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{{Short description|American gymnast (born 1958)}} |
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{{Infobox gymnast |
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{{Infobox gymnast |
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|name= Bart Conner |
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| name = Bart Conner |
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|image=Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Mark Spitz Chats with Olympic Gymnast Bart Conner (28705844332).jpg |
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| image = Bart Conner Olympic Park Rio de Janeiro 2016.jpg |
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|caption=Bart Conner (right) talking with ] at the ] in Rio de Janeiro |
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| caption = Conner at the ] |
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| full_name = Barthold Wayne Conner |
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| country = ] |
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| formercountry = |
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|country={{USA}} |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|03|28}} |
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| birth_place = ], ], U.S. |
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|birth_date= {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1958|03|28}} |
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|hometown= ] |
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| hometown = ], U.S. |
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| residence = ], U.S. |
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| spouse = {{Marriage|]|1996}} |
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| training = |
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|height= 5'6" |
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| height = 165 cm |
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|discipline=MAG |
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| weight = 58 kg |
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|level= |
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| discipline = MAG |
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|gym= |
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| gym = |
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|collegeteam= ] |
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| collegeteam = ] |
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|headcoach= ] |
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| headcoach = ] |
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|assistcoach= |
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| assistcoach = |
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|formercoach= |
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|choreographer= |
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| eponymousskills = Conner (parallel bars) |
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|music= |
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| retired = |
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|eponymousskills= |
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| worldranking = |
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|retired= |
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| show-medals = yes |
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|medaltemplates= |
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| medaltemplates = |
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{{MedalSport|Men's ]}} |
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{{MedalSport|Men's ]}} |
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{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}} |
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{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}} |
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{{MedalCount |
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|]|2|0|0 |
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|]|1|0|2 |
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|]|1|0|2 |
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| total = yes |
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}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|1984 Los Angeles|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition | ]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|Parallel bars}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|Parallel bars}} |
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{{MedalBronze|1979 Ft. Worth|Vault}} |
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{{MedalBronze|]|Team}} |
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{{MedalBronze|1979 Ft. Worth|Team competition}} |
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{{MedalBronze|]|Vault}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalBronze|]|Rings}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|]}} |
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{{MedalBronze|1975 Mexico City|Floor exercise}} |
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{{MedalBronze|]|]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalBronze|]|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|1976 New York|All-Around}} |
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{{MedalGold|1981 Fort Worth|All-Around}} |
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{{MedalGold|1982 New York|All-Around}} |
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}} |
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}} |
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'''Bart Conner''' (born March 28, 1958) is a retired American Olympic ]. As a member of the men's ] team at the ], Conner won two gold medals. He currently owns and operates the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in ], along with his wife, ]n Olympic gold medalist ]. In addition, both Comăneci and Conner are highly involved with the ].<ref> |
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'''Barthold Wayne Conner'''<ref name='olybio'>{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/barthold-wayne-conner |title=Barthold Wayne Conner |website=olympics.com |access-date=October 19, 2023}}</ref> (born March 28, 1958) is a retired American Olympic ]. He was a member of the ] and won two gold medals at the ]. He owns and operates the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in ], along with his wife, ]n Olympic gold medalist ]. In addition, both Comăneci and Conner are highly involved with the ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=Nadia Comaneci, Global Ambassador |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209042443/http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=2014-12-09 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=On Mats, Bars and Boards, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci Lead by Example |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112708/http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=2017-03-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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==Early life and education== |
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==Early life and education== |
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Conner was born on March 28, 1958, and grew up in ].<ref name=okbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO044|title=CONNER, BART (1958– )|accessdate=July 18, 2017|date=2009|publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}</ref> He first became involved in gymnastics at school and his local YMCA. He was later on the gymnastics team at ], where he graduated in 1976.<ref name=hs>{{cite web|url=http://www.nileswestnews.org/sports/q-a-with-bart-conner-olympic-gold-medalist/|title=Q & A with Bart Conner, Olympic Gold Medalist|accessdate=|last=Goldwyn|first=Nick|date=September 6, 2011|publisher=Niles West News}}</ref> |
