01of 08David Madison/GettyAt the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, seven young women did what no Americans had done before: they won the gold medal in the gymnastics team competition. But they did it in dramatic fashion, ending with Kerri Strug’s near-perfect vault on an injured ankle, giving the team the slimmest lead over second-place Russia and securing a place in sports history. In 2008,they were collectively inducted intothe United States Olympic Hall of Fame.Here, see what the former gymnasts — dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” — are up to now.
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David Madison/Getty
At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, seven young women did what no Americans had done before: they won the gold medal in the gymnastics team competition. But they did it in dramatic fashion, ending with Kerri Strug’s near-perfect vault on an injured ankle, giving the team the slimmest lead over second-place Russia and securing a place in sports history. In 2008,they were collectively inducted intothe United States Olympic Hall of Fame.
Here, see what the former gymnasts — dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” — are up to now.
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Dominique Moceanu
Mike Powell/getty; Mark Sagliocco/Getty
Now:Marriedand a mom of two, Moceanu toured the country in exhibitions for a few years with some of her teammates following the Olympics, retiring in 2005. She’s stayed connected to the sport,running a gymin Cleveland (where her son trains!) andspeaking in supportof the gymnasts who first came out with sexual assault allegations against disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar.
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Shannon Miller
Mike Powell /Allsport/ Getty; Allen Berezovsky/WireImage
Now:Marriedwith two children, Miller was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010 but following surgery and chemotherapy, was delcared cancer-free.A professional speaker, she nowencourages women to learn the signsand advocate to their doctors when they aren’t feeling well.
04of 08Dominique DawesSusan Ragan/AP/Shutterstock; Fred Lee/Walt Disney Television via GettyThen:“Awesome Dawesome” competed with Miller in 1992 before also making the 1996 team (and later, the 2000 team). According to her Olympic bio, she was the first African-American gymnast to win an individual event medal, with her 1992 bronze on floor, and in 1996, became the first Black woman to win gold in gymnastics. Dawes also won bronze in ‘96 for floor exercise and again in ‘00 for team. She went on to graduate from the University of Maryland and briefly pursued acting (she appeared on Broadway inGrease!).Now:Married with four children, Dawes recently opened theDominique Dawes Gymnastics Academyin Maryland. “What motivated me … was evrything that came out in the sport of gymnastics, the dark cloud that was truly revealed in 2016 when the Larry Nassar scandal became center stage,” she toldWashington Familyin 2020. “There are too many amazing women that have so many gifts.”
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Dominique Dawes
Susan Ragan/AP/Shutterstock; Fred Lee/Walt Disney Television via Getty
Then:“Awesome Dawesome” competed with Miller in 1992 before also making the 1996 team (and later, the 2000 team). According to her Olympic bio, she was the first African-American gymnast to win an individual event medal, with her 1992 bronze on floor, and in 1996, became the first Black woman to win gold in gymnastics. Dawes also won bronze in ‘96 for floor exercise and again in ‘00 for team. She went on to graduate from the University of Maryland and briefly pursued acting (she appeared on Broadway inGrease!).
Now:Married with four children, Dawes recently opened theDominique Dawes Gymnastics Academyin Maryland. “What motivated me … was evrything that came out in the sport of gymnastics, the dark cloud that was truly revealed in 2016 when the Larry Nassar scandal became center stage,” she toldWashington Familyin 2020. “There are too many amazing women that have so many gifts.”
05of 08Kerri StrugDoug Pensinger/Getty; Taylor Hill/GettyThen:Strugliterally vaulted into the spotlight, helping clinch Team USA’s gold medal with her successful vault on an injured ankle. Like some of her teammates, she competed in Barcelona 1992 as well, but left the sport to attend UCLA and later Stanford University.Now:A former elementary school teacher who has since ascended the ladder in a series of government jobs, Strug is a married mother of two. In 2015, she told PEOPLE she remains close to teammate Dominique Moceanu, but hasn’t practiced gymnastics in decades.As she joked, “I like to keep my feet on the ground!”
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Kerri Strug
Doug Pensinger/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty
Then:Strugliterally vaulted into the spotlight, helping clinch Team USA’s gold medal with her successful vault on an injured ankle. Like some of her teammates, she competed in Barcelona 1992 as well, but left the sport to attend UCLA and later Stanford University.
Now:A former elementary school teacher who has since ascended the ladder in a series of government jobs, Strug is a married mother of two. In 2015, she told PEOPLE she remains close to teammate Dominique Moceanu, but hasn’t practiced gymnastics in decades.As she joked, “I like to keep my feet on the ground!”
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Amy Chow
amanda borden / instagram
Now:A Stanford University graduate, she’s a surgeon based in Northern California and a married mother of two.
07of 08Amanda BordenDavid Madison/Getty; Amanda Borden/ instagramThen:The team captain had a strong performance at her only Olympics, competing on the balance beam and in floor exercise. She went on to graduate from Arizona State University.Now:A marriedmom of three, she runs the Arizona-basedGold Medal Gymnastics,and recently reunited withShannon Miller at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
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Amanda Borden
David Madison/Getty; Amanda Borden/ instagram
Then:The team captain had a strong performance at her only Olympics, competing on the balance beam and in floor exercise. She went on to graduate from Arizona State University.
Now:A marriedmom of three, she runs the Arizona-basedGold Medal Gymnastics,and recently reunited withShannon Miller at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
08of 08Jaycie PhelpsMike Powell /Allsport/ Getty; Jaycie Phelps/ instagramThen:Phelps also gave a strong performance in Atlanta, competing on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and in floor exercise.Now:Married with a daughter, she runsthe Jaycie Phelps Athletic Centerin Indiana.
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Jaycie Phelps
Mike Powell /Allsport/ Getty; Jaycie Phelps/ instagram
Then:Phelps also gave a strong performance in Atlanta, competing on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and in floor exercise.
Now:Married with a daughter, she runsthe Jaycie Phelps Athletic Centerin Indiana.
source: people.com
