympics,? D'd e ermined you Cath ecause of an injury'? . I you quit gymerIMe Mohan
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Broomfield, Colorado
Dear MARY LOU REHON, I'm in rhythmic and artistic gymnastics. I have to decide which one I want to do soon. I'm almost 10 years old. All of my friends are in gymnastics. Nicole Sengstock is my coach and I th ink I will be better at rhythmic gymnastics. Any advice? Kelly Bauer West Allis, Wisconsin
Dear MARY LOU REHON I'm 11 years old and a Lev~1 8 mn . 1996. I train at Midwest TWis~~rs ~st. My f~rst meet was February 10, started gymnastics? Do you sometymnastlcs. How old were you when you were some of your best friends wh Imes miss .going to gymnastics? Who JesSica Denk en you were In gymnastics? South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
JOHN ROETHLISBERGER, Dear I' Class 4 Our I'm 15 years old and m In d ommel horse an gym Just got;In;~~ ~hink that I am too parallel bars. 0 nastics. old to do any good gym
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Lance Marriott EI"'on, Missouri
Dear MIHAl BAGIU What is yo f .' ur avonte event'? M . avonte events a . y ri' re va ult and ngs. I m a 6th grade el horse student and a Class 5 Dear Ian, t is pontnt I gymnast. I go to lIy favorite even y best event. '" 't's also nt . hours a dMadtown TWisters . How bec?USe Illy hard, about Sl; is a great oes it feel being am ' gymnast? a.Jor
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la n Cotter- Brown
Middleton, Wisconsin
train r~: dayS a week sOn~st in the day, .Sl to be a top gyntb n nty goal. feeling h Salways ee U.S. That a
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ONS ' Dear Kif S~~effr;y ani.! ~ go to My name 1- itl Maryland. Do you ens Marvate n making the have any tipS 0 OlympiC leam'? Jeffrey McManu: Ian'" Chevy Chase, M r Y _ __
Dear Jeffrey, Have fun with the sport. I've been in gymnastics for 17 years and' would have never reached this level if I were not enioying myself everyday in the gym. I'm not sure anyone has the exact formula far making the Olympic Team but all you can do is go in the gym and try hard. 't takes many many hours in the gym of hard work and dedication.
Chalk Talk includes questions covering men's, women's and rhythmic gymnastics. Send your questions to superstars like Mary Lou Retton, Kim Zmeskal, Shannon Miller, or any of your other favorite gymnasts. You can also send U5 photo5 of your5elf or drawings you've made. Remember, we can't return pictures or artwork. Send your que5tions to: USA Gymna5tic5, Chalk Talk, Pan American Plaza, 201 S. Capitol Avenue, Suite :300,