Carly Patterson
In 1994, Carly Patterson attended her cousin’s birthday party at Elite Gymnastics in Baton, Rogue, where her interest in gymnastics started. Less than a decade later, she won back-to-back American Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. It leads her into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame because of her performances in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, which was also the first time an American won the all-around competition in a non-boycotted Olympics. After this, Patterson forced to retire because of an injury she realized she had in her back. Her doctor advised her that if she wants to walk when she gets older, she must stop performing. Since then, Patterson shift to a music career as a singer and as a songwriter.
Carly Patterson
Shannon Miller
Shannon Miller was eleven years old when she begins her gymnastics career. Miller scored three firsts at the 1988 U.S Classic. She was thirteen when she won the all-around title at the Catania Cup competition in Italy. Miller back then gained gold medals in the vault, beam, and floor-exercises events and a silver in the uneven bars. In 1996, Miller was one of the “Magnificent Seven” who competed in Atlanta. She returned after bringing home five medals in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and took home two more golds in 1996. Miller is rightfully considered one of the greatest gymnasts who competed at the Olympics. She officially retired last 2001. Miller then earned a law degree from Boston College in 2007 and established the Shannon Miller Foundation, whose purpose is to end childhood obesity. In 2006, when she inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and 2008 for individual and team achievements, respectively. In 2010, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and undergone aggressive chemotherapy followed by surgery, which became successful. Miller currently travels the country as she shares her cancer story and encouraging women to take care of themselves.
Shannon Miller