08. Mai 2003  
Oklahoma City/USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME UNITES LEGENDS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

IG ---Two major events will be showcased during the 2003 International Gymnastics Hall of Fame weekend, to be held May 9-10 in Oklahoma City.
On Friday evening, May 9th, five gymnastics legends will be inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in a black-tie ceremony beginning at 6:30pm at the Renaissance Hotel.
On Friday, May 9th and Saturday, May 10th, over 300 gymnasts will compete in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Championships at the Cox Convention Center, culminating with Saturday evening's Nadia Comaneci International Invitational featuring U.S. Junior national champion Carly Patterson.
The 2003 INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME (IGHOF)
inductees possess 41 world and Olympic medals among them, and include American world champion Kurt Thomas (United States). Joining Thomas for the prestigious honor is Dmitry Bilozerchev (Russia), Karin Janz (Germany), and Franco Menichelli (Italy). They will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame during Friday evening's black-tie ceremony.
The late Max Bangerter (Switzerland), former secretary-general of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) will be inducted posthumously under the category of Lifetime Achievement. The event will also honor current FIG Secretary-General Norbert Bueche as the first recipient of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame's Order of Merit award.
'We are delighted that the annual IGHOF induction is becoming one of the great events on the international gymnastics calendar,' said Frank Bare, Chairman of the IGHOF.
Scheduled participants in Saturday evening's Nadia Comaneci International Invitational include 2003 Visa American Cup champion Carly Patterson, 2001 Goodwill Games medalist Hollie Vise, U.S. national team member Nina Kim, and 2002 World Championships floor exercise finalist Brenda Maga?a (Mexico).

Dmitri Bilozerchev

ABOUT THE 2003 INDUCTEES
At age 16, Soviet prodigy DMITRY BILOZERCHEV (born December 22, 1966, Moscow) shocked the gymnastics world by winning four gold medals at the 1983 World Championships. A 1985 automobile accident shattered his leg into 41 pieces, but at the 1987 World Championships he returned to win his second overall world title and three other gold medals. At the 1988 Olympic Games, he won three gold medals and a bronze. Of his 27 World, Olympic, and European Championships medals, 21 are gold. Bilozerchev resides in Beaverton, Oregon, where he owns and coaches at United Sports Academy.

Dr. Karin Buettner-Janz

Owner of seven Olympic medals, KARIN JANZ (born February 17, 1952, Berlin) is one of the most decorated gymnasts to come from East Germany's strong sports program.
At the 1969 European Championships, Janz won four gold medals, including the overall title. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Janz won five medals, including the overall silver and golds on the vault and uneven bars.
Today, Dr. Karin Buettner-Janz is a successful orthopedic surgeon practicing in Berlin.

Franco Menichelli(Photo: Flick Flack)

FRANCO MENICHELLI (born August 30th, 1941, Rome) was an outstanding performer for the west during a time when the Soviet Union and Japan dominated the sport of gymnastics. Menichelli won three medals at the 1962 and '66 Worlds and five Olympic medals at the '60 and '64 Olympic Games. He won four gold medals, including the overall gold, at the 1965 European Championships. His career ended at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, when he tore his Achilles tendon on floor exercise. He will be traveling to Oklahoma City from his residence in Rome.

Kurt Thomas 1980

KURT THOMAS (born March 29, 1956, Hollywood, Florida) became the first American in history to win a gold medal at the world gymnastics championships when he won floor exercise in 1978. He repeated his feat on floor exercise at the 1979 World Championships, where he also won the gold on high bar, the overall silver medal, and three more medals. He was the U.S. national champion in 1976, 1977, and 1978, and won five World Cup medals in 1978 and 1979. Thomas remains the only gymnast to win the Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the USA, which he won in 1979. He owns and operates Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in Dallas, Tx.

Max Bangerter, F.I.G.

The late MAX BANGERTER (born Jan. 23, 1911, Switzerland) served the sport of gymnastics for more than half a century.
Beginning in 1960, Bangerter was the Secretary General of the FIG. In 1982, Bangerter was honored with the Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1988, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring those who have furthered the sport of gymnastics with outstanding competitive achievements and contributions to the development of the sport world-wide.
The IGHOF has thus far inducted 38 Honored Members from 15 countries, including such well-known names as Nadia Comaneci, Olga Korbut, Mary Lou Retton, Bela Karolyi, Larissa Latynina, Bart Conner, Nikolai Andrianov, Boris Shakhlin, Maxi Gnauck, Daniela Silivas, and Vera Caslavska.

Located in Oklahoma City, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame features collections of medals, apparatus, and awards, various pieces of sculptures, and an extensive library from the past to the present. The world's most accomplished gymnastics stars are featured in art and photos from their competitive careers. Videos featuring major international events are also on display.
(Source: International Gymnast)