DIANNE DURHAM STOOD at the start of the vaulting runway at the 1984 U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials and stared toward her future. One of the best vaulters in the country, she knew only a layout full Tsukahara and a solid uneven bars routine stood between her and an opportunity to compete for Olympic gold.
Durham had overcome an injury-plagued stretch to arrive in Jacksonville, Florida, for the Olympic trials with her teammate Mary Lou Retton and coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi. She had already made history as the first African American senior national champion in 1983.