UCLA gains major recruit -- in gymnastics

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Samantha Peszek, a silver medalist on the 2008 U.S. women’s Olympics gymnastics team, has given UCLA a verbal commitment. Peszek is a junior at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis and still plans to compete at the major international level.

While warming up just before the women’s team was to begin its first team event in Beijing, Peszek sprained her ankle and was unable to compete. She had been expected to do all four events for the U.S. -- floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars and vault -- in team qualifying. She was also part of the gold medal-winning U.S. 2007 world championship team. She plans to compete at U.S. nationals this summer in Dallas.

“I’m so excited to be a Bruin,” said Peszek, who is 17. “I visited several schools and UCLA was just a perfect fit for me. I’ve wanted to compete for UCLA and live in L.A. for a while, so it’s a dream come true.”

Two of Peszek’s Olympic teammates have lately spent significant time in Los Angeles. Balance beam gold medalist Shawn Johnson is competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and Alicia Sacramone has relocated here while she works on establishing connections in the fashion design world.

-- Diane Pucin