1. Kimberly Lynn Zmeskal Burdette is an American retired artistic gymnast turned gymnastics coach and the 1991 World All-Around champion.
25 Facts About Kim Zmeskal
1. 2.
Kim Zmeskal posted the highest optional all-around score in the qualification round in Barcelona.
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Kim Zmeskal was born in Houston, Texas, to Clarice and David Kim Zmeskal.
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Kim Zmeskal has one younger sister, Melissa and one younger brother, Eric.
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From a young age, Kim Zmeskal trained with coaching great Bela Karolyi, who had bought Sundance Gymnastics in Kim Zmeskal's Houston neighborhood.
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Kim Zmeskal attended Northland Christian School before graduating from Westfield High School like many of Karolyi's other top gymnasts to accommodate her training schedule, graduating in 1994.
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In 1989, at the age of 13, Kim Zmeskal became the US Junior National Champion.
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Kim Zmeskal took first place in the American Classic, the Swiss Cup Mixed Pairs, and the Arthur Gander Memorial.
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Kim Zmeskal went on to become a three-time consecutive US National Champion.
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In 1990, Kim Zmeskal won her first senior title in her debut at the American Cup.
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Kim Zmeskal won silver on bars, balance beam, and floor exercise in the event finals.
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Kim Zmeskal was unable to defend her American Cup title, losing to Okino by a margin of just.
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Kim Zmeskal then defended her US National All-Around title in Cincinnati, where she won the national title on floor alongside Dominique Dawes and placed second on beam.
14.
Kim Zmeskal scored a perfect 10.000 on the vault in the final rotation of the optional rounds, one of only two perfect 10's at the championships, and becoming the first American woman to ever score a perfect 10 at the World Championships.
15.
Kim Zmeskal became the first American to win the World all-around gold medal, posting scores of 9.962 on the vault, 9.937 on uneven bars, 9.962 on the beam, and 9.987 on the floor to defeat reigning world champion Svetlana Boginskaya with a total score of 39.848.
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Kim Zmeskal won bronze on the floor and placed seventh on vault in the event finals.
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Nonetheless, Kim Zmeskal won her third consecutive US National All-Around title, becoming the first female gymnast to ever win three consecutive national all-around championships, won national titles on beam and floor, and placed second on vault and uneven bars.
18.
Kim Zmeskal further rebounded with scores of 9.900 on uneven bars, 9.912 on the beam, 9.925 on floor, and 9.950 on the vault during the finals of the team competition, moving Zmeskal into 12th place and into the all-around competition by finishing third among the American women.
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Kim Zmeskal's combined score of 39.687 for the night was the highest of any competitor.
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Kim Zmeskal faltered again in the final rotation with a shaky beam routine and finished 10th in the all-around final.
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Kim Zmeskal finished off the podium in event finals as well, placing 8th on the vault after sitting down her second vault, and 6th in the floor final.
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In 1998, Kim Zmeskal returned to competition with a decent showing at the US National Championships in Indianapolis, finishing 11th all around.
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Kim Zmeskal was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in May 2012.
24.
Per Chris Burdette's Linkedin page, in June 2019, the couple split with Kim Zmeskal taking full ownership of Texas Dreams in March 2022.
25.
Kim Zmeskal was recognized for her middle tumbling pass on floor which consisted of a round-off, three consecutive whip-backs, back-handspring, into a double-back in the tucked position.