Shannon Miller (born March 10, 1977 in Rolla, Missouri) is the most decorated American gymnast, male or female, in history. She won the all-around silver medal in the 1992 Olympics (losing the gold by the closest ever margin of victory, .012) as well as the silver medal on the balance beam, and bronze medals in the uneven parallel bars, floor exercise, and team competition. Miller became all-around world champion in 1993 and 1994. To this day, she remains the only American to ever win two World All-Around titles.
In 1996, Miller led the famous Magnificent 7 gold medal winning gymnastics team (the first time the US Women won the team gold in Olympic competition) at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Here, she also won the first ever gold medal on the balance beam for an American.
Miller was the U.S. national gymnastics champion in 1993 and 1996.
She has been world champion in every event except the vault, where she has made the finals four times (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995), and an Olympic medalist in every event but the vault, where she was twice an Olympic finalist (1992 and 1996).
After her attempt to make the US team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney was thwarted by injury, Miller concentrated on her education and now attends law school in Boston. She has also mentioned an ambition to enter politics and be a Republican Senator for Oklahoma. Recently she has spoken out against the controversial new code and the abandonment of the Perfect 10, which has won her much admiration from fans.
Major medals:
1991 Worlds: 2nd team and bars
1992 Olympics: 3rd team, bars and floor, 2nd overall and beam
1993 Worlds: 1st overall, bars, floor
1994 Worlds: 1st overall, beam
1994 Team Worlds: 2nd team
1995 Worlds: 3rd team
1996 Olympics: 1st team, beam
