Samantha Peszek News

GROWING UP: From being the junior member of the US team at last year s Olympic Games, Bridget Sloan is now considered the best all-around gymnast in the world NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE, NEW YORK Monday, Dec 28, 2009, Page 18 When the gymnast Bridget Sloan watches herself perform at last year s Beijing Olympics, she cannot help laughing.

Lauren Cheney and Julie Scheidler have made the first December weekend an annual get-together. The former Indianapolis Star Super Team Players of the Year are in the women's College Cup, or NCAA soccer final four, again.

No doubt about it: UCLA, Florida, Alabama and Utah are winners in the NCAA Gymnastics Recruiting Competition of 2009.

Cathedral High School's Samantha Peszek, a 2008 Olympic silver medal gymnast, has signed to compete at the collegiate level with UCLA.

Standout Class to Join Gator Gymnastics Team A tremendous class of gymnastics talent has signed national letters of intent with the University of Florida.

Russia's Ksenia Semyonova on beam at last week's Arthur Gander Memorial in Switzerland.

"She's right there!" "She waved at me!" The young girls, all area gymnasts, were thrilled Saturday to discover that Olympic champion and their idol, Shawn Johnson, was standing right behind them in the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The focus of the Circle City Classic always will be the big football game between two historically black colleges, but organizers are trying to broaden the appeal to other sports this year.

Ivana Hong recently had a bout of the flu, but is ready to go for Worlds, she said.

James Smith travels from California to the Caribbean to recruit students to his Virginia university, but he finds recruiting during the Circle City Classic an especially rewarding visit.

Chellsie Memmela s return from ankle surgery appears to be going well. She hopes to compete at the World Championships in London.

Elite athletes from across the country will receive conditioning, training, and support services in the Circle City.

I've only once had the chance to have a conversation with Marvin, and I was mightily impressed.

Plans Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi , 42, who lost both legs in a car accident, intends to compete for a place on Italy's cycling team at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Olympic gold medalist Sandra Izbasa has snapped her Achilles' tendon and will miss the world gymnastics championships.

The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed free agent swingman Rodney Carney on Tuesday, a year after trading him.

A bad shoulder will keep Olympic silver medalist Samantha Peszek out of the world championships.

When Fortville resident Max Burhenn first hopped on a bicycle at age 5, he wasn't quite sure racing was his sport.

After 40 years of dedication to her business and sport, Patti Komara doesn't give the idea of retirement much consideration.

In 22 days, Chicago will learn if it will be the host for the 2016 Olympic Games or follow New York's failed 2012 bid.