The Story of Virre

Isabella Minna Veronica Wagner (known as Veronica Wagner) was born to Rickard and Ann-Christine Wagner on 7th July, 1987 in Stockholm, Sweden. As with so many elite gymnasts, Veronica followed a friend into the sport at the age of 5 1/2 as an outlet for her boundless energy. "I was constantly moving around, couldn't sit still. I fell in love with it right away." Although she does not remember anything of her first competition, Veronica proved to be a quick learner and by the time she was 10 years old she had already begun training to become an elite gymnast, finally qualifying to the top level of the sport at the age of 12. Now 18 Virre (as she is affectionately know to her family and friends) is the best gymnast in Sweden and is a well known international gymnast and with many devoted fans throughout the world.

Training and Career

Veronica is trained by Staffan Söderberg and Niklas Heckscher at Stockholm Top Gymnastics. Staffan describes her as an athlete who "sparkles with energy and strong will. She is a little too stubborn sometimes wich can lead to arguments in training but it's grown better over the years. She has physically a body that's made for gymnastics (when she isn't injured), she has great techique and the day she realizes that she will have very few boudaries left." Although she has struggled with injuries throughout her career Veronica has had an impressive career. Veronica is a three time National Champion and has represented Sweden at European, World and Olympic level. She has also been a finalist in a number of World Cup competitions.

Citius, Altius, Fortius

The 2003 World Championships provided history making moments for many gymnasts and countries. The first Gold Medal for the united States team, the first medal of any color for the Australian women's team and the last major all around victory for Russia's Svetlana Khorkina. This competition also represented the one and only chance for Veronica to achieve her goal in qualifying to compete at the 2004 Olympic Games - a feat that had not been achieved by a Swedish gymnast since the Los Angeles 1984. In the qualification round, Veronica posted an all around score of 34.024 which was not only her personal best score but a high enough score to earn herself a place on the 2004 Swedish Olympic Team. This moment, she says, was the most exciting in her career: "I think my happiest moment was when we realized that I had qualified to the olympics. we were so happy back then and it was just amazing. Staffan and I were extremely happy."

Although she had been largely unable to train any event other than uneven bars for the whole month leading into the Olympic Games, Virre was determined to compete on all four aparatus in Athens. Her coach reflected on the leadup to the competiton. "It was very exciting but also nerve wrecking! Veronica had hardly trained anything but bars for 4 weeks because of her foot injury. It felt like just about anything could happen." Veronica believes that one of her greatest strengths as an athlete is the ability to compete at her best when it counts. Her 55th place ranking earned with yet another personal best score and while competing in pain is testament to this. It is an experience that she will never forget and also one that she learned much from, "I learned that there's no need to be so nervous next time because there wasn't much of a difference between the Olympics and World Championships. But [the] Olympics is the Olympics! I can't describe how fun it was", and one that she hopes to be able to repeat in 2008.

Beyond The Chalk

Outside of the gym, Veronica's life is much the same as any other teenage girl in Sweden. She is a student at St. Eriks Gymnasium and in her spare time enjoys hanging out with her friends, partying, shopping, spending time with boys, going to the movies and so on. Although she is not always comfortable with her celebrity status in Sweden she is aware that she has an important role to play. "I have to be a role model to all the younger kids. I get to give out awards every now and then and get alot of media attention (which I don't like that much, but I do it for the sport). Everything is not fun when you're best at something, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Basic Information Fact Virre's Answer Full Name: Isabella Minna Veronica Wagner Nicknames: Vire, Roni, Vero Birthdate: July 7, 1987 Hometown: Stockholm, Älvsjö, Sweden Languages: Swedish, English Star Sign: Cancer Height: 1,54 meters School: St. Eriks Gymnasium Grade: Natur (NV3N) - click the link for more information! Parents: Rickard, Ann-Christine Brothers: Christopher, Robert Pets: Aquarium (mom is allergic) Hair Color: Dark blonde or brown Eye Color: Brown Shoe Size: 38 - click the link for more information! Personality: Talkative, energetic, competetive, amibitious and stubborn! Bad Habits: I'm a nightowl and sometimes talk too much when I should be quiet. Hobbies: Shopping, music, boys, hanging out with friends and partying. Life's Motto: "Small stars also shines in the dark"