G MNASTI cs UPDATE
IN MEMORY OF JASON WHITFIELD ason Whitfield, a current member of the senior elite development team, was tragically killed on the evening of September 20 near the campus of the University of Iowa. Jason was trying out a friend's motorcycle in an Iowa City apartrnent complex parking lot, when he hit a speed bump lost control of the bike and crashed. Reports indicate Jason was killed instantly. Whitfield is from Detroit, Mich., but moved to Flint, Mich., with his coach Kurt Golder, in order to train and improve his gymnastics. When Golder was offered the assistant coaching position for the men's gymnastics team at the University ofIowa this fall, Whitfield decided to move to Iowa also. Whitfield was finishing his senior year at a high school in Iowa and living with his coach while training with the Hawkeye Gymnastics Club. He was planning to enroll at the University of Iowa in the fall of 1992. This dedicated athlete spent 14 years in the sport of gymnastics. He was on
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the Junior National Team from 1989 to 1991 and made the Senior Elite Development Team at this year's U.S. Championships. Whitfield even contributed to the sport by instructing beginner boys at his gymnastics club and, most recently, served as a volunteer at the 1991 World Gymnastics Championships. ary Lou Retton has signed with "Jason had an infectious smile and USA TODAY to be a special was always willing to lend a helping guest columnist, reporting on hand," said Robert Cowan, USGFmen' s the 1992 Summer Olympics. Her program administrator. first column appeared during the 1991 Whitfield was one of the best in the U.S. Olympic Festival and she will be country on rings, placing first at the 1991 responsible for additional columns prior U.S. Olympic Festival. In his first interto the Olympic Garnes. Retton will write national competition, the 1991 Tang Ina daily column from Barcelona, Spain ternationalCup in Puerto Rico, Whitfield won gold medals on rings and parallel during the Summer Garnes. bars and earned the silver medal on This marks the first time USA TOhigh bar and the bronze medals on floor DAY will use a guest columnist in such exercise and vault. an extensive capacity. "He was a young talent but was right on target," said Cowan. "It's a tremendous loss." The USGF extends its deepest sympathy to Cathy and Jim Whitfield, Jason's sister, Jennifer, and his grandfather, Peter-Martyn. - - - - - - -I- - - -..,fi
Jason Whitfield pursued a dream of being an Olympic gymnast. He will be sadly missed by us all. USA GYMNASTICS November/December 1991
MARY LOU RETTON COLUMNIST FOR USA TODAY
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"We are delighted to have an athlete with Mary Lou Retton's experience and insight on the USA TODAY Olympic team," states Managing Editor/Sports Gene Policinski. "Her ability to bring readers inside the world of the competitor, both in terms of her own experiences and those of the athletes of the '92 Garnes, will be a special treat for those who follow the Olympics in the pages of USA TODAY." "Competing in the '84 Olympics was the greatest experience of my life," said Retton. "Reporting on the '92 Garnes for USA TODAY is an exciting new Olympic adventure which I am thoroughly looking forward to."
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