13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Local gymnast has sights set on gold

Local gymnast has sights set on gold

Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - She's 16 years old and has high expectations at this year's Summer Olympics. The countdown to Beijing is on with just 101 days until the games. Ready to wear Team USA's red, white and blue is McCordville's Samantha Peszek.

Every day but Sunday, you'll see Samantha Peszek at DeVeau's gym in Fishers.

"Practice starts at 1:00 PM and usually gets done whenever I finish but is sometime around roughly 6:30, 7-ish. Then I go home, eat dinner, do homework and go to bed and get up and do it all over again," said Sam.

The 16-year-old's routine is required to be part of the US Olympic team in Beijing.

"I've been dreaming about it since I was so little and I used to do all the '96 Olympic team. I watched that tape over and over and I've always wanted to be one of those girls so I hope it comes true," said Sam.

It's territory her Coach Peter Zhao is familiar with.

"I think Sam will make it," he said.

Zhao grew up just 50 miles north of Beijing. Now a US citizen, his opponent is clear.

"Definitely China is the big the big one for USA," said Sam. "They beat us at the world championship in 2006 and you know we got them in 2007 and so it's kind of like we are head and head."

The World Championships and Olympic Trials are in June.

Sam's coach believes Sam is definitely is in the top six across the United States and that she will make the cut for the Olympic team. The goal now is to prevent injury and to keep the training on track.

"I don't usually count down the days. Every once in a while someone will be like there is 90-something days left to the Olympics and I'm like, 'I need to go to the gym right now, I need to go run or something!'" she said.

Rest assured, there is nothing random about Sam's training.

"I think Peter does a really good job of making up my assignments and pushing me to the limit without breaking me to the ground," said Sam.

"Normally to be honest she does more than I ask her to do," said Zhao.

"[Coach] reminds me every day that every practice counts. Every practice means something," said Sam.

At five feet tall, Sam is a powerful gymnast physically and mentally. It's what her Coach first saw in her eight years ago.

It's a combination they both hope is golden.

The Women's Gymnastics Olympic Trails are in Philadelphia starting on June 19th.