1996 Olympic team gold-medalist Kerri Strug is one of four athletes in 2011 class that will be inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission and the Phoenix Suns Gorilla will honor the class, which includes former National Football League player Randall McDaniel, World Champion rodeo cowboy Ty Murray, former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling and Strug. The honorees will be recognized during the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on March 31 at 3 p.m. MT at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.
Strug is best-known for landing a vault on an injured ankle to help the U.S. women win their first-ever Olympic team gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. Her performance earned her a variety of awards and accolades, including the Olympic Spirit Award and a spot on the Wheaties box. In addition to her Olympic team gold medal, Strug’s international accomplishments include a team bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and the all-around gold medal at the 1996 American Cup. Strug also won the U.S. vault title in 1991-92 and was the 1992 balance beam co-champion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in sociology from Stanford University. She currently resides in Washington, D.C., where she works for the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches and administrators who have made significant contributions to Arizona sports. For more information, visit the Arizona Sports Commission website at www.phoenixsports.org.