Bar none.Never heard of Kristal Uzelac? She could well be a future Wheaties box. She's the two-time and defending junior national gymnastics gymnastics, exercises for the balanced development of the body (see also aerobics), or the competitive sport derived from these exercises. Although the ancient Greeks (who invented the building called a gymnasium champ. And she's psyched to go for another title as she takes to the floor and beam at the 2001 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Aug. 8-11 (on NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. , Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.). Kristal, now 15, was tumbling and vaulting vaulting Gymnastics exercise in which the athlete leaps over a form that was originally intended to mimic a horse. At one time, the pommel horse was used in the vaulting exercise, with the pommels (handles) removed. at 2. At 8, Kristal began training alongside 2000 Olympic team member Kristen Maloney Kristin Ann Maloney (born March 10 1981, Hackettstown, New Jersey) is an American gymnast who competed in the 2000 Olympics. Maloney trained at the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was a consistent member of the U.S. at the prestigious Parkettes Gymnastics Club in Allentown, Pa. The floor exercise is her favorite event. "I like performing, and I get into the music," says Kristal. The 10th-grader is homeschooled daily before hitting the gym for six hours of practice! Winning her first U.S. title was elating e·late tr.v. e·lat·ed, e·lat·ing, e·lates To make proud or joyful: Her success elated the family. adj. Elated. , to say the least. "I was so excited. I didn't believe it at first," she says. Even recent knee and ankle injuries: won't keep her off the podium. "I'm prepared to do my best at Nationals this year and win the title for the third time," says Kristal. She hopes to go to the 2004 Olympics. Interested in gymnastics? Aug. 25 is National Gymnastics Day. Check out www.usa-gymnastics.org for info. |
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