I received too many requests to count, so here's the transcript of Kerri's interview from the Rosie O'Donnell Show, which aired on August 9, 1996.
Typed by James Mohr
(A Gloria Estefan song is playing as the segment starts and abruptly ends before Rosie announces her next guest. The audience is cheering.)
Rosie: She vaulted into our hearts as she scored the winning points that earned her team the gold medal. Please welcome Olympic hero Kerri Strug.
(APPLAUSE)
Kerri and Rosie exchange almost inaudible "hellos." (I'll try to transcribe the exact words.)
Rosie: They're standing, they're cheering! How are ya?
Kerri: I'm doin' great!
Rosie: Good, are yuh a little nervous?
Kerri: Uhh... Yes I am-
Rosie: Is this-
Kerri: I am nervous.
Rosie: Your first TV show?
Kerri:Well, I was once on a different talk show but I've never been able to sit next to you before, so...
Rosie: That's true -- what talk show were you on?
Kerri: Um, it was the... uh... Vicki show.
Rosie: The Vicki show! We had Vicki Lawrence here! Do you know she sang that song "The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia?
(Kerri shakes her head back and forth a little)
Rosie: You're too young. You didn't remember that Kerri, did ya?
Kerri and Rosie: No.
Rosie: You were incredible. let's just get that outta the way right now.
(APPLAUSE)
Rosie: You made everyone cry, including me. How old were you when you started doin' gymnastics?
Kerri: Well I was three when I started because I've always idolized my older sister-
Rosie: Yeah-
Kerri: Ya know, you always like your older siblings and I want to do everything she did. So, she was in gymnastics and I kept begging my mom because I had to go to the gym and watch her. And "this is not fair, I don't wanna sit here while she gets to flip around." So-
(Slight laughter)
Kerri: I got involved in this tiny tots class where your mom and the young ones get together and-
Rosie: Right-
Kerri: You do just for basic coordination. And people... started telling me I had, you know, some potential, how they could tell at that age I have no idea.
Rosie: Right-
Kerri: So... you know, I kept working... and um, going to the gym maybe a few times a week, and then when I was six years old I watched Mary Lou Retton win the gold medal and I just decided right there "this is what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna be a champion. So I told my mom, "I'm gonna be the next Mary Lou Retton."
"Yeah, sure honey, whatever," you know.
(LAUGHTER)
Kerri: An, uhh... Things just went from there and, when I was thirteen, I decided I wanted to try and make the 1992 Olympic team-
Rosie: Right-
Kerri: So, I moved to Houston to train with Bela Karolyi.-
Rosie: Yes-
Kerri: -And things just... kept happening from there.
Rosie: And tha- You've met Mary Lou Retton I take it since then-
Kerri: Oh yes-
Rosie: Yeah
Kerri: Yes
Rosie: Is she nice? Uh- did she live up to everything you expected?
Kerri: Definately and more she's... been my role model ever since I was six years old and I'm hopin'... I can follow in her footsteps.
Rosie: Well I think you already did.
(Slight laughter, then APPLAUSE)
Rosie: I'm pretty sure you did.
(Kerri giggles)
Rosie: Now, here- here you are, of course... (Rosie pulls up a photo of Kerri just as she landed) when you landed on your- on your injured foot- Look at your face- This is when I was crying, right then.
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: That's when I satrted crying at home. What were you thinking? Did you- you knew you were hurt. You did the first vault, and heard a little "!" (Rosie makes a popping sound).
Kerri and Rosie: Yeah.
Rosie: Yeah.
Kerri: Well in gymnastics you hear a lot a pops, and cracks, and-
(Audience laughs)
Kerri: -you just deal with 'em, ya know.
Rosie: Yeah, whateva.
Kerri: So, I thought initially, "It's no big deal, I'm gonna be fine."
And Bela kept telling me, "shake it out, shake it out." And I kept shakin' it... and... it was attached to me, nothin' was happening.
Rosie: Yeah! (laughingly)
Kerri: So, uh... (laughs) I just said, "You gotta grit it out, your team has... put a lot of hard work and effort in this too, you have one more vault, you've been doing this for years," and... gritted my teeth, said a quick prayer and went.
Rosie: And you sure did it.
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: And I was watchin your parents on the TV who were so nervous, and yer dad like this, and yer squeezin' your, oh, I was, it was, un- Here's Bela carryin' you (Rosie holds up a picture of Bela holding Kerri)... to the- I hear they wanted you to go right to the hospital and you wouldn't go?
