U.S. Olympic Team | Pacific Coast Classic - Men's Gymnastics::Olympics

The Pacific Coast Classic - Supporting Men's Collegiate Athletics

NCAA Men's Gymnastics - The Lifeblood of Our U.S. Olympic Teams:

1984 Olympics
In the last fourteen Olympiads (1956 – 2008), 91% of our U.S. Olympic men's gymnastics team members competed in the NCAA. The entire gold-medal winning team of 1984 consisted of NCAA gymnasts, half of whom came from UCLA’s renowned, but now nonexistent, NCAA program:

Tim Daggett – UCLA (UCLA's men’s program was dropped in 1994)
Mitch Gaylord - UCLA
Peter Vidmar - UCLA
Bart Conner – University of Oklahoma
Jim Hartung – University of Nebraska
Scott Johnson – University of Nebraska

NCAA Olympic Medalists
Since 1972, all but five American gymnasts to win Olympic medals have been products of college gymnastics teams:

Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State - 2008 Bronze (Team)
Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma - 2008 Bronze (Team)
Justin Spring, Oklahoma - 2008 Bronze (Team)
Kevin Tan, Penn State - 2008 Bronze (Team)
Paul Hamm, * – 2004 Gold (All-Around), Silver (Team)
Morgan Hamm, * – 2004 Silver (Team)
Blaine Wilson, Ohio State – 2004 Silver (Team)
Guard Young, Brigham Young – 2004 Silver (Team)
Jair Lynch, Stanford – 1996 Silver (P-Bars)
Trent Dimas, Nebraska – 1992 Gold (High Bar)
Bart Conner, Oklahoma – 1984 Gold (Team), Gold (P-Bars)
Scott Johnson, Nebraska – 1984 Gold (Team)
Jim Hartung, Nebraska – 1984 Gold (Team)
Tim Daggett, UCLA – 1984 Gold (Team), Bronze (Pommel)
Mitch Gaylord, UCLA – 1984 Gold (Team), Silver (Vault), Bronze (Rings), Bronze (P-Bars)
Peter Vidmar, UCLA – 1984 Gold (Team), Gold (Pommel), Silver (All-Around)
Peter Kormann, Southern Connecticut – 1976 Bronze (Floor)

* Although not university students, the Hamm brothers benefited from a men's university program. They trained at Ohio State University with the men's collegiate gymnastics team under Ohio State coach, Miles Avery.

Olympians/Nissen-Emery Award Recipients
Established in 1966, the Nissen-Emery Award is considered the "Heisman Trophy" of men's gymnastics. It is college gymnastics' highest honor and presented at the NCAA National Gymnastics Championships.

This award honors the collegiate senior gymnast who has established an outstanding record of achievement in gymnastics, good sportsmanship, fair play, and scholarship throughout his collegiate career. He is an exemplary example of a champion in defeat as well as in victory. Fourteen USA Olympic gymnasts are Nissen-Emery Award recipients:

Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma is 3-time Pacific Coast Collegiate Classic AA Champion
Jonathan Horton, University of Oklahoma
Three-time All-Around Champion, Pacific Coast Collegiate Classic

2008 - Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma (2008 Olympics)
2006 - Justin Spring, Illinois (2008 Olympics)
1997 - Blaine Wilson, Ohio State (1996, 2000 Olympics)
1994 - Kip Simons, Ohio State (1996)
1993 - John Roethlisberger, Minnesota (1992, 1996, 2000 Olympics)
1992 - Scott Keswick, UCLA (1992 Olympics)
1986 - Wes Suter, Nebraska (1988 Olympics)
1983 - Peter Vidmar, UCLA (1980, 1984 Olympics)
1982 - Jim Hartung, Nebraska (1980, 1984 Olympics)
1981 - Bart Conner, Oklahoma (1976, 1980, 1984 Olympics)
1979 - Kurt Thomas, Indiana State (1976 Olympics)
1977 - Peter Kormann, Southern Connecticut State (1976 Olympics)
1974 - Steve Hug, Stanford (1972 Olympics)
1973 - John Crosby, Southern Connecticut State (1972 Olympics)

Contributed by Justin Toman to the Pacific Coast Classic

Contributed by Justin Toman, former University of Michigan standout, 2002 Nissen-Emery Award Recipient, and USA Gymnastics Senior National Team Member 1998-1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

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