81R7070 JH-D

By: Shapiro S.C.R. No. 14

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A superb American athlete brought great honor to her country and to Collin County when Nastia Liukin of Parker won five medals in the gymnastics competition at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing; and

WHEREAS, In a masterful demonstration of her grace and athletic ability, Ms. Liukin claimed the gold medal in the Women's Individual All-Around Final and added two silver medals and one bronze medal in individual events as well as a silver medal in the team competition; her success tied the previous record for the most medals won by a U.S. gymnast in one Olympics; and

WHEREAS, Anastasia Liukin was born on October 30, 1989, in Moscow, Russia; her mother, Anna, was a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics while her father, Valeri, won two gold medals and two silver medals at the 1988 Olympic Games as a member of the Soviet gymnastics team; when Nastia was two years old, the family moved to the United States, where her parents began working as gymnastics coaches; and

WHEREAS, While still very young, she began accompanying her mother and father to the gym, where she amused herself by imitating the routines of the older children training there; realizing that Nastia's talent and desire could not be ignored, her parents began teaching her the fundamentals of the sport; throughout her career, she has been coached by her father, a founder of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, which has three locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Plano gym where Nastia continues to train; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Liukin began competing at age six, and in 2005, she advanced to the senior international elite level; that same year she won the national all-around title and was world champion in two events; her progress was slowed the following year when she suffered a serious ankle injury, but she battled back in 2007 and claimed the world title on the balance beam; in June 2008 at the Visa Championships, she won two events and finished second in the all-around competition to set the stage for her Olympic appearance in Beijing; and

WHEREAS, After joining with her fellow U.S. gymnasts to place second in the team competition on August 13, Ms. Liukin achieved her greatest triumph two days later, when she was crowned the all-around Olympic champion; this victory was made even sweeter by the fact that her father had narrowly missed winning the all-around title 20 years earlier in the 1988 Olympics; in the days that followed, she also earned a bronze medal in floor exercise and silver medals in the balance beam and uneven bars events; and

WHEREAS, Her triumph inspired an outpouring of enthusiasm in Collin County; on August 30, 2008, the city of Parker hosted a parade that included Nastia and her family and featured the Plano East Senior High School Marching Band, and a reception followed at Southfork Ranch; there, area residents got an additional chance to show their pride in the gymnast's accomplishments, and among those in attendance were elected officials representing Collin County at the local, state, and federal level; moreover, the Parker City Council declared July 2008 as a special month to honor this outstanding athlete; and

WHEREAS, The title of Olympic champion is an elite honor that many strive to attain but few achieve; Nastia Liukin's unforgettable accomplishments in Beijing have placed her at the pinnacle of her sport and earned the proud admiration of her fellow citizens in the State of Texas and throughout the nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby congratulate Nastia Liukin on winning five medals in the gymnastics competition at the 2008 Olympic Games and that she be extended sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Liukin as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.