Sports Illustrated:Best Female athlete from each US state. 3 gymnasts named

[OldSchoolGymFan]

Two props to SI for knowing Shannon Miller is originally from Missouri.

Shannon Miller
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...ontent.25.html

Kerri Strug
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...content.3.html

Mary Lou Retton
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...ontent.49.html

[numblemon]

And Dawes and Memmel were considered for MD and WI, respectively.

[Falconpilot5]

And Shawn for Iowa

[USGoingforGold]

I'm surprised Nastia wasn't considered for Texas.

[gymfan90]

They made some pretty good choices on that list, I know I would hate to have to decide which of the worthy athletes made it.

The soccer fan in me is thrilled to see Mia Hamm (my hero) and Kristine Lilly on that list. I grew up watching them and I really wish they got more recognition for all their accomplishments (I mean Mia is the all-time leading scorer in international play, male or female, with 158 goals) and the womens team has done a lot better than the mens team has ever done yet they don't have sturdy league.

[NastiaFan101]

Originally Posted by USGoingforGold

I'm surprised Nastia wasn't considered for Texas.

It's by birth state

[7thgirlgal]

Originally Posted by gymfan90

They made some pretty good choices on that list, I know I would hate to have to decide which of the worthy athletes made it.

The soccer fan in me is thrilled to see Mia Hamm (my hero) and Kristine Lilly on that list. I grew up watching them and I really wish they got more recognition for all their accomplishments (I mean Mia is the all-time leading scorer in international play, male or female, with 158 goals) and the womens team has done a lot better than the mens team has ever done yet they don't have sturdy league.

I agree I was so happy for Mia and Lilly I only wish more of the team was on the list

[hrcopter]

The only one I guessed correctly was Chris Evert from Florida. It was great to see all three gymnasts mentioned, as well as Billie Jean King, Althea Gibson, and Bonnie Blair.

[OldSchoolGymFan]

Texas is also a huge state. There must be a million great athletes from it. Just like California. I can't believe they didn't even put Kwan up for consideration in it.

[hrcopter]

Originally Posted by OldSchoolGymFan

Texas is also a huge state. There must be a million great athletes from it. Just like California. I can't believe they didn't even put Kwan up for consideration in it.

I was just a kid, but from watching tennis history enough I know that the Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs match was another turning point for womens rights in America. And watched as much as the Super Bowl at the time.

Kwan won a lot of hardware, but never made any impression beyond her sport.

Personally, I always thought Kwan was overrated. If Kristi Yamaguchi or Sasha Cohen were at her absolute best against Kwan, she would have lost every time. Her difficulty was average, and she usually landed in a squatting position. She floated on name, IMO.