Kristal Uzelac

Kristal Dawn Bodenschatz (born Kristal Dawn Uzelac; June 27, 1986) is a retired American gymnast. A junior national all-around champion for three consecutive years, she was considered one of the United States' most promising junior gymnasts in the late 1990s.

Early life Uzelac was born on June 27, 1986, to parents Donnie and Brenda. She has one younger brother, Donnie, and two older siblings: a sister, Brandy, and a brother, Alan. Her mother, aunts, and grandmother are all gymnastics coaches.

Uzelac began gymnastics at the age of two at her mother's gym, Turners. She also played baseball and was a wrestler, but ultimately chose to dedicate her time to gymnastics. She was a member of the TOPS national developmental team in 1995 and 1996, and, at the age of 11, won the all-around title at the Junior Olympic national championships and qualified as an elite.

In Indianapolis, the gymnastics community began to take notice of Uzelac, who stood barely over four feet at the time. Her second day balance beam score was the highest in the field, and her overall total was just over a tenth away from capturing the title.

Uzelac was a member of the American squad for the junior competition at the 1998 International Team Championships, where she placed second with the U.S. team and fifth in the all-around.

In 1999, Uzelac began her domination of the junior ranks. She won all-around at both the U.S. Classic in Rochester, New York, and the American Classic in Pomona, California, and, at the 1999 U.S. National Championships, captured the all-around, floor, balance beam and vault titles.

In 2002, Uzelac was eligible for senior competition. She competed at the 2002 U.S. National Championships, but injuries forced her to withdraw from three events on the second day of competition. At the Pacific Alliance Championships in 2002, Uzelac was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team, won the individual gold medal on vault, and placed third in the all-around.

Post-retirement Uzelac graduated from a therapeutic massage school in 2006. She currently works as a coach at her parents' gymnastics club, Uzelac Gymnastics.