Nicknamed “the Magnificent Seven”, the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team was the first women’s gymnastics team to win the gold medal for the United States. Led by team captain Amanda Borden, the Americans outscored their main competition, Russia and two-time defending world champions Romania, to clinch the team gold medal at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996. Key moments from the competition included Kerri Strug’s iconic vault performance, when she competed through a severe ankle injury and stuck her landing. Shannon Miller earned an individual gold medal for the balance beam event, and boasts one of the most decorated gymnastics careers of all time with her combined 16 world championship and Olympic medals. Dominique Dawes won an individual bronze medal, making her the first African-American athlete to win an individual Olympic medal in women’s gymnastics.
