Schwikert tops deep field of hopefuls

Nancy Armour

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002 | 9:21 a.m.

CLEVELAND -- Tasha Schwikert was on one of those incredible rolls, where everything goes right and the medals pile up.

The 2000 Olympian from Las Vegas won her first national title last summer, then helped the United States to a bronze medal at the world gymnastics championships. She dominated the Pan American Championships and practically swept the Pacific Alliance meet, collecting golds in the all-around, team competition, balance beam and floor exercise.

She even managed to take home the prestigious American Cup title despite falling on her backside on floor.

"It's been fun and exciting," she said. "It's crazy because almost every single meet that I've been in, I've won, which is kind of cool."

Then came last month's U.S. Classic. Schwikert had been working on some new skills before the meet, and wasn't quite as prepared as she needed to be.

For the first time since the 2000 Olympic trials, she lost a major meet in the U.S.

"It was definitely a really good lesson for me," she said. "I think it was an awakening. It pushes me even harder."

Which is bad news for everyone else at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which begin today. The women's competition begins Thursday night.

"I know my capabilities now," Schwikert said. "And I know if I hit and do well, I can win."

Though Schwikert is favored to win her second U.S. title, the competition at nationals could be the toughest since the days of the Magnificent Seven.

But it starts with Schwikert. Just 15, she was a late addition to the Sydney squad. Though the women faltered miserably, she's used that experience to become one of the world's top gymnasts.

She was fifth in the all-around at worlds, finishing just 0.068 away from a medal.

"The experience has helped me so much, and I think it really helps me when I compete," she said. "I feel like every time I go to a big meet, I'm not just going to be happy about being there. My goal is to make the event finals and go for a medal, go for a gold."

She's not the only one. With most of the best gymnasts still too young to compete at worlds last fall, no one expected much from the U.S. women.

But the team that took the floor in Belgium was confident and unified -- something the Sydney squad never was. They were second in qualifying and then finished third behind Romania and Russia.