Olympic gymnast’s hard work pays in gold and bronze

Vitaly Scherbo has lived in two worlds.

In one world, he is an Olympic gymnast tantamount to a superhero and to say he is adored and beloved would be an understatement.

In the other, he is just another face in the crowd.

Scherbo was born in the country of Belarus when it was still under the Communist regime. It was a time of wars and revolutions. There was little food and money, and the country was full of corruption. Many times he had to stand in line for two hours just to buy a roll of toilet paper.

"You have to have lived there in my time to truly understand it," says Scherbo with a strong accent.

His parents were professional tumblers who competed in national championships. At the age of 71/2, Scherbo started to follow in their footsteps.

He was a rambunctious boy, running around his local gym, but he didn't look like an Olympian. In fact, when his coach first met him, he called Scherbo "Cookie" because he was a chubby child. The coach wasn't even going to take Scherbo, but his mother interceded and begged him to change his mind.

As years passed, Scherbo shed his "Cookie-weight" and gained the physique and dedication of an Olympian.

In order to train for the Olympics and to go to school at the same time, Scherbo had to awaken at 7 a.m. every day.

After a breakfast that usually consisted of tea, bread and cheese, he would take the bus to the gym where he would work out for two hours, then he would go to school where he would take eight classes a day. After school, he went back to the gym.

Most nights, Scherbo wasn't home until 9. When he got home, he still had to eat dinner and do his homework.

"I didn't have any other choice other than to work hard," says Scherbo. "You have to be amazing. You have to achieve something."

Scherbo has definitely done that. In the 1992 Barcelona games, Scherbo won six gold medals, and in the 1996 Atlanta games, he won four bronze medals.

He became such a hero to his people that they named an athletic competition after him called the Scherbo Cup. He even spent his free time just hanging out with President Lukashemko.

Although he is a hero in Belarus, Scherbo likes America, where his public profile is much less pronounced.

After moving here, he was able to open his own gym, which has become a success.

In early April, students from his gym took first place in a gymnastics competition while representing the state of Nevada.

"You have the opportunity to go anywhere is the U.S.," says Scherbo. "There is a chance for a future."