Fantastic finish

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 | 10:43 a.m.

In her first appearance at the world championships in Ghent, Belgium, less than two weeks ago, 16-year-old Las Vegan Tasha Schwikert pulled off a minor coup by finishing fifth in the all-around competition and leading the unheralded U.S. women's team to a bronze medal.

Those who watched Schwikert at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney witnessed her immense talent and capability to perform at a moment's notice.

But even Schwikert, nine days away from her 17th birthday, couldn't have scripted a better ending to a season in which she finished first at the U.S. Classic and Nationals to become the No. 1 gymnast in the U.S.

"I was very pleased with fifth place," Schwikert said. "I didn't expect at all coming in that I'd rank so high in the world.

"My goal was to hit my routines the best that I could. There are still 'what ifs.' I wish I could have done better, to move up more, but in gymnastics, it's so easy to have little mess-ups."

Even with her minor mistakes -- which Schwikert's coach, Cassie Rice of Gymcats in Henderson, attributed to nerves and inexperience -- Schwikert was only .068 away from taking home a bronze medal in the all-around competition.

The winner was 22-year-old Russian Khorkina Svetlana, the 1997 world champion.

Although Schwikert was proud of her own performance, she was even happier about the team's finish. Schwikert was the only member of the Olympic team competing at the world championships.

She and teammates Tabitah Yim, who finished seventh in the all-around, and Mohini Bhardwaj, who took 18th in the same event, used their inexperience as motivation.

"Some people didn't even expect us to make it in the top seven in the finals," Schwikert said. "Just going there and getting third place, it made us so happy to show our country and the world that we are stronger than they thought we were."

Schwikert, a junior at Centennial High School, spent last weekend at a summit in Santa Barbara, Calif., attending seminars and mingling with athletes in other sports.

Her next serious competition won't be until February. Before that, she plans on performing at the Reese's Cup in December in Houston and catching up on school work.

"It's fun being on top and everything," Schwikert said. "I think it also adds extra pressure on you, knowing you have to be in tip-top shape all the time.

"That really is extra pressure, but it's fun. It kind of helps you so you don't slack off.

"Right now I just want to upgrade my routines."

Schwikert is so dedicated to gymnastics that she is already preparing for the 2003 world championships in Anaheim, Calif.

To celebrate her 17th birthday, she said there will be no partying, but plenty of upgrading in the gym.