Going for the gold: Archdiocesan teens Bridget Sloan and Samantha Peszek to compete for U.S. women’s gymnastics team in Beijing, China
The U.S. women’s gymnastics team will go for the gold during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The members of the team, from left, are Chellsie Memmel, Nastia Liukin, Alicia Sacramone, Samantha Peszek, Shawn Johnson and Bridget Sloan. Samantha is a member of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis. Bridget is a member of St. Malachy Parish in Brownsburg. (Submitted photo by Luan Peszek)
By John Shaughnessy
When she was 5, Bridget Sloan practiced backflips in the hallway of the St. Malachy Parish Center in Brownsburg.
Now, she and another young gymnast from the archdiocese—Samantha Peszek of St. Simon the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis—will have the opportunity to make history during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Bridget and Samantha, both 16, are among the six competitors on the women’s gymnastics team that will represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which start on Aug. 8.
“My biggest goal for the Games is to win the team finals,” says Samantha. “Not only would it be the icing on the top of the cake, but we would go down in history as the first women’s gymnastics team [from the United States] to win gold at the Olympics outside our country. The 1996 Olympic team won gold in Atlanta.”
Bridget and Samantha have already shared one celebration when they were selected for the women’s team on July 20 following a training camp in Texas.
“It was so amazing,” said Bridget, the daughter of Mary and Jeff Sloan. “Tears were flowing down my face. My parents had tears in their eyes, too. We were all so thrilled. It’s such an honor to be called an Olympian, especially for the U.S.A.”
Samantha knows that feeling, too.
“I was so excited,” recalled Samantha, the daughter of Luan and Ed Peszek. “It means so much to me because my parents have always told me I could do anything I put my mind to. It’s just so great that I stayed with it through the ups and downs. It just shows that all my hard work is starting to pay off.”
“It’s all part of God’s plan,” said Mary Sloan, Bridget’s mother. She recalled the days when she was one of the coordinators of the religious education program at St. Malachy Parish, a time when then-5-year-old Bridget did backflips in the hallway of the parish center while her mother worked.
“This has been her dream, and it’s just absolutely amazing,” Mary Sloan said. “I’m thrilled that Bridget and Sam are going together. They’re good friends. Everyone on the team is so close.”
As Bridget trained for the Olympics this year, she also prepared for the sacrament of confirmation, which she received in April.
“Being a Catholic, confirmation is a big deal,” Bridget said. “As I went through confirmation, I learned a lot about God and how he has a path for every single person. I knew he had a path for me. I feel he wanted me to be confirmed before I went over to Beijing.”
Bridget’s choice to receive confirmation this year reflects her family’s commitment to keeping their faith a priority, noted Renee Hansen, the youth ministry coordinator for St. Malachy Parish.
“Even during this past year of training and competitions, Bridget dedicated time to go through the program we have to receive the sacrament of confirmation,” Hansen said. “Also, her dad and siblings volunteered as catechists in the program. Bridget and other members of her family also volunteer for children’s Liturgy of the Word. They are great witnesses to all of us.”
Samantha has also been praised for the way she lives her faith.
“She’s a spiritual kid,” said Jo Cavanaugh, Samantha’s religion teacher during her sophomore year at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. “Her faith is very much a part of her. She’s real.”
Samantha will be a junior at Cathedral this year. Bridget will start her sophomore year at Tri-West High School in Lizton. Both will miss the beginning of their school year. Their parents don’t mind.
“We are planning to be in Beijing to cheer her on,” said Luan Peszek, Samantha’s mother. “It will be so exciting to watch her compete for the U.S.A. in hopes of earning a medal. Only six girls make an Olympic team once every four years. So we feel blessed and honored that she is a member of the Olympic gymnastics team.”
The Sloan family shares that feeling—and the plans to be in Beijing.
“I would love to see them come back with a gold medal,” said Mary Sloan. “But I just want them to go over there and do their best, be happy with themselves and stay healthy. That’s always my wish.” †
