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Carly Patterson
- Became the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around since Mary Lou Retton at the 2004 Olympic Games
- Earned two silver medals in Athens in the team competition and on the balance beam
- 2003 World Champion gold medalist in team, silver medalist in the all-around
- Nickname on the team is "Snarly"
- Has a trophy case built by her grandfather to hold all her awards
- Favorite book is "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret" by Judy Blume
- Trains for more than 30 hours a week at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy
- Began gymnastics in 1994 when, at a birthday party, a coach asked her mother if she had ever taken gymnastics because, if not, she needed to! Says Carly, "I was flippin' around the house by two years old!"
- Only person in the world to complete a roundoff, back handspring, Arabian double front dismount on beam
- Lists gymnast Yelena Produnova as person she'd most like to meet
- Best advice ever received is to "Believe in yourself"
- Would like to study dental hygiene in college
- Enjoys listening to Christian music artists such as Rachel Lamberdo
- Likes to relax and watch TV as pre-competition rituals.
Patterson, who practiced for approximately 35 hours per week, was described by her coach, Evgeny Marchenko, as an athlete who competes best under pressure and can make last-minute adjustments on the spot. Patterson agreed, saying in competition situations, she always remembers to "act like it's just like training and don't think about everyone who's watching."
Related Links
Q&A: Carly Patterson on 'Celebrity Duets'
Feature: USOC honors 2004's top athletes
Photo gallery: Post-Olympics: Ballgames, award shows and more
Photo gallery: American women gymnastics team qualifies
Photo gallery: 2004 Olympic gymnastic trials
Feature: Vise, Patterson, a couple 15-year-old gymnasts, find balance
Photo gallery: 2003 World Championships
Official Web site: Carly Patterson
U.S. women's team coordinator Martha Karolyi compared Carly Patterson to former Olympic stars Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton: “She brings that extra touch to competition. Nadia had that quality and Mary Lou had it.”
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Height: 4' 9
Born: 2/4/1988
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
Resides: Allen, Texas
Sport: Gymnastics
Favorite event: Balance Beam
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