View source for Sabrina Mar

{{Short description|American gymnast}}
'''Sabrina Mar''' (born {{birth based on age as of date|17|1987|8|27|noage=y}})<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-27-sp-4268-story.html|first=Robyn|last=Norwood|title=Sabrina Mar's Back Is Back on Track of Gymnastics Gold: Coming Around Again|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 27, 1987|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref> is an American [[Gymnastics|gymnast]]. She was the 1985 U.S. national all-around champion. She was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2004.
== Early life ==
Mar's parents emigrated to the United States from China after World War II.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-03-sp-10322-story.html|title=A Marvel at 15 :  Seoul's Sweetheart Just Might Turn Out to Be Talented Sabrina Mar|last=Newman|first=Scott|date=July 3, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 20, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Sabrina Mar was named for [[Audrey Hepburn|Audrey Hepburn's]] character in [[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1985/11/18/638190/tumbling-into-a-soviet-sea|title=Tumbling into a Soviet sea|last=Putnam|first=Pat|date=November 18, 1985|work=SI.com|access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref> Mar grew up in [[Monterey Park, California]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> She started ballet at an early age where one of her instructors noticed her talent for tumbling and suggested putting her in gymnastics.<ref name=":4" />
== Education ==
In 1993, Mar earned a degree from [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]].<ref name=":1"/>
== Gymnastics career ==
As a junior, Mar finished second at U.S. nationals twice. Mar trained at Southern California Acro Team (SCATS), a non-profit gym which produced several champion gymnasts, including [[Cathy Rigby]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/24/sports/players-young-champion-s-overnight-success.html|title=PLAYERS;   YOUNG CHAMPION'S 'OVERNIGHT' SUCCESS|date=August 24, 1988|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 20, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At SCATS, Mar was coached by Mary Wright and Steve Gerlach.<ref name=":4" />
Mar won the all-around title at the [[USA Gymnastics National Championships|1985 USA Gymnastics National Championships]]. At that meet she also won gold on floor exercise and uneven bars and silver on balance beam and vault.<ref name=":0" />  She suffered from back pain in 1986 and only managed an 11th-place finish at the 1986 National Champships. Mar recovered from an ankle injury in 1987 to place third at the National Championships that year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-27-sp-4268-story.html|title=Sabrina Mar's Back Is Back on Track of Gymnastics Gold :  COMING AROUND AGAIN|last=Norwood|first=Robyn|date=August 27, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 20, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Mar won the all-around title at the [[1987 Pan American Games]] where she also won team gold.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=1200&prog=h|title=USA Gymnastics Hall Of Fame Class Of 2004 Inducted Tonight|date=June 26, 2004|website=USA Gymnastics|access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref> Mar was part of the U.S. gymnastics team for the 1987 World Championships. The team finished a disappointing sixth, with Mar being the only team member to qualify for an individual event final.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/fall-from-grace-19880922|title=The U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team Falls From Grace|last=Engeler|first=Amy|date=September 22, 1988|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref>
Mar pulled out of the 1988 USA Gymnastics National Championships with a back injury.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-07-sp-8351-story.html|title=Names in the News|date=July 7, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 20, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Mar had long suffered from [[spondylolisthesis]], a slippage of disks in the back. Mar was given an waiver to compete in the national trials, however the injury prevented her from competing. She retired from gymnastics when she pulled out of the trials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-06-sp-7074-story.html|title=Mar Pulls Out of Gymnastic Trials, Retires|last=Hoffer|first=Richard|date=August 6, 1988|website=latimes.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208183216/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-08-06/sports/sp-7074_1_gymnastic-trials|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=2017-05-20}}</ref> Mar was inducted into the [[USA Gymnastics]] Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref name=":1" />
=== Allegations against USA Gymnastics ===
Mar is one of several former USA gymnasts who has alleged former coach Doug Boger mistreated young gymnasts. According to Mar, Boger would pin gymnasts against the wall and "basically just choke you."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/us/california-alleged-coach-abuse/index.html|title=Former gymnasts claim systemic physical, sexual abuse by ex-coach - CNN.com|last=Wian|first=Casey|date=March 21, 2012|website=CNN|access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref> USA Gymnastics placed Boger on its list of ineligible coaches in 2010.<ref name=":2" />
== Post-gymnastics career ==
Mar was a dancer in Annie (1982). She then became an animator on the television show ''[[South Park]]''.<ref name=":1" />
== Personal life ==
Mar's husband is Dennis. They have one son and a daughter.<ref name=":1" />
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name |id=1010011}}
{{Gymnastics at the Pan American Games – Women's team competition|1987}}
{{Gymnastics at the Pan American Games – Women's individual all-around}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mar, Sabrina}}
[[Category:American female artistic gymnasts]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:U.S. women's national team gymnasts]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1987 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]