- Kristal Uzelac
Infobox Gymnast
gymnastname= Kristal Uzelac
imagesize=
caption=
fullname= Kristal Dawn Uzelac
nickname=
country= USA
formercountry=
birthdate= birth date and age|1986|06|27
birthplace=Johnstown, Pennsylvania
hometown=
deathdate=
deathplace=
height=
discipline= WAG
level= Senior International
natlteam= 5
club=
gym= Parkettes
collegeteam=
headcoach=
assistcoach=
formercoach=Donna Strauss, Bill Strauss, Jack Carter
choreographer=
music=
eponymousskills=
retired=
medaltemplates=Kristal Dawn Uzelac (born
June 27 ,1986 ) is a retired Americangymnast . She was considered to be one of the United States' most promising junior gymnasts in the late 1990s, and was the U.S. junior all-around National Champion for three consecutive years.Early Years
Uzelac was born on
June 27 ,1986 to parents Donnie and Brenda. She has one older brothers, Donnie, and a younger sister and brother, Brandy and Alan. Her mother, aunts and grandmother are all involved in gymnastics as coaches. [http://www2.usa-gymnastics.org/bios/archivedbios/u/kuzelac.pdf Kristal Uzelac's biography at USA Gymnastics]Uzelac began gymnastics at the age of two at her mother's gym, Turners. [http://www.insidegymnastics.com/content/show/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=358&zoneid=1 "Verge of the Dream: Kristal Uzelac"] Tara Jeroloman, "Inside Gymnastics," July 9, 2008] She also played baseball and was a wrestler, but ultimately chose to dedicate her time to gymnastics. When she was 8, Uzelac began training at the
Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center inAllentown, Pennsylvania , where she made rapid progress. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-10339226_ITM "Bar none"] "Girls' Life," August 1 2001] She was a member of the TOPS national developmental team in 1995 and 1996, and, at the age of 11, won the all-around title at the Junior Olympic national championships and qualified as an elite.Gymnastics career
Uzelac's first major competition as an elite gymnast was the 1998 U.s. National Championships in
Indianapolis, Indiana . She won the all-around bronze medal behindMorgan White andAshley Postell . [ [https://www2.usa-gymnastics.org/news/1998/aug22-champs-jrwomen.html "Morgan White Claims Junior National Crown"] USA Gymnastics, August 22 1998] The gymnastics community began to take notice of Uzelac, who stood barely over four feet at the time, as her second daybalance beam score was the highest of the field, [ [https://www2.usa-gymnastics.org/events/1998/natls/picture/kristal-uzelac.html "Get the picture"] USA Gymnastics, 1998] and her overall total was just over a tenth away from capturing the title. Uzelac was a member of the American squad for the junior competition at the 1998 International Team Championships, where she placed second with the U.S. team and fifth in the all-around. She also competed in the 1998 Canberra Cup in Australia, an important meet for junior gymnasts, where she placed 10th all-around and won silver medals onvault andfloor exercise . [http://www.gymn-forum.net/bios/women/uzelac.html List of competitive results] Gymn-Forum]In
1999 , Uzelac began her domination of the junior ranks. She won all-around at both the U.S. Classic inRochester, New York , and the American Classic inPonoma, California , and, at the 1999 U.S. National Championships, captured the all-around, floor, balance beam and vault titles. Uzelac also enjoyed success in international competitions: she was a member of the first-place junior U.S. team, and won the floor exercise title, at the 1998 International Team Championships inRichmond, Virginia . Uzelac also competed in two dual meets: USA vs. Canada inToronto , and USA vs. France inNorman ,France . She won the team, all around, uneven bars, and beam titles at both meets.Uzelac won the junior all-around title in 2000, and again in 2001, which made her the only gymnast ever to win three consecutive junior all-around National Championships titles. She competed at the 2001 American Cup, where she placed third in the all-around and beam and second on floor exercise. Uzelac was named to the American team for the 2001
Goodwill Games , but was replaced by fellow Parkettes teammate Tia Orlando after spraining her knee in training. [ [https://www.usa-gymnastics.org/news/2001/aug24-gwg.html "2001 Goodwill Games U.S. Team Update: Tia Orlando to Compete on Floor Exercise"] Courtney Caress, USA Gymnastics, August 4, 2001]In 2002, Uzelac was eligible for senior competition. She competed at the 2002 U.S. National Championships, but injuries forced her to withdraw from three events on the second day of competition. The 2002
Pacific Alliance Championships was Uzelac's last major international meet. She was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team, won an individual gold medal on vault, and placed third in the all-around.After leaving elite gymnastics and taking a year-long break, Uzelac returned to compete in
NCAA gymnastics forPenn State . She was a member of the PSU team for the 2004-2005 season, during which time she won the uneven bars and balance beam titles at the 2005 Big Ten Conference. [ [http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/032305aac.html "2005 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Championships"] Big Ten Conference, 2005]Post-retirement
Uzelac graduated from a
therapeutic massage school in 2006. She currently works as a coach at her parents' gymnastics club, Uzelac Gymnastics.References
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