Kerri: Yes well... they were worried that I had broken my ankle so they wanted to immediately get me to the hospital but... we had just... The team had just won the gold medal, we're the first USA women's gymnastic team to accomplish this, we're down in history. And I've been- my whole life wanted to be an Olympic champion, the... greatest moment is when the flags goin' up, and your up on the podium receiveing your medal... so... Bela came and interfered with the medical officials and said that-
(Audience and Rosie laugh)
Kerri:"No, this is not happening," and everyone listens to Bela.
(Audience and Rosie laugh)
Kerri: So-
Rosie: I'll bet-
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: He sounds like he gets to do what he wants, huh?
Kerri: Uh, yeah, I think he has a lot of authority.
Rosie: Is he very tough, Bela, 'cause he has a reputation of being kinda tough.
Kerri: Well, he's tough, but that's what it takes to be the best. He's produced so many champions and- You know, Mary Lou Retton, Nadia Comenici, Kim Zmeskal. You can't... argue with what he does.
Rosie: That's true. How's little Domonique who smashed her head on that balance beam -- Ouch.
Kerri: Ouch, yeah-
Rosie: How- Is she alright?
Kerri: Well, she's doing okay, you know. Initially I think she had a few... bumps on her head-
Rosie: Yeah-
Kerri: but...
Rosie: Yeah.
Kerri: She's doing much better, we've had a great time. We went to the White House yesterday-
(Kerri grins)
Rosie: No kidding!
Kerri: Mmm-hmm. (Kerri nods)
Rosie: And what was that like?
Kerri: It was awesome.
Rosie: Yeah?
Kerri: Yeah.
Rosie: Were ya hangin' with Chelsea?
Kerri: Uhh, no. I was hangin' around with all the other... athletes... um, there was track and field, soccer... softball, and just mingling, trying to meet all the... you know, people I see on TV. It was really exiting.
Rosie: Did ya chat with the pres?
Kerri: Yeah, well... we got to shake his hand and they took a quick photo-
Rosie: Ah-Huh-
Kerri: And they kept trying to make the line move.
Rosie: Yeah-
Kerri: But I wanted a group picture with my team.
Rosie: Yeah!
Kerri: I mean come on!
(Audience started laughing)
Rosie: Come on, you hurt your ankle and everything!
(Kerri laughs)
Kerri: Yeah!
Rosie: Yeah!
Kerri: So I... put my foot down and I ss...
Rosie: The good foot I hope?
Kerri: told them- Yeah, that was the good one.
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: Yeah, good. Yeah.
Kerri: And I said, "Could we get a group photo?" You know, you have to be... aggressive here if you wanna get somethin'.
Rosie: Yeah.
Kerri: So, they said, "Sure." Everyone was a little bit upset, because you know... th- they wanted the line to keep moving and-
Rosie: Yeah. But-
Kerri: I stopped it.
Rosie: -who cares? You're the champion.
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: And now I hear you're going to be a TV star, too. What's this big announcement I heard today?
Kerri: Well, I just found out yesterday- that I get be on Beverly Hills 90210 tommorrow.
(Audience cheers)
Rosie: Woo, girlfriend! You go sisterfriend!
(Kerri laughs, and the audience is still cherring)
Rosie: I'm gonna be looking for that- you know we got Patrick on the show, Muldune.
Kerri: I know, I met him backstage- already got some pictures.
(Kerri smiles)
Rosie: Oh, really?
Kerri: Yes.
Rosie: Good for you! That's excellent. Now you're goin' off to college?
Kerri: Yes.
Rosie: Yeah? Where are ya goin'?
Kerri: I'm goin' to UCLA.
(Audience member cheers)
Rosie: Well ya know, ya know what we got for you? We got yuh a little college bag-
(Rosie pulls up a purple and pink backpack from behind the desk and sets it down)
Rosie: -with all the things yuh need for school, alright. I got ya some yodles (sp?)-
(Audience laughs)
Rosie: Because, ya know, you need that kind of stuff.
(Kerri laughs)
Rosie: I got ya a UCLA hat.
Kerri: That's great-
Rosie: I got ya a ace bandage, i'case that ankle flares up again-
(Kerri and the audience laugh)
Rosie: I got ya some highlighters, which is important, some soda for when ya stayin' up late at night, and most importantly, Cliff Notes-
(Kerri smiles)
Kerri: Cliff Notes.
(Kerri laughs and the audience cheers)
Rosie: All right? You're the best, we are proud of you, America's proud of you. Thank you so much- Kerri Strug, ladies and gentlemen! We'll be right back with Patrick Muldune.
(Audience cheers louder with a swingin' jazz song in the background -- I can't remember the name of it. Cut to commercial)
Well, that's finally finished! Believe me, it took longer than I expected. Thanks for your patience!
Return to Kerri "Spark-Plug"
Strug...
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� 1996 James Mohr (Last update on November 11th, 1996)
Graphics by Larry Stevens
Page created on August 14, 1996.
