When Kathy Johnson Clarke was a gymnast contemplating the end of her career, she had three conditions. First, she didn’t want to quit; she wanted to retire on her own terms. Second, she didn’t want to stay too long. And third, she didn’t want to fall out of love with the sport.
Looking back on her career it’s clear she fulfilled all three. She retired from the sport as an Olympic bronze medalist on balance beam after the 1984 Los Angeles Games, returning home with a silver team medal to boot.
Her Olympic glory, however, wasn’t without its setbacks and challenges. Prior to her success, she narrowly missed making the 1976 Olympic team, and despite making it in 1980, was unable to compete; it was the depths of the Cold War, and the United States boycotted the Moscow-hosted games. She was able to come back from that disappointment and have a successful performance at the 1983 World Championships. Throughout her career, she persisted through a series of injuries, an eating disorder, and what she repeatedly referred to as coaching trauma. And then finally, she fulfilled her Olympic dream.
After the 1984 Games, she knew it was time. She had accomplished her goals at the sport’s highest level. She was a national champion, a world medalist, and now, an Olympic…
