A year ago Yvonne Musik was virtually unknown even to many German gymnastics fans. Feeling she could no longer improve while training under unsatisfactory circumstances in Hamburg, the then 15-year-old left her hometown, family and coach behind to search for a training environment that would help her climb the ranks of the German team. She moved to Bergisch Gladbach where she now trains under the guidance of Dieter Koch and his wife Ulla, mentors to 1992 Olympian Andrea Drissler and 1994 and 1995 Worlds competitor Rufina Kreibich.

A few months after her move, Yvonne found herself on the German team for Ghent but could offer only moral support to the squad's eighth place finish after a foot injury. With last year's key players Katja Abel, Lisa Brüggemann and Birgit Schweigert all out with injuries, Musik has suddenly and unexpectedly been thrust into the limelight and will lead the German effort in Patras. She feels her new training situation has benefited her. "I am now training twice as much as before and I think it shows," she says calmly. "You feel more confident during competitions and also get more attention. That's a nice feeling."

The tenth grader, who says she likes "nearly all" subjects at school, will be one of only two senior gymnasts representing Germany at the upcoming Europeans in Greece. Due to the decimated state of the team, officials have decided against fielding a full team. The Championships will be Musik's first major competition but she will meet up with an old acquaintance - Russia's Elena Zamolodchikova, who was one the stars Yvonne toured with at last year's DTB Gala. "It was nice to have a chance to meet them. We chatted in English and when we met at Cottbus, we immediately recognised each other."

Read more about Yvonne Musik and her thoughts on her new role in an upcoming issue of LEON* Magazin.

nora schuler