Katie's Amazing Facts
After Olympic Trials in 1996, Katie was unable to practice with the Twistars team that was working out at Spartan Gymnastics (she would have had to forgo her NCAA eligibility if she had), so she went to Spartan Gymnastics camp instead! She was in the top group (obviously), and when campers had to write down what new skills they wanted to learn, she said she wanted to learn a handspring-double front on vault!
If compulsories had been eliminated before the 1996 Olympics, Katie would have made the Olympic team. She had the 5th-best optional score at the Olympic Trials.
On her favorite event, the uneven parallel bars, Katie often performed a Def...that is a Gienger with a full twist!
Katie's sister Jen was also an elite gymnast, but not as high-ranked as Katie. Now she's 24 and coaches. She used to coach the level 8s at Spartan Gymnastics, and now (as of February 1996) coaches the Great Lakes Gymnastics preteam.
Katie's mother, Joyce Teft, is the bookkeeper for a lumberyard, and her father, Tom Teft, is a route salesman for a soft drink company.
Katie's brother Tim plays baseball and wrestles, and him and Katie get along well.
A week before the 1995 World Team Trials, Katie was feeling very overwhelmed. Her beam coach, Kathryn Geddert, made a packet for her including crossword puzzles and word searches related to gymnastics, to keep her focused.
Sometimes when Katie felt tired, Kathryn Geddert drew lightning bolts on her hands to make her feel energized.
The Ultimate Katie Teft Page
