Karin Lichey admits that she and her roommate/little sister, Kristi, don't always see eye to eye. One time they even hucked Jell-O at each other during a memorable sibling squabble.
"We get along great," said Karin, then adding with a chuckle, "but sometimes we fight like normal sisters do."The Lichey sisters don't do gymnastics like normal sisters do, though. Not even close. And that's unfortunate for those not cheering for the University of Georgia's Gym Dogs at the NCAA Championships this week at the Huntsman Center.
"They're probably the best two-sister combo in the history of collegiate gymnastics," said Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan.
And Yoculan, the reigning NCAA coach of the year, isn't just speaking from the heart.
Karin has had a brilliant, record-setting career and is the nation's top-ranked all-around gymnast heading into her final meet as a college athlete. Her regional qualifying score is a sparkling 39.725 and her season-high is a lofty 39.85. The Southeastern Conference's athlete of the year placed second in the all-around last year, and she's the favorite this week. For a good reason, too.
"Karin has an aura and a confidence about her that demands attention," said Yoculan, adding that she's only made two mistakes as a senior. "She has got that look of a champion, and she takes it with her everywhere she goes. Her mental toughness sets her apart from other Georgia greats."
Kristi, a sophomore, has a load of untapped potential, but she has fared quite well in the shadow of her successful older sis. She comes into Salt Lake as the country's fifth-best all-arounder, a remarkable accomplishment considering she really only competed in one event (beam) in the NCAAs as a freshman.
"Kristi has a little less experience, but she's physically more talented than Karin," Yoculan said. "She hasn't come into her own yet, but she's very, very talented."
The Cincinnati natives -- who quickly and generously credit their teammates -- have helped boost defending national champion Georgia to a second-straight undefeated season with solid and spectacular performances.
"In the gym, we're great for each other," Karin said. "We constantly push each other to do better."
The Lichey Sister Act combined for an NCAA record at UCLA this winter. Kristi won the all-around title and Karin took second, which marked the first time in collegiate history that sisters finished 1-2 at the same meet. They repeated the feat again at Kentucky, though Karin earned the title, as per usual, that time around.
Of course, rewriting the NCAA record book is nothing new to Karin. The 5-foot-1 senior became an instant celebrity in the gymnastics world in 1996, when she notched four 10.0s for a perfect all-around score of 40.00 against Kentucky. That was the first -- and only -- time anybody performed a Flawless Forty in the sport's history.
Karin first recorded 10s on vault and bars, but she had done that before. Yoculan said everyone in the arena got really jacked up after she next nailed her landing off the beam, giving her a 30.00 going into the floor exercise.
"When she went to the beam and stuck her dismount, there was nothing wrong," recalled Yoculan. "Everyone -- all 10,000 fans -- knew it was perfect. We knew history was in the making when she went to the floor. She floated through her last event.
"It was like a fairy tale. Everyone picked her up and lifted her in the air."
Three years later, Karin is still sweetly stunned that she managed to reach perfection in four consecutive events.
"My 40 was a great time for me," she said. "I mean, how many times do you see a 40? It's still amazing to me."
Even so, Karin claims winning a national team championship last spring in Los Angeles is her fondest gymnastics memory. Though she has personal goals, duplicating that this weekend is her top priority.
"That's my No. 1 goal," she said, "to get another national championship for Georgia."
Both Licheys will need to hit their routines to help compensate for the four season-ending injuries the Dogs have suffered this year.
"We've had a rough season with injuries, but we faced adversity with a lot of determination," said Karin, who earned the maximum five first-team All-American honors in 1998. "We're so mentally strong and so mentally prepared that nothing can stop us now."
Yoculan joked that she'll start feeling comfortable when she sees the Licheys yawn. Yep, yawn. Yoculan said both sisters have a hard time hiding their fatigue between events, but they have an incredible ability to pull extra strength and stamina out of their petite frames.
"When they yawn it's a good sign -- no need to worry," Yoculan said with a laugh. "When it's time to compete, the light switches on."
And my how it shines.