KERRI STRUG.

KERRI STRUG. Before reading about Manteo Mitchell running 200 meters with a broken leg, I had thought that Kerri Strug’s courage could never be matched. This ESPN account by Rick Weinberg has the dramatic flair of Grantland Rice. Kerri Strug was a member of the United States gymnastics team in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The team competition came down to the last event, the vault, with the United States holding a narrow lead. One of Kerri Strug’s teammates fell on both her vaults, and suddenly Strug’s vaults became very important. Strug fell on her first vault. She also tore two ligaments in her ankle. The standings for first place were unclear. Her coach put his arm around Strug and said: ‘”Kerri, we need you to go one more time. We need you one more time for the gold.” Her vault required a sprint, a handspring and a good landing on the injured ankle. She did it.