Hilary Grivich

Infobox Gymnast
gymnastname= Hilary Grivich


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fullname= Hilary Coplin Grivich
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country= USA
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birthdate= May 23, 1977
birthplace= Houston, Texas
hometown= Houston, Texas
deathdate= death date and age|1997|05|04|1977|05|23|mf=y
deathplace= Houston, Texas
height=
discipline= WAG
level= Senior international
natlteam=
club=Karolyi's
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collegeteam=
headcoach=
assistcoach=
formercoach= Béla Károlyi; Marta Károlyi
choreographer=
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eponymousskills=
retired=1992
medaltemplates=

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," [ [http://www.gymnpics.com/gymnasticgreats/wag/scherr.htm "Whatever happened to Amy Scherr?"] Gymnastics Greats, July 11 2000] 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. [ [http://www.gymn-forum.net/results/JunUSA/Women/1990.html Results from 1990 Jr. Nationals at Gymn-Forum] ] 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. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19981201092725/http://www.intlgymnast.com/features/grivich.html "Hilary Grivich interview"] Nancy Raymond, "International Gymnast," May 1991] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05EFDF1030F935A35756C0A961958260 "Hilary Grivich, 19, American Gymnast"] "New York Times" obituary, May 6 1997]

Grivich seemed on course for the 1992 Olympics, placing seventh in the all-around [ [http://www.gymn-forum.net/results/USNat/Women/1992.html AA results from 1992 Nationals at Gymn-Forum] ] and third on balance beam and floor exercise at that year's National Championships. [ [http://www.gymn-forum.net/results/USNat/Women/1992_EF.html EF results from 1992 Nationals at Gymn-Forum] ] 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. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011119103555/http://www.kristypage.com/wfg/diaries.html "Grivich diaries speak to young athletes, parents"] John Lopez, "Houston Chronicle" 1999]

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. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19980128040020/http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/news/1997/may05-grivich.html "Hilary Grivich, 1991 World Gymnastics Championships Medalist, killed in car accident"] Luan Peszek, USA Gymnastics press release, May 5 1997 ] [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20011119103555/http://www.kristypage.com/wfg/diaries.html "Grivich diaries speak to young athletes, parents"] John Lopez, "Houston Chronicle" 1999]

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. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19990116225800/http://www.usa-gymnastics.org/women/grivich.html "Hilary Grivich 1977-1997"] USA Gymnastics, May 1997] In addition, Grivich's diving club, Woodlands Diving Academy, holds an annual elite meet in her honor, the Hilary Grivich Memorial Invitational. [ [http://www.usadiver.com/diving_meets/2001_meets/h_grivich_4_01.htm Information on the Hilary Grivich Memorial Invitational from US Diving] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.olywa.net/radu/valerie/grivich.html Memorial site]