Bruin athlete fights injury to represent U.S.A. in AtlantaBy
Arthur Choung
Summer Bruin Contributor
It’s been a long four years, but the wait is finally over. After
missing out on the 1992 Olympics by less than a tenth of a point,
UCLA gymnast Chainey Umphrey is going to Atlanta as a member of the
U.S. Olympic Team.
The crowd at the Olympic Trials in Boston erupted as Umphrey
completed his dismount from the pommel horse, securing a
fourth-place finish in the two-day competition and a spot on the
team.
"This is the fun stuff, I love it," Umphrey told NBC. "It’s so
fun to get in front of a crowd, and to be able to do it at this
level."
Miscues and mishaps marred the two-day event, as the 14
competitors combined for 15 falls, while two of the gymnasts
performed through injuries. Jair Lynch suffered a blood blister on
the parallel bars, while Umphrey dislocated his finger during
warm-ups on the same apparatus.
"I thought that everything was down the drain, but then I popped
it back in and thought this is not nearly as bad as 1992 and kept
on going," said Umphrey who competed with a broken foot during the
1992 Trials.
Umphrey overcame his injury in the warm-ups to post his best
performance of the second day in that event.
That came one day after he scored 9.00 or better on each
apparatus. Only he and John Roethlisberger, the Trials winner and a
1992 Olympian, achieved that feat.
As it turns out, Umphrey will be the only UCLA representative on
the men’s team. Former Olympians Chris Waller, Scott Keswick and
newcomer Stephen McCain finished 10th through 12th,
respectively.
The former Bruin joins six other gymnasts representing the
United States at the Games.
* * *
Kerri Strug will not only represent the United States at the
Olympics once again, she will be the lone UCLA representative in
women’s gymnastics at Atlanta.
The 1992 bronze medalist placed second in the trials to fellow
bronze medalist Dominique Dawes. Five-time medal winner Shannon
Miller and top U.S. hopeful Dominique Moceanu did not compete due
to injury.
Strug, an incoming freshman, joins a team laden with experience
as three 19-year-olds and two 18-year-olds make this seven-woman
squad one of the oldest ever.
Daily Bruin File Photo
Chainey Umphrey qualified for Atlanta finishing fourth at the
Olympic Trials.