Last week gymnast of the week traveled to Hungary for our feature gymnast, this week we return to the U.S. to feature a gymnast that has roots tying back to Romania and Uganda, Betty Okino.

Betty who was born in Uganda, Africa to her Ugandan father and Romanian mother moved to the U.S. at a very young age and first began her career in dance, winning multiple tap-dancing competitions with her brother. Though a successful dancer, after watching Mary Lou Retton's success at the 1984 Olympics, Betty left dance and began gymnastics at age 9. After starting gymnastics at an older age, she turned elite at age 13, only four years after she began gymnastics.

Betty competed at the 1988 U.S. Junior National Championships and placed 17^th. After her 17^th place finish, she moved to Houston to train with Bela and Martha Karolyi. At the 1990 U.S. National Championships she placed 2^nd in the all-around and won the balance beam title. Betty continued to represent the U.S. well in multiple international competitions, such as the Goodwill Games where she won the silver medal with the American team and finished 4^th in the all-around and uneven bars finals. Betty was part of the 1991 U.S. team for World Championships where she won a silver medal in the team finals and took 3^rd place on balance beam. She also won the 1991 American Cup.

Betty continued to succeed in 1992, winning a silver medal on bars at the 1992 Worlds. However, due to spine injuries she was forced to miss the 1992 U.S. Nationals and Olympic Trials. Despite missing the Olympic Trails, she was added to the 1992 Olympic team based on her performance and success at a privately held trial for the U.S. Gymnastics Federation. At the 1992 Olympics she helped the team win the bronze medal, qualified for the balance beam event finals and placed 12^th in the all-around.

After the 1992 Olympics, Betty retired form gymnastics but pursed her dream of acting and moved to Hollywood. She appeared in Warner Brothers teen show Popular, ABC’s Push, was the host of Disney’s “Z-Games,” and was on MTV’s Undressed.

Not only can Betty be found on these television shows, her influence on gymnastics can still be seen; she has two skills named after her. The Okino on balance beam, which is a triple turn and the Okino on uneven bars, a clear hip underswing with ½ twist to layout back salto.

Check out the Okino at :43 seconds!