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Carol Lewis, though only a sophomore, is the 1983 NCAA long jump champion. Photo by Long's Photography.

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Jeannette Bolden held the world indoor record for the 60-yard dash despite being plagued with asthma. UCLA Photo.

Dianne Durham

[[image - Dianne Durham]]
"The best thing about gymnastics is the competition. I love to compete and, of course, win. Winning is what makes the sport so much fun."

For the most part, Dianne Durham looks and acts like any other charming 15-year-old. She's five feet tall and weighs a trim 100 pounds. She loves to dance, and says life is a lot of fun. You'd have trouble picking Dianne out of a crowd of teenagers, unless you were a gymnastics fan. 

Dianne Durham is the shining young star of the gymnastic world, and is a good bet for a medal in the 1984 Olympics.

A fierce competitor, the young lady originally from Gary, Indiana, is at her best when the competition is the toughest. Dianne is the 1983 United States Women's All-Around Champion, and also has two U.S. Junior All-Around titles to her credit. She traveled with the U.S. Junior team to South Africa in 1981, winning nearly every event and being crowned the all-around champion. Dianne also finished second on the Canadian Championships and third in Japan.

Dianne began her gymnastic career at the age of four when her father enrolled her in a YMCA gymnastics program. She took to the sport right away. Six days a week, four to five hours a day, Dianne worked on her routines - which included vaulting, tumbling, and the balance beam. Dianne's commitment to the sport carried over to her mother. Mrs. Calvanita Durham drove 120 miles a day so that her daughter could study under top gymnastics coach Tony Ladner. 

Graceful, bond, and confident, Dianne's performances caught the attention of famed Romanian Bella Karoyli. Karoyli, who coached Nadia Comaneci to three gold medals in the 1976 Olympics, defected to the U.S. in 1981 and set up a gymnastics school in Houston, Texas. In 1982, the Durhams moved to Houston so Dianne could be under Karoyli's tutelage prior to the 1984 Olympics. 

Dianne says that being the "Jackie Robinson" of her sport hasn't created any unusual problems. "I haven't encountered any racism," Dianne says. "People treat me like any of the other competitors. I was a little worried about going to South Africa, but things worked out fine."

"Gymnastics is a lot of fun - especially getting to travel to places like China, Japan, and Europe. I've met a lot of really nice people. But the best thing about gymnastics is the competition. I love to compete and, of course, win. Winning is what makes the sport so much fun."

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15-year-old Dianne Durham is the shining light of the gymnastic world, having won the 1983 U.S. women's all around gymnastic championship.

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