Gymnasts who are hurt will be eligible for aid

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 14, 2002 | by Meri-Jo Borzilleri

Gymnasts who suffer career-ending injury while training or competing will be eligible for financial assistance from a new foundation set up by the international gymnastics federation (FIG) and headed by Colorado Springs resident Bill Hybl.

Federation officials say the foundation, approved by FIG last week during its board meeting in Tokyo, may be unprecedented in Olympic sport.

Hybl, a public sector board member with USA Gymnastics, was named president of the FIG Foundation, which can also assist coaches and athletes who are destitute.

Hybl, president and CEO of El Pomar Foundation, will preside over a seven-member board that includes Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci; Osaka, Japan, mayor Takafumi Asomura; and Slaheddine Baley, president of Tunesia's national federation.

Hybl, the former U.S. Olympic Committee president, recently relinquished his International Olympic Committee seat to current USOC president Sandy Baldwin but remains active on the international sports scene.

The foundation is the idea of Bruno Grandi, the FIG president.

"He looked out there at the injuries that occurred to gymnastic athletes," Hybl said Monday. "Depending on the country, they don't receive much support."

FIG got the foundation started by allocating about $1.6million from its general fund.

"Now we're going out to sponsors and member federations," said Ron Froehlich, USA gymnastics chairman and FIG executive board member.

"Having Bill Hybl head this up would be fantastic ... I thought it was a natural."

Athletes apply through their national federations, and don't have to be an elite or Olympic competitor to be eligible. Froehlich said an application has already been received from Colombia on behalf of a paralyzed gymnast.

- Meri-Jo Borzilleri may be reached at 636-0259 or merijo@gazette.com