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Nekritz twice tried to get into the Olympics

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Illinois

State Rep. Elaine Nekritz was a few inches shorter, a “whole lot stronger” and pension reform wasn’t yet a gleam in her eye as she took to the balance beam at the Olympic trials in Los Angeles in spring 1976.

The tiny, curly-topped teen from Kansas was vying for a spot on the American gymnastics team that would head to Montreal to compete against the peerless Nadia Comaneci of Romania that summer. Nekritz knew then she probably wouldn’t score a berth. But she says she wanted to take her athletic abilities as far as she could.

Twenty years later, she was back at it. She competed in a completely different sport, this time at the Olympic trials for indoor cycling.

“I didn’t wipe out,” she laughs. “I performed about as well as I was going to perform. I was nowhere close to being anywhere on the Olympic team.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:04 am

Comments

That’s some cool stuff, twice trying to get on Olympic Teams.

Live when I learn new things like this about people.

Good stuff.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:30 am
Not a surprise to me at all. Elaine’s determination and discipline have served her well in Springfield.

Like all elite level athletes, she draws her strength equally from her mind and her body.

Comment by siriusly Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:33 am
Good for her - and anyone - who strives to make the most of their abilities.

Comment by Bluegrass Boy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:39 am
Thanks for the story. It makes her much more of a real person. Competing at that level requires talent and discipline.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:44 am
Noe if cowchip-throwing were an Olympic Sport, she might still be competitive…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:49 am
She had a much better shot at making the Olympic team even at this stage in life than she did with her attempted “constitutional” pension reform.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:50 am
very cool. so love the olympics!

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 11:54 am
To go to trials, she had a be a really, really good gymnast. There are 10 levels, followed by Elite Level. Only the best of the Elite Level go to the Olympic Trials.

Comment by titan Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:16 pm
Thank you for the story. I didn’t know that.

Comment by Keyser Soze Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 12:57 pm
Didn’t realize Representative Nekritz was such a jock — in two different sports, nonetheless!

Comment by GA Watcher Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:02 pm
This story just adds to my respect for the last Democrat to vote against Madigan’s House Rules.

Comment by anon Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:33 pm
The picture from this article is really very nice. Too bad it’s not the caption contest. She appears to have been very accomplished.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 1:56 pm
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160818/news/160819074/

Let’s see if it works.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 2:00 pm
She’s a genuinely nice person.

Comment by JDuc Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:31 pm
Well, her training seved her well for all the mental backflips she had to do (as a lawyer) to come to the conclusion that she did about the pension clause in the Constitution…

Comment by Morty Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 3:56 pm
She also tried to become Auditor General. I’d say she has all the qualifications for that.

Comment by Anon Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 6:56 pm
From what I know of her, Elaine is a good listener and has a true commitment to civil liberties. I respect her efforts re. police accountability on the eavesdropping bill and others.

Comment by Payback Thursday, Aug 18, 16 @ 9:58 pm