What's New with Nessa?
This page will offer the latest news about Vanessa!
April 21, 2001
- On April 16, 2001, Vanessa officially announced via her Dear Diary that she will be retiring from gymnastics as a result of personal struggles that she has been dealing with for the past year. Click the link to read her feelings on this matter.
January 12, 2001
- Vanessa's Official Site has undergone a MAJOR "face-lift" -- everything on it is new and different, including a Year in Review Dear Diary! Go check it out!
- It has been officially announced that Vanessa is training with Ben Corr at Rohnert Park Gymnastics in the Bay Area in California. (This is the gym that produced UCLA's Heidi Moneymaker.) Good luck at your new gym, Ness! :o)
January 2, 2001
- Vanessa competed in the Rock 'n Roll Gymnastics Championships, which were televised yesterday. I didn't find out about them until it was too late to post it on here -- sorry! But don't worry, they didn't show Nessa at all! I haven't quite figured out what was up with that -- you could clearly see her sitting in the background with all the other gymnasts, but they didn't show any of her routines! :o( I think this meet will be re-broadcasted on the 28th of this month, but I'm not positive so don't quote me on it. :o)
- I received a nice letter from Nessa the other day! In it, she thanked me and everyone who participated for the book (remember the Operation: Nessa Project?) She asked me to thank everyone personally since she doesn't have online anymore, but since I don't have the addresses of everyone who participated anymore, she said she will send them to me so I can send a "personalized" reply from Nessa. :o) She said this also: "I'm just getting back from tour and I loved every minute of it. It made me realize I want to keep competing even if the results don't turn out the way you want them too. Tell everyone I'm okay! :)" YAY!!!! GO NESSA!!!! :o)
December 19, 2000
- Vanessa has posted a new Dear Diary. In it, she hints that she will be trying for the 2001 Worlds! GO NESSA!!! She has not announced where she will be training, however, she has said that she would like to stay in California... guess we'll just have to wait and see! :o)
- I was able to go and see the tour in Anaheim on December 4th! It was the last stop, so the night was full of tricks that the gymnasts were all playing on each other. It was a really good show, and Nessa was awesome! I didn't get to talk to her after the show (she went to the other side of the arena) but I did talk to and get autographs from Blaine Wilson, Amy Chow, Morgan White, Jessica Howard, Morgan Hamm, Paul Hamm, and Steve McCain! I also took pictures with Blaine, Amy, and Morgan! They turned out great! All in all, it was a really fun night!
September 15, 2000
- According to her mom, Vanessa has been asked to fly out to Detroit on September 19th -- the Detroit Tigers want her to throw out the first pitch in order to promote the tour there! After that, she and her mom are going to Hawaii! She will continue to work out a little in a gym there to stay in shape for the tour! :o)
- Here is a link to a great Vanessa article I found: Olympic Gymnast at Peace With Self. It gives a lot of insight on how she's been feeling lately and what she's been up to.
September 12, 2000
- Vanessa posted a new Dear Diary entry on her Official Site on August 27th. :o( It's sad...
- Vanessa has returned home to California, and according to her mom, "She's doing okay. She's trying to keep busy, finishing school, coaching level 8 and 9's [at Gymnastics Olympica, a gym near her home], working out for the tour, and I haven't asked her if she's going to watch the Olympics. I assume yes, she doesn't really talk about it."
- Nessa's next thing will be the tour, coming soon to a city near you! For a complete schedule, please refer to Vanessa's Official Site.
August 22, 2000
- Unfortunately, Vanessa failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Team. Although she placed in 6th overall at the Olympic Trials, the selection commitee voted her off the team. I am incredibly saddened by their decision, but what can ya do? Here are some quotes from Nessa about this experience:
"I don't have any regrets, that's just the way life goes. Other people wanted it more than I did and that's ok."
"I mean it's tough because I came in here expecting that I was going to make it. It's really weird that when they announced the team I kind of had a sense of relief in a way because I think I knew deep down in my heart that I wasn't ready and I don't want to go if I'm not ready."
"I almost had a sense of relief because deep down I knew I shouldn't be going. I knew I wasn't ready,'' she said. "It's just not my day. Not my
time.'"
''It's weird, but when they announced the team and I wasn't on it, I was
kind of relieved. I was messing up a lot of things out there. It wasn't
my day. It wasn't my time. That's OK. I'll be back.''
Here's a quote from Bela Karolyi:
"I love Vanessa Atler. This is one of the unique talents, but talent was not enough tonight."
- Vanessa has posted a new Dear Diary. I believe that this diary clearly shows what a class-act person Nessa truly is.
August 10, 2000
- Congratulations to Nessa on finishing 4th at the U.S. National Championships!!! She also earned the silver medal on Vault and the bronze on floor! This was a very consistant meet for Nessa--she didn't have any major breaks throughout both days of the competition. Yay! GO NESSA!!! :o)
- Nessa has posted a new Dear Diary.
- Vanessa is being featured in several magazines this month! These include: the August issue of "Self", the August/September issue of "Girl's Life", the September issue of "Women's Sports and Fitness", the September issue of "Teen People", and the September issue of "Ladies Home Journal"! Go and check 'em out! :o)
- Nessa will be featured on ESPN's "Best of Scholastic Sports America" on Monday, August 14th. Check your local listings for the time in your area!
July 17, 2000
- CONGRATULATIONS to Nessa on winning the U.S. Classic!!! Aside from placing first in the All-Around (37.937), she also placed eighth on Vault (9.187), second on Bars (9.600!!!), third on Beam (9.400), and she tied with Amy Chow for first on Floor (9.750)! Way to go, Ness!!! :o)
- Nessa has posted a new Response to a fan on her Official Site.
- There are a few new pictures of Nessa, along with a personal note from her, on her Announcements page.
July 1, 2000
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