On February 6, 1976, Kimberly Zmeskal was born in Houston, Texas. She is the daughter of David and Clarice. She has one sister, Melissa, and one brother, Eric. She began gymnastics in 1982 at Karolyi's Gymnastics. Kim trained with them until she retired from elite gymnastics in the early 1990s. When she made her comeback in 1997, Kim trained at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. She is currently married to Chris Burdette. She and her husband own Texas Dreams Gymnastics. The couple coached Chelsea Davis to the 2008 Olympic Selection Camp.
Her first year as an elite was in 1988. She finished first on vault and sixth all-around at the American Classic. She qualified to the US National Championships. She finished eighth all-around and third on floor. This qualified her for her first US National Team.
In 1989, Kim won the all-around, vault and beam titles at the US Classic. She then won the US Junior National Championships. Kim went to France for the City of Popes Tournament. She won. At the DTB Pokal in Germany, Kim finished fourth all-around and second on beam. She competed at two meets in Switzerland, the Swiss Cup and Arthur Gander Memorial. Kim won the Arthur Gander Memorial and finished first at the Swiss Cup with her partner, Lance Ringnald. She also competed as a senior at the American Classic. She won the all-around title.
In 1990, Kim competed as a senior international elite. She finished first all-around at the American Cup. She won all four events as well! At the International Mixed Pairs meet, she won the all-around title with Lance Ringnald. At the US Challenge, Kim finished first all-around. She then won her first US National Title! She competed at several international meets. At the International Tournament of France, she finished second all-around and on vault. Kim won floor.
At the Goodwill Games, she finished third on bars and floor. She was struggling with wrist pain at the time of the competition. At the McDonald's Challenge: USA vs. USSR, she won the all-around title. Kim competed at the Joaquim Blume Tournament in Spain. She won a bronze on beam. At the Arthur Gander Memorial, Kim finished third all-around. She competed at the DTB Pokal again. Her final meet was the Recontra Beaucaira. She finished second all-around and first on floor.
She continued competing as a senior international elite in 1991. She finished second all-around at the American Cup. She did win the International Mixed Pairs Competition with Chris Waller. Kim won the all-around title at the USA vs. Romania meet. She won her second US National Title. Kim also won World Trials. At the World Championships, she helped the USA team to second place. She then became the first world all-around champion for the United States!
The Olympics would be held in Barcelona in 1992. Kim was a heavy favorite after her World Championship win. She started her season by winning the American Cup. Kim then competed at the Individual Event World Championships in France. She won beam and floor. At the US National Championships, Kim won her third all-around crown. She then competed at the Olympic Trials. At the Olympics, she was hampered by a stress fracture in her shin. After a fall on her first event, she battled back to win a spot in the all-around finals. Kim won a bronze medal with the team. She did several professional performances from 1992 to 1995.
In 1998, Kim began competing as an elite again. She did not compete all four events at the American Classic. At the US Classic, she finished third all-around. She made the US National Team At Nationals. In 1999, she was selected for the China Dual Meet. Kim unfortunately had an injury that ultimately made her retired.
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Fast Facts
 Name: Kim Zmeskal
Birthday: February 6, 1976
Club: Karolyi's
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MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Seven Time US National Team Member
1998: US Classic- 3rd AA
1992: Olympian
1992: US National Champion
1992: American Cup Champion
1991: World Champion
1991: US National Champion
1990: US National Champion
1990: American Cup Champion
1989: Gander Memorial Champion
1989: US National Champion
1989: US Classic Champion
1998: US Nationals- 8th AA
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