European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 3, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Big time gymnastics a childhood devoted to pain and perseverance by Chuck Robert staff writer Ruscha Kouril has the hands of a concert pianist and a Lumberjack. Her hands move with the artistic Grace of a Ballerina As the 15-year-old gymnast glides across a balance beam Only four inches wide. Yet they also show the years of clutching the unforgiving Wood of the uneven bars. Ruschau a hands Are so thick with calluses that her Mother must trim them with a razor Blade. Ruscha s lifestyle is As strikingly different from those of her classmates at a Delberg High school As Are her though she a a Champion at the floor exercise Ruscha Kourts hands reveal the Rigours of a decade of Devotion to the uneven Bare. V a a amp a i Lwi hands but being different is Normal for the american teen Ager who is a member of the German National team she has been the German Champion for three years in the floor exercise and will compete for the team at the world gymnastic championships which begin Friday to Indianapolis. Although Ruscha qualifies for the German team for most competitions she cannot participate in the 1992 olympics unless she becomes a German citizen. But Ruscha can to seek citizenship for just herself until she is 18 years old. To become f German citizen in time for the olympics her entire family would have to change citizenship and that would pose problems for her american parents she said. A her father is an army Retiree who works for the defense department in Heidelberg Germany and her Mother is a naturalized u s. Citizen who was born in Innsbruck. Austria. Ruscha was born and raised in Heidelberg. If she can t go to the olympics with the German team. Ruscha wares to t by out for a spot on the u s. National team no i  in the meantime she will continue devoting herself to the sport that she began at age 4 when she was pinging of the furniture her Mother harnessed this Energy by enrolling her in a local German gymnastics class. Since then there has been time for Little else in her life Ruscha has never been on a vacation. She never watches television unless it s gymnastics. And the names of most movies Are As foreign to her As a double Back dismount is to her classmates. Quot it does t really bother me too much that i Don t have hardly any free time because it s All that i m really used to Quot Ruscha said during a recent workout she has spent the past seven weeks training at the German National training Center in Frankfurt Germany. Despite the regimen her life has not been entirely sheltered. She s been to Moscow and also seen the poverty of countries such As Bulgaria during her travels As a competing gymnast her Mother though wishes that Ruscha had time for parties and other teen activities. I worry about the sacrifice Quot said Christine Kouril As she watched Ruscha warm up before practice. Quot sometimes i Don t know if it s Worth  but her Mother showed no signs of regret a few minutes later As she proudly watched Ruscha perform her balance beam routine. Ruscha s Ballet background was on display As she practice in front of her coaches and a video camera. In preparation for the Indianapolis meet Ruscha and her seven teammates have practice nearly seven hours a Day. When not practising Ruscha is in physical therapy for Relief from the constant injuries common to the sport. Ruscha said she might become a physical therapist some Day because she already has so much first hand experience with injuries and treatment. Currently she has pain in both elbows and is recovering from a pulled Tendon in her right foot. There s hardly Ever a Day in practice where nothing hurts Quot she said. But Ruscha has Learned to keep her pain to herself. A i Only Tell the coach it it s so bad that i can t walk anymore Quot Ruscha said. Head coach Wolfgang Bohner said Ruscha has the mental toughness that he said is typical of american gymnasts. We have to Tell her to slow Down sometimes Quot said Bohner who took Over the struggling women s gymnastics program in 1988. Bohner said Ruscha has a Chance to finish among the top 36 women in Indianapolis which would qualify her As a world class gymnast Bohner said that Ruscha could reach her peek sometime within the next year. If Ruscha which is russian for Rose cannot compete m Barcelona Spain she will set her sights on the world  the following year. Her a Chi Chance for try olympics would be the 1996 games in Atlanta. Soe would be old enough then to apply for German of ship but five years is a Long time for a 15-year-Ci and 20 is old for a gymnast but she said she vol Quot i consider giving it a try if the body is willing Ruscha and her balance beam coach Hannelore Slemer critique a video of her routine. The Heidelberg teen is focused on this week s world championships. A amps photos by Ken George an occasional joke Breaks fee routine. Page 14 b the stars and stripes tuesday septemtt3, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 15