Scott Johnson (gymnast)

Last updated

Scott Johnson
Full nameScott Philip Johnson
Born (1961-07-12) July 12, 1961 (age 64)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height160 cm (5 ft 3 in)
Gymnastics career
Discipline Men's artistic gymnastics
Country
represented
Flag of the United States.svg United States
(1981–1988)
College team Nebraska Cornhuskers
Retired1988
Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1984 Los Angeles Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1987 Indianapolis Team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1987 IndianapolisAll-around
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1987 IndianapolisStill rings
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg1987 IndianapolisParallel bars
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1987 IndianapolisFloor exercise
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1987 IndianapolisPommel horse
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1987 IndianapolisVault
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg1987 IndianapolisHorizontal bar

Scott Philip Johnson (born July 12, 1961) is an American former artistic gymnast. He won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in the team competition and was the team captain at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He won six medals at the 1987 Pan American Games, including the individual all-around title. He also competed at the collegiate level for the University of Nebraska and won seven NCAA titles. He was nominated for the James E. Sullivan Award in 1988 and was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1999.

Contents

Gymnastics career

Johnson began gymnastics at the age of ten at the YMCA in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He became the Colorado state all-around champion during his senior year of high school and then joined Nebraska Cornhuskers men's gymnastics team. [1] While there, he won seven NCAA titles, including four consecutive team titles, [2] and was an eleven-time All-American. [3]

Johnson first joined the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team in 1981. [3] He competed with the teams that placed fifth at the 1981 World Championships and fourth at the 1983 World Championships. [4] He then represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics and helped the team win the gold medal. [5]

Johnson advanced into the individual all-around final at the 1985 World Championships and finished 22nd. [6] He made history at the 1987 Pan American Games by becoming the first gymnast to win a medal in each event. [1] He won gold medals in the team, all-around, still rings, and parallel bars events, and silver medals in the pommel horse, vault, and horizontal bar events. [7] He represented the United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics and was the team captain. [1] He retired from competition after these Olympic Games. [8]

Post-gymnastics

After retiring from competition, Johnson moved to Florida and began his coaching career at local YMCAs. He then opened Scott Johnson's Tumble and Gymnastics Academy, which has locations in Winter Springs, Lake Mary, and Apopka. [8]

Johnson was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1999. [1] He was then inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Inductee Scott Johnson". USA Gymnastics . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Olympic Gymnast Johnson: Timing Paved Path to Perfection". Nebraska Cornhuskers . October 10, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Scott Philip Johnson Biography". International Olympic Committee . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  4. "World Championships - U.S. Men's Team Rosters". USA Gymnastics . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  5. "U.S. Medalists at Olympic Games- Men & Women Artistic Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  6. "1985 World Gymnastics Championships Montreal, Canada November 3-10, 1985" (PDF). USA Gymnastics . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  7. "The Tenth Pan American Games Results Book" (PDF). Pan Am Sports. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Imperato, Michelle (March 27, 2024). "Former Olympic gold medalist inspires new generation of gymnasts and dancers in Central Florida". WESH . Retrieved July 31, 2025.