I love gymnastics! I once got a balance beam for Christmas and was delighted a few years later when my gym teacher brought in a set of uneven parallel bars for a gymnastics unit in junior high. 

 

I was neither athletic nor coordinated so my love of gymnastics never translated to the mat, but I became an ardent fan nonetheless. 

 

The U.S. Team that stands out most in my memory was 1996’s The Magnificent Seven, whose team of Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Jaycie Phelps, and team captain Amanda Borden won gold after Strug’s infamous vault. 

 

I will never forget the Atlanta crowd roaring as Moceanu started her floor routine to the tune of Charlie Daniels’ The Devil Went Down to Georgia. 

 

Before them, however, was Mary Lou Retton. Back then they operated on a 10-point scale and she saw those numbers flash often at the end of her performances. She was dynamic! I was delighted to meet her at a home LSU meet as she cheered on her daughter McKenna Kelley. 

 

I was in high school when Retton became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in the All-Around. Twenty years later, in 2004, the United States began a streak of winning All-Around gold at each of the Olympic Games. It started with Louisiana native Carly Patterson and was followed by Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Biles again just last month. 

 

I was delighted when I discovered that many collegiate gymnasts were former elite competitors. Now, in the age of NILs, there’s even more crossover between elite and collegiate gymnastics because competitors no longer have to decide between college and becoming a professional. 

 

In the last few years I’ve had the privilege of watching Bridget Sloan, Trinity Thomas, Sarah Finnegan, Madison Kocian, Maggie Nichols, and Jordan Chiles compete live in NCAA meets. All were Olympians, alternates, or national champions. All were astounding to see live!

 

It’s a beautiful sport, one that combines athleticism with artistry and grit with grace. I’m in awe of gymnasts everywhere, not just on #NGD2024 but every day. 

 

Want to dive into the world of women’s gymnastics? Here are my top 10 autobiographies that get up close and personal with the athletes we’ve grown to know and love:

 

Fierce by Aly Raisman

 

Off Balance by Dominique Moceanu

 

Grace, Gold & Glory by Gabby Douglas

 

Courage to Soar by Simone Biles

 

My Story: The Autobiography of Olga Korbut by Olga Korbut

 

Winning Balance by Shawn Johnson

 

Finding My Shine by Nastia Liukin

 

The Magnificent Seven: The Authorized Story of American Gold by N.H. Kleinbaum, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes

 

Mary Lou: Creating an Olympic Champion by Mary Lou Retton

 

Landing on My Feet: A Diary of Dreams by 

Kerri Strug