BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Jaycie Phelps was already leaning toward shooting for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, before she underwent knee surgery Wednesday at Deaconess Hospital, her parents said.

''Amanda (Borden), Shannon (Miller) and Dominique (Dawes), who were all (in the) 19-20 (age range) at the Olympics in Atlanta, all encouraged Jaycie to go for it,'' said Jaycie's mother, Cheryl.

Phelps, who recently turned 18, will be 20 when Sydney rolls around.

Dr. Frank R. Noyes, who arthroscopically transplanted meniscus cartilage from a donor into Phelps' knee on Wednesday, said Phelps has a ''50-50'' chance of competing again at the highest level.

''We'll know much better a year from now, but overall we tell athletes it's a 50-50 situation,'' Noyes said. ''Some athletes will be able to return to their activities and do reasonably well, while other athletes - because of the arthritis they have in the joint - may have future trouble.

''We're going to remain very optimistic, but we need some help from Mother Nature to heal the transplant.''

This particular type of transplant is rejected by the body only one out of every 1,000 times. Over the course of a year, the recipient's own tissue actually replaces the transplanted structure. It is the success of this healing process that will determine whether Phelps will have the opportunity to do the necessary work to compete again.

Phelps will not be allowed to run or pivot for six months, Noyes said. She will be able to swim and do other exercises which allow her to stay toned. Phelps had said Tuesday that she hoped to compete in the U.S. championships in August in Indianapolis.