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Conner was born on March 28, 1958, the son of Harold Conner (1931-2024) and Jacqueline May ({{nee}} Hulsey, later Wolthausen; 1931-2000), and grew up in ].<ref name=okbio>{{cite web |url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO044 |title=CONNER, BART (1958– ) |access-date=July 18, 2017 |date=2009 |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-12-25-0712241048-story.html |title=Death Notice: CALVIN GEORGE WOLTHAUSEN |website=Chicago Tribune |date=25 December 2007 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-04-19-0004190232-story.html |title=JACKIE CONNER-WOLTHAUSEN, 68, MOTHER OF OLYMPIAN |last=Gottesman |first=Walter |website=Chicago Tribune |date=19 April 2000 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2529031/gymnasts-to-say-vows-in-romanian-capital/ |title=Gymnasts to Say Vows in Romanian Capital |date=1996-02-25 |website=Oklahoman.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref> He has two siblings, Michael and Bruce. He first became involved in gymnastics at school and at his local YMCA. He was later on the gymnastics team at ], where he graduated in 1976.<ref name=hs>{{cite web |url=http://www.nileswestnews.org/sports/q-a-with-bart-conner-olympic-gold-medalist/ |title=Q & A with Bart Conner, Olympic Gold Medalist |last=Goldwyn |first=Nick |date=September 6, 2011 |publisher=Niles West News}}</ref> |
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He later attended the ] to work with coach ] on the gymnastics team.<ref name=trials>{{cite web |
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He later attended the ] to work with coach ] on the gymnastics team.<ref name=trials>{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/article/2077817 |title=Bart's Trials Conner Says Conflict Preceded Golden Feats |last=Bailey |first=Dean |date=August 13, 1984 |publisher=The Oklahoman}}</ref> He eventually graduated from OU in 1984, where he was an All-American and won the 1981 Nissen Award as America's best gymnast.<ref name=sr/> |
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|url=http://newsok.com/article/2077817|title=Bart's Trials Conner Says Conflict Preceded Golden Feats|accessdate=|last=Bailey|first=Dean |
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|date=August 13, 1984|publisher=The Oklahoman}}</ref> He eventually graduated from OU in 1984, where he was an All-American and won the 1981 Nissen Award as America’s best gymnast.<ref name=sr/> |
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==Gymnastics career== |
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==Gymnastics career== |
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He won the 1972 U.S. Junior National Championships when he was 14 and the U.S. Gymnastics Federation All-Around championship when he was 17, and was the youngest member of the Olympic team during the ].<ref name=okbio/> He also won a team all-around gold medal at the ].<ref name=sr>{{cite web|url=http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html|title=Bart Conner|accessdate=|last=|first=|date=|publisher=SR Olympic Sports|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622060239/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html|archivedate=2016-06-22|df=}}</ref> |
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He won the 1972 U.S. Junior National Championships when he was 14 and the U.S. Gymnastics Federation All-Around championship when he was 17, and was the youngest member of the Olympic team during the ].<ref name=okbio/> He also won a team all-around gold medal at the ].<ref name=sr>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html |title=Bart Conner |publisher=SR Olympic Sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622060239/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html |archive-date=2016-06-22}}</ref> |
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Although he qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics, he did not participate due to the ]. Later in the ], he won two gold medals for the ] and for the ].<ref name=okbio/> His win on the parallel bars helped "the U.S. win its first men's Olympic gymnastic gold medal in 80 years."<ref name=latp>{{cite web |
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Although he qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was unable to participate due to the ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caroccioli |first1=Tom |last2=Caroccioli |first2=Jerry |title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games |year=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=Highland Park, IL |isbn=978-0942257403 |pages=243–253}}</ref> Four years later, in the ], he won two gold medals for the ] and for the ].<ref name=okbio/> His win on the parallel bars helped the U.S. win its first men's Olympic gymnastic gold medal in 80 years.<ref name=latp>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-1984_olympics13_k44u6gnc-photo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828112237/http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-1984_olympics13_k44u6gnc-photo.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-08-28 |title=1984 Summer Olympic Games |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> He demonstrated an original move called the "Conner spin" during the 1984 Olympics.<ref name=sr/> He appeared as "Bart Taylor" in the 1986 film '']''. |
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|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-1984_olympics13_k44u6gnc-photo.html |
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|title=1984 Summer Olympic Games |
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|publisher=Los Angeles Times |
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}}</ref> He also demonstrated an original move called the "Conner spin” during the 1984 Olympics.<ref name=sr/> |
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==Awards and honors== |
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Conner is a highly decorated gymnast who has won “medals at every level of national and international competition.” Some of his honors include “induction into the USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (1991), the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1997), and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1997).”<ref name=okbio/> |
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Conner is a highly decorated gymnast who has won "medals at every level of national and international competition." Some of his honors include "induction into the USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (1991), the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1997), and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1997)."<ref name=okbio/> While Conner did not compete in the 1980 games, he was one of 461 athletes to receive a ] many years later.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caroccioli |first1=Tom |last2=Caroccioli |first2=Jerry |title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games |year=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=Highland Park, IL |isbn=978-0942257403 |pages=243–253}}</ref> |
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==Nadia Comăneci== |
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==Personal life== |
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On November 27, 1989, ], the famous Romanian gymnast Conner had met at the 1976 Montreal games, ]. In January 1990, when Conner read in the newspaper that she was scheduled to be interviewed on '']'', he contacted the producer and arranged to make a guest appearance on the show.<ref name="scoop">{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/article/2304764 |title=Bart Gets The Scoop On Nadia |access-date=August 19, 2016 |last=Rohde |first=John |date=January 24, 1990 |publisher=]}}</ref> Conner liked the idea of surprising Comăneci: "I'm thinking if she's going to be on Sajak, I might as well go out there and say, 'Hey, Nads,' " <ref name="scoop" /> Actually, Comăneci was in an abusive relationship with the person who had led the escape group and who was acting as her current manager and promoter. Conner sensed her fear of this person and reached out to help. According to a 1996 ''New York Times'' article, "He helped make the connections that eventually led to her escape from that abusive relationship, and a new life in Montreal with a Romanian rugby coach and his family. For a year, they were phone pals."<ref>, ''New York Times'' (archives), Robert Lipsyte, April 5, 1996.</ref> |
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Later in 1990, Conner interviewed her for ]. A few months later, Conner was