2004 Olympics: Gymnastics

04:55 PM CDT on Friday, August 20, 2004

Martha Karolyi rarely gushes, no matter how good a gymnast might be.

Karolyi, the women's team coordinator for USA Gymnastics, generally leaves the gesticulating and glowing pronouncements to her husband, Bela, the gregarious Olympic coach.

So it was out of character for Martha on Friday, when she practically guaranteed that Carly Patterson, of Allen, would compete in this summer's World Championships in Anaheim, Calif., and in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But then, Martha had a lot of history on her side. Patterson, 15, is fresh off a convincing victory in the Visa American Cup on March 1.

The venerable international meet, held most recently in Fairfax, Va., has evolved into an important gauge of who's who among the front-runners for Olympic gold medals.

Patterson, 4-9, no longer will be able to sneak up on any of the stars. Her teammates at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Plano have known for several years that Patterson was on her way up.

But her supremacy in a Fairfax field that featured two world champions and a double Olympic gold medalist positioned Patterson a far cry from Plano. She is spoiling for a place in the pantheon of Visa Cup winners who went on to Games glory: Nadia Comaneci, Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Strug...

Patterson, coached by WOGA co-owner Evgeny Marchenko, combines the rare gifts of talent and extraordinary composure, said Martha Karolyi, who coaches with her husband at their ranch in New Waverly, Texas, near Huntsville.

"Carly is equally good on all four events," Martha said. "That is a major advantage. It didn't happen overnight. Her coaches are doing an excellent job. It's the combination of good talent and the right training that makes champions."

Bela, whose resume includes coaching the United States and his native Romania to Olympic team titles, mentioned Patterson in the same breath as Comaneci and Retton.

In 1983, Retton was 15 when she upset an elite field in the Visa Cup. In 1984, Retton became the toast of the Los Angeles Games and one of the most popular Olympic champions of all time.

"Carly definitely will be making the scene for the 2003 World Championships and the 2004 Olympics," Martha said. "She's responding extremely well. The confidence is based on good, strong preparation."

Patterson's ability to remain cool under pressure astounds her mother, Natalie.

"I think that's probably one of the good qualities," said Natalie, who is a nurse. "From the beginning, she has been able to focus. Her stomach sometimes will act up, but it's not like she's feeling nervous."

A week after Patterson's Visa Cup victory, while the teen was receiving an acupunture treatment, her mom characterized that competition as a turning point.

"I see it as the beginning of the last part of this road," Natalie said. "It's awesome. She's been practicing very hard. She felt confident."

Visa Cup men's winner Blaine Wilson, an Olympian and five-time U.S. champion, said Friday that he watched the tape of Patterson's performance. "Solid" and "talented" were his words for the 15-year-old from Allen whose name might be ringing more bells very soon.

Patterson, a freshman in the Allen ISD, will lead the U.S. charge against Canada and Australia in the Pacific Challenge on March 22 in Fullerton, Calif. From there, she heads for a meet in Greece.

Natalie said she has had to become philosophical about having her daughter travel during times of international tension and talk of war.

"In gymnastics, tomorrow's another day," Natalie said. "It starts over again. That's how gymnastics is."