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Chris Young (gymnast)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chris Young
Full nameChris Young
Country representedUnited States
Born (1973-02-01) February 1, 1973 (age 51)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
HometownWinston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Years on national team1998–2000
GymUSOTC
Team Texaco
Salem Gymnastics
Head coach(es)Vitaly Marinich
Former coach(es)Ron Brant, Bob Kohut
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's artistic gymnastics
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Pan American Games 0 1 0
Total 0 1 0
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1999 Winnipeg Team

Chris Young (born February 1, 1973) is a retired American artistic gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games.

Early life and education

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Young was born on February 1, 1973, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Most commonly known as Chris Young, he also competed as James Young. Young was involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and was introduced to gymnastics at 9 years old.[1][2] He played numerous other sports growing up including football and basketball.[1] He trained with Salem Gymnastics under Bob Kohut and was a top-ranked youth gymnast.[1][3] He attended West Forsyth High School and suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during his junior year that led to an exclusive focus on gymnastics afterward.[1] After graduating in 1992, he earned a scholarship to and enrolled at the University of Minnesota to pursue gymnastics.[1][4]

Gymnastics career

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On the international stage, Young was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team. He was first named to the team in 1998.[2] He trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado for years.[2] He represented the United States at the 1999 Pan American Games and won a silver medal in the team all-around.[5] Later that year, he was selected to represent the United States at the 1999 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tianjin.[2]

Six months before the 2000 United States Olympic trials, Young suffered an Achilles tendon rupture.[4] He received an exemption to compete in the event but was not selected for the 2000 Summer Olympics team and retired afterward.[4]

Personal life

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Upon retiring from gymnastic competition, Young and his former coach, Bob Kohut, opened and were co-owners of Kernersville, North Carolina-based Flip Force Gymnastics.[4] Young coaches gymnastics at his boyhood club, Salem Gymnastics, where his son is a gymnast.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Stinson, Tevin (March 17, 2022). "Team USA qualifier coaches son to state gymnastics title". Winston-Salem Chronicle. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Armour, Nancy (January 30, 2000). "Getting With the Program". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  3. ^ Cowan, Robert (July–August 1991). "1991 J.O. National Boys Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. p. 34. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Greenlee, Craig (July 2, 2015). "Former world-class gymnast Chris Young continues to pay it forward". Winston-Salem Chronicle. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "Artistic gymnastics at the 1999 Pan American Games results" (PDF). usagym.org. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
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