Hilary Grivich

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Hilary Grivich
Personal information
Full name: Hilary Coplin Grivich
Country Represented: Flag of the United States United States
Date of birth: May 23, 1977
Place of birth: Houston, Texas
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Date of death: May 4, 1997 (aged 19)
Place of death: Houston, Texas
Discipline: Women's artistic gymnastics
Level: Senior international
Club: Karolyi's
Former coach(es): Béla Károlyi; Marta Károlyi
Retired: 1992

Hilary Coplin Grivich (May 23, 1977 – May 4, 1997) was a world-class American gymnast and diver. She was a member of the silver medal-winning American team at the 1991 World Championships and the 1990 junior all-around U.S. National Champion in gymnastics.

One of the original members of the "Károlyi six-pack,"[1] Grivich trained under Béla Károlyi in Houston Texas. A strong and consistent competitor, she was the all-around U.S. National Champion in the junior division in 1990.[2] The following year, competing in her first season at the senior level, she was a member of the silver medal-winning American team at the 1991 World Championships, acting as the leadoff gymnast during compulsories and competing second in the lineup on all four events in team finals.[3][4]

Grivich seemed on course for the 1992 Olympics, placing seventh in the all-around[5] and third on balance beam and floor exercise at that year's National Championships.[6] However, at the Olympic Trials she placed eighth and did not qualify for the Olympic squad. Béla and Marta Károlyi and many other gymnastics insiders protested this turn of events, claiming that U.S. judges deliberately underscored Grivich to keep the team from having too many Károlyi club gymnasts.[7]

Grivich retired from gymnastics after the Olympics. In 1993 she switched her focus to diving. After only two years in the sport, she earned a scholarship to the University of Houston. She excelled in NCAA competition and hoped to eventually make the U.S. Olympic team as a diver.[8][9]

Less than a month before her twentieth birthday, Grivich was killed in an early morning car accident on a Houston highway. A scholarship with the Strake Jesuit Scholarship Fund was established in her name.[10] In addition, Grivich's diving club, Woodlands Diving Academy, holds an annual elite meet in her honor, the Hilary Grivich Memorial Invitational.[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Whatever happened to Amy Scherr?" Gymnastics Greats, July 11 2000
  2. ^ Results from 1990 Jr. Nationals at Gymn-Forum
  3. ^ "Hilary Grivich interview" Nancy Raymond, International Gymnast, May 1991
  4. ^ "Hilary Grivich, 19, American Gymnast" New York Times obituary, May 6 1997
  5. ^ AA results from 1992 Nationals at Gymn-Forum
  6. ^ EF results from 1992 Nationals at Gymn-Forum
  7. ^ "Grivich diaries speak to young athletes, parents" John Lopez, Houston Chronicle 1999
  8. ^ "Hilary Grivich, 1991 World Gymnastics Championships Medalist, killed in car accident" Luan Peszek, USA Gymnastics press release, May 5 1997
  9. ^ "Grivich diaries speak to young athletes, parents" John Lopez, Houston Chronicle 1999
  10. ^ "Hilary Grivich 1977-1997" USA Gymnastics, May 1997
  11. ^ Information on the Hilary Grivich Memorial Invitational from US Diving

[edit] External links