Diane Durham (USA)
1981 Jr. US National Championships: 1st AA
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On track to make the 1984 Olympic team, Dianne faltered a bit at the 1984 Nationals to placed 7th and then was injured during Olympic Trials on vault. Standing in sixth place after compulsories at the Olympic Trials, Dianne was led to believe that she could be petitioned onto the team and she withdrew from the meet on grounds of injury. However, she learned later that as she had not competed in the World Championships in 1983, she did not qualify to be petitioned onto the team. Dianne and others have said that had she been on that team, there is a chance the women's silver medal at the 1984 Olympics would have been gold.
While she was disappointed that she did not compete in the Olympics, Dianne continued in the sport of gymnastics in exhibitions, and as a coach. She also diverted some of her energy towards professional dancing. In 1992, she spent six weeks in Osaka, Japan, performing in American Entertainment's hip-hop dance show.
After returning from Japan, Dianne spent some time in California, rehearsing for a dance group that performed during the closing ceremonies for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. In October of 1992, she partcipated in the Sudafed Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular alongside Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci, Wendy Hilliard, Brandy Johnson, Peggy Flemming, Brian Orser, Lavinia Agache, and many other top gymnasts and figure skaters.
According to IG online, Dianne has since earned her national judges card and has recently opened up Skyline Gymnastics in Chicago, IL where both gymnastics and dance are taught. She has been married for four years to Tom Drahozal, a teacher and coach.