Alicia Sacramone

 In 2003, at the National Championships, Sacramone placed 14th in the all-around, was awarded a bronze medal for the floor exercises, and was fourth on vault, earning a spot on the national team. The following year, she competed in her first international competition as an adult, the Massilia Gym Cup in Marseille, France, where she placed fourth on floor and ninth on vault. Sacramone was awarded the individual vault title and helped to help the U.S. team win the gold medal at the Pacific Alliance Championships, Honolulu in 2004. Her performances were noticed by the media, who began to talk about her as a contender for the American team in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. But, at the 2004 U.S. Nationals, an unprofessional performance cost her the hopes of securing an Olympic selection. She placed 19th overall, not qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Mohini Bhardwaj placed her in the top spot for the silver vault medal. A back injury forced her to take time off. Sacramone continued competing until the end of 2004 as an athlete on the national team. She was selected for several international competitions which included the Pan American Individual Event Championships, where she won the floor and vault titles. At the World Cup Finals in Birmingham, England, she attracted media attention after she beat the reigning Olympic vault champion Monica Rosu of Romania to take first place on the event.