Jaycie Phelps

Personal life

Jaycie Phelps was born on September 26, 1979 in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in Greenfield, Indiana. She is the daughter of Jack and Cheryl. She has one older brother, Dennis. She was married to 2004 Olympic gymnast Brett McClure in 2005. They have divorced as of 2008. Today, she is the owner and head coach of the Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center in Greenfield, Indiana. In 2014, she married Dave Marus.

Early years

Phelps began gymnastics at the age of four at Indiana Gymnest in Greenfield, Indiana, and attended once-a-week practice before doing two-a-week practices and building up from there. At age 11, after progressing to the point where her family felt she could benefit from a new coach, she and her family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and she trained at Desert Devils Gymnastics for extensive training. She attended the 1993 Junior National Championships, but ended up in 24th place, and wanted to quit altogether. After receiving encouragement from her parents, who wanted her to give it another shot, she went and trained at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, training alongside future Olympic teammate, Amanda Borden. Jaycie's father and brother went back to Indiana whilst Jaycie and her mother stayed in Cincinnati.

1994

Jaycie made her senior debut at 1994 American Classic in Orlando, Florida, which also served as the trials for the 1994 World Championships. She placed 15th and didn't make the team. She attended the 1994 Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Missouri and placed 3rd all-around, plus 5th on balance beam and 6th on floor exercise. At the 1994 U.S. Classic, she placed 3rd in the all-around. She later attended the 1994 Senior National Championships and placed 6th. After doing well and placing 5th the 1994 World Team Trials in Richmond, Virginia, she was selected to be part of the team to go to the 1994 World Team Championships in Dortmund, Germany, where she won a silver medal.

1995

In 1995, she kicked off the year by competing at the 1995 American Classic in Oakland, California, which also served as the trials for the 1995 Pan American Games. She placed 8th in the all-around, tied for 3rd on the uneven bars, and placed 6th on beam, yet didn't make the team. The year followed with appearances at the Reese's International Gymnastics Cup, McDonald's American Cup, and the International Mixed Pairs. She then rallied at the 1995 Classic, winning 1st in the all-around, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, and placed 2nd on vault. At the 1995 National Championships, she placed 3rd, behind Dominique Moceanu and Shannon Miller. She was selected at the 1995 World Trials to attend the 1995 World Championships in Sabae, Japan after petitioning in her score at nationals since she injured herself and couldn't compete. She won the bronze medal in the team competition, and qualified for the event final on the uneven bars and placed 8th.

1996

1996 was yet another successful year for Jaycie. After strong showings at the American Classic, the 1996 Budget Rent a Car Gymnastics Invitational dual against France, and the 1996 World Championships, she placed 2nd in the all-around at the 1996 National Championships, 0.05 behind Shannon Miller. At the Olympic Trials in Boston, Massachusetts, she placed 1st after day 1. On day 2, she over-rotated her dismount on the balance beam and stumbled into a backward roll, but strong performances on the other apparatus helped her place 3rd all-around, securing a spot on the 1996 US Women's Gymnastics Team.

1996 Olympic Games

At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Jaycie competed on all four events in both compulsories and optionals. She was typically first or second up on each apparatus, but her contributions were invaluable. In the compulsories, she had a shaky performance on the beam and fell, but good routines on the bars, floor, and vault helped her team place 2nd behind Russia. In the optionals, she performed solidly, placing high on all four events and contributed to the team's first ever Olympic gold medal. She also placed 17th in the all-around, but because four of her teammates (Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kerri Strug, and Dominique Moceanu) placed higher than her. Due to the fact that only three gymnasts from each country can perform in the all-around competition, she couldn't compete in the final.

Comeback

In October 1999, Phelps announced for a comeback in hopes of making the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She was not the only gymnast from the Magnificent Seven who announced a comeback for the 2000 Olympics; teammates Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu, Amy Chow, and Shannon Miller were also vying for spots on the Olympic team. At the 2000 Classic, she competed on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, and qualified for the 2000 National Championships. She competed on day 1 of nationals, but withdrew on day 2 and petitioned to go to the 2000 Olympic Trials, but her petition was denied. Following a knee injury, she ultimately decided to retire from gymnastics.

Awards and achievements

Phelps was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1998 in her capacity as a member of the 1996 U.S. gymnastics teammate. In 2008, they was inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in the team category. The team received their award in Chicago with other Olympic greats. Following their Olympic performance, they also made an appearance on the box of Wheaties and were featured in the book The Magnificent Seven.

Phelps was awarded Sagamore of the Wabash, which is the highest award bestowed upon an Indiana resident, and the Ohio Governor's Award.

Colerain Township proclaimed August 30, 1996 as "Jaycie Phelps Day".

A street in Cincinnati, Ohio was renamed in her honor as Jaycie Phelps Drive. And on the east side of Greenfield, Indiana, there is now a road named Jaycie Phelps Road.