U.S. gold medalist Kerri Strug was interviewed on "Today"
and discussed her decision to take part in the World Gold
Gymnastics Tour and bypass the John Hancock Tour made up mostly
by her fellow Olympic teammates. Strug said the decision was
largely predicated on her decision to attend school: "My
circumstances are a little bit different than everyone else's
because I am the only one that is going to start school, and also
my ankle is still not fully healed, it's still injured, and their
tour started much earlier." When asked if there is any tension
with other Olympic teammates resulting from her participation in
the World Gold Tour: "I'm just trying to think positive about the
whole thing. We've been friends, through, you know, and sure
there's going to be small bumps in the road, but I think everyone
is going to support me for my decision, and they realize, you
know, that I do have different circumstances" ("Today," NBC,
9/18). Despite the absence of Strug, the John Hancock '96 Tour
of World Gymnastics Champions has sold 14,040 tickets in Orlando,
and there haven't been any demands for refunds (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
9/18).
