Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter joined Bela Karolyi, 1996 Olympic gold-medalist Kerri Strug, 2008 Olympic hopeful Darling Hill and 1980 Olympian Ron Galimore, who is a vice president for USA Gymnastics, at a rally in Love Park to celebrate the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics coming to Philadelphia in little more than a month, as well as to mark single-session tickets for the event going on sale. A large crowd was on hand to hear the Mayor, Karolyi, Strug and Galimore, as well as enjoy demonstrations by local area gymnastics clubs. Strug won the hearts of Americans with her valiant vault to seal the USA’s winning the team gold at the 1996 Olympic Games, and the image of Karolyi carrying Strug to the awards podium is one of the lasting images from Atlanta. Hill is from Mt. Laurel, N.J., and is one of the Philadelphia area’s Olympic hopefuls.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics are scheduled for June 19-22 at the Wachovia Center. For more information about the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, click here.