Sixteen years ago Kerri Strug overcame an excruciatingly painful ankle injury to help the United States win an Olympic gold medal. In a few weeks, she'll be taking on the new challenge of motherhood.

Strug visited Seattle's morning news on 97.3 KIRO FM Seattle's Morning News to talk about her athletic journey, and promote the upcoming Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championship in Everett, Wash. March 16-18.

Strug will forever be known as the young woman who delivered a courageous performance under enormous pressure. The United States women's team, nicknamed "Magnificent 7", entered the 1996 Atlanta games looking to make history.

"We had high expectations going into Atlanta," said Strug. "The U.S. had never won a team gymnastics gold medal. Anything less than the win would not have been all right in our minds."

All Strug had to do was score a 9.4 on the vault and the Americans would get the gold. On her first attempt she fell on the landing, injured her ankle, and didn't get the marks she and the team needed.

"It's a bit ironic," Strug reflected. "What people don't realize, in the gymnastics community, I was always known as the one with lots of talent, but couldn't put it all together when it counted most."

Strug focused on her approach and the apparatus. Her clutch vault with a one-footed landing is one of the great scenes in Olympic history. I can still picture Coach Bela Karolyi carrying Strug off the stage to the team bench.

It took years of sacrifice and dedication to prepare for that defining moment. Strug left her hometown before age 13 to fully immerse herself in the Karolyi training camp in Texas.

"Anyone who wants to be successful in life has to give up a lot," she said. "For a gymnast it starts a lot earlier. The window of opportunity is pretty short."

Strug now lives in Washington D.C. and works for the U.S. justice department. She occasionally helps with youth gymnastics camps. She believes the sport offers a terrific vehicle for kids to test their bodies, stay fit and develop mental discipline.

Soon, Kerri Strug will have her own little gymnast to train. Her first child is due around March 1.

"I've always wanted to be a mom, so I'm super excited. On some levels I'm a type 'A' personality, and have always liked to control my own destiny," she said. "Being in charge of another human being, and not being able to control them is a little bit scary for me."

This summer the US women will be a huge favorite to capture gymnastics gold. The event in Everett will be a great warm up.

"We're expecting 14 countries to be represented, and for many of the athletes it's their final competition before London," said Strug. "I'd encourage everyone to come watch, because it should be spectacular."

Follow Bill Swartz, 97.3 KIRO FM Sports