Schwikert ready for next step

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002 | 8:57 a.m.

Defending her U.S. Gymnastics Championships national title last weekend was anticlimactic for Tasha Schwikert.

It's the 2003 World Gymnastics Championships and 2004 Olympics that will provide the real challenge.

"I have the worlds and the Olympics to look forward to so that keeps me going," a weary Schwikert said upon her return Monday afternoon to Las Vegas.

At the championships that concluded Saturday in Cleveland, it seemed a foregone conclusion to many that Schwikert would walk away with her second all-around title, joining three-time U.S. champion Kim Zmeskal, former Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller and Cathy Rigby as the only multiple U.S. champions.

Even Schwikert seemed indifferent about her accomplishment.

Or maybe it was just jet lag.

"I think the first time was more exciting," she said. "This one everyone kind of expected me to win.

"It didn't feel as exciting as the first time. I guess it (the expectations) took away some of the excitement of me winning. I mean, I'm still pretty excited, but if I didn't win, people would probably be wondering why I didn't or something."

When she arrived at McCarran International Airport following her breakthrough performance at the 2000 Olympics, Schwikert was greeted by a large contingent of friends, family and even three characters dressed in Roman costume from Caesars Palace.

This time, her arrival was much more low-key as only her father, Shannon Warren, and a couple of her friends waited at baggage claim. The change perhaps signals Schwikert's evolving role in gymnastics from a cagey underdog to a veteran favorite.

"I think she wanted to win this one really bad because there were a few of them who thought they were contenders and I think she just wanted to show them," said Joy Schwikert, Tasha's mom. "She was the one expected to win because of what she did at the U.S. Classic, so I think she just wanted to do it."

Last weekend's meet also marked the first time Tasha and younger sister Jordan competed against each other in a major meet. Jordan Schwikert stood seventh after the all-around preliminaries but was forced to drop out on Saturday with stress fractures in her lower back.

Up next for Tasha Schwikert is an invitational meet in Anaheim, Calif., next week. In October, she will report to national coach Bela Karoyli's ranch in Houston to prepare for a team meet in Brazil.

Schwikert has been named for consideration in the parallel bars, balance beam and floor exercise at this year's World Individual Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, Nov. 20-24.

There will be only one U.S. representative in each event and the gymnasts will be picked from Karoyli's October camp.

"Floor and bars would be really cool," Schwikert said. "I won nationals on floor and bars so hopefully I can make it either of those two events."