Kravitz: Will Peszek’s bad ankle put her on medal stand or sidelines?

By Bob Kravitz

Indianapolis Star

BEIJING – Over and over, she watched it, played the old VHS video of the 1996 “Magnificent Seven’’ Olympic gymnastics team, the one that is best remembered for Kerri Strug’s noble one-footed landing on her final vault.

“I watched it so much, the tape finally broke,’’ said Samantha Peszek, the McCordsville gymnast who was all of four years old when Strug was carried to the medal stand by then-head coach Bela Karolyi. “I can’t even tell you how often I watched it. I’d stand in front of the TV and do all the routines, even the foreign girls. I was totally obsessed.’’

For years, Peszek dreamed of a day like that one, sacrificing and fighting through all those workouts at DeVeau’s in Fishers, hoping her own movie would unfold with so much drama, ultimately yielding the storybook happy ending.

More

Friends, gymnasts celebrate Peszek’s success

Richard Essex/Eyewitness News

Fishers – Supporters of Olympic gymnast Samantha Peszek watched the United States women’s gymnastics team take the world stage Sunday night.

For most of their lives, most of the girls watching the gymnastics competition at Buffalo Wild Wings in Fishers have had one goal in mind – the one the Peszek is living in Beijing.

“Sam has a lot of talent, she really does. She has a lot of natural talent and she practices a lot, but she’s definitely not obsessed with practicing,” said fellow gymnast Hanna Guzzi.

Peszek was injured during warm ups and had to sit out one of her strongest events, but nonetheless, she is in Beijing, competing in at least one event.

More

Click the link below to view the video

http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=8819173#

Sam’s Teammates, families and coaches gather to watch preliminary competition!

DeVeau’s gymnasts, their families and coaches gathered tonight at Buffalo Wild Wings in Fishers to watch their teammate and friend Samantha Peszek compete in the Women’s Gymnastics Preliminary competition in Beijing!!

Watch NBC affiliate, WTHR, Channel 13 for coverage and interviews.