Magnificent Seven's magical moment was 20 years ago today
Sometimes it’s Amy Chow’s uneven bars routine. Others times it’s Shannon Miller on balance beam or Dominique Moceanu’s floor routine set to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Undoubtedly, it’s often Kerri Strug’s final vault on a severely sprained ankle. Whatever the moment — the individual ones or the collective — the Magnificent Seven’s gold medal performance in the Atlanta Olympics 20 years ago today resounds with people still.
“Some days it’s like it happened yesterday and other days it’s like was that even me? Yeah, absolutely a ton has changed in 20 years, for sure,” said Amanda Borden, captain of the team. “But I think the moment we had was magical. Our families were there, we had 33,000 fans rooting for us, a magical finish. People haven’t forgotten that.”
As the United States looks ahead to Rio and the expected dominance of its women’s gymnastics team there, the anniversary is a reminder of one of the program’s enduring Olympic moments.
Mary Lou Retton won all-around gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, something that served as an inspiration to some of the women who would compete for the United States in 1996. But the Americans were not favored to win and hadn’t been able to unseat the Russians, the Romanians or the rest of the Eastern Bloc that had dominated the sport.
Until the Magnificent Seven.
Gymnasts Chris Brooks, Alex Naddour motivated after serving as alternates
It was not perfect. The United States counted three falls on vault, including one from Strug on which she sprained her ankle. She landed her second vault before crumpling in pain, sealing the gold in the process.
Undoubtedly, that’s the image sealed in people’s minds — a tearful Strug, hurting and happy. But the group had an impact that lingers.
The team — which also included Dominique Dawes and Jaycie Phelps — reunited earlier this month at the U.S. Olympic Trials as USA Gymnastics hosted a Parade of Olympians. Events like that, where the group has a chance to be together, add to the appreciation they’ve gained for what they did two decades ago.
“I don’t think at 19 I could really comprehend what that meant and how it affected others in such a positive way,” said Miller, who went on to win gold on beam and is part of a Hershey’s ad campaign with current gymnastics superstar Simone Biles.
“I do a lot of events where I get to reach out and talk to folks, and everyone knows exactly what they were doing and where they were. They have some story about the Magnificent Seven or about my beam routine. I love hearing that and the way that we were able to affect people’s lives in a positive way.”
Armour: Mag Seven paved way for U.S. success
As Retton did for many of them, the Magnificent Seven went on to inspire the next crop of top American gymnasts.
Much has changed since then. The Americans have come to dominate the sport, winning another team gold in London as well as the past three Olympic all-around titles.
But as it looks at what’s come in Rio, Saturday will be a time to look back at the U.S. team that did it first.
“Sometimes you look back and watch replays, and I’m like I can’t believe I did that, was that really me?” said Phelps. “It seems like so long ago it might have been a whole other life. But then other times you can shut your eyes and put yourself right back in the arena. You can feel it and smell it.”
Contributing: Nancy Armour