2004 Olympics: Gymnastics

Collin gymnast Patterson geared to emerge against world's best

04:57 PM CDT on Friday, August 20, 2004

By DAVID HINOJOSA / The Dallas Morning News

PLANO – The stage has never been so big for rising gymnast Carly Patterson.

The 15-year-old who trains out of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy is competing at the senior level for the first time this year. She gets an early test in the sport's highest level Saturday during the nationally televised Visa American Cup, which will be at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. The annual event gathers four of the country's top gymnasts along with four of the world's best.

Patterson earned an invitation to compete against the likes of Russia's Elena Zamolodchikova, an Olympic and world champion, along with Americans Ashley Postell, last year's world champion in the balance beam, and Courtney Kupets, a world champion in the uneven bars.

"I'm real excited and happy," Patterson said. "I think it shows that they have confidence in me. If I go out and do a good job, they'll have even more confidence in me."

Earning a chance to compete against such competition was a huge step for Patterson. Having every opportunity to impress women's national team coordinator Martha Karolyi is critical. Karolyi, wife of former U.S. Olympic coach Bela Karolyi, will play a prominent role in choosing the national team's six spots for August's World Championships in Anaheim, Calif. and next year's Olympics in Athens.

Olympic consideration is not unrealistic for Patterson, regarded as one of the country's top young gymnasts. She and WOGA teammate Hollie Vise of Lake Highlands are the gym's top national hopefuls.

"This is really important for us to be recognized," said Evgeny Marchenko, Patterson's coach and one of WOGA's co-founders. "It's on the way to our goal. It's a big step, but we've got to keep working hard over the next two years if we are going to get there."

Patterson, a freshman in the Allen ISD, took a big step toward recognition last year when she won the all-around title at the U.S. Junior National Championships. Patterson, Vise and Kaitlin White, another WOGA gymnast, attracted the spotlight during the 2001 Goodwill Games as the United States' representatives.

Patterson has 11 all-around titles and has won the last four meets she has entered, including the U.S. Junior Nationals, the Brazilian International and a dual meet between the United States and Mexico. Last month, she defended her all-around championship in the WOGA Classic.

Patterson was born in Baton Rouge, La. and lived in Houston for one year before moving to the Dallas area two years ago. She was already an elite-level gymnast and exhibited plenty of power when she arrived at WOGA.

Since her arrival, Marchenko has been working on her presentation. She is already a pioneer, of sorts, as the world's only gymnast who dismounts the balance beam with an Arabian double-front somersault (a half-twist into a double somersault). She uses power and speed to score big points on the floor exercise and vault. That power has enabled her to perform routines with high start values. She's not afraid to take chances.

"She's the kind of kid that comes through when it counts," Marchenko said. "She likes to be challenged."

For Patterson, the challenges are only beginning. She knows the next two years are the most important in her gymnastics career. She has dreamed of Olympic glory for most of her life.

"I think about it everyday, but I try to keep it in perspective," Patterson said. "I need to keep working hard so I can achieve it."