08. Mai 2003  
Oklahoma City/USA  
Artistic Gymnastics

GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME UNITES LEGENDS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

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.
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

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

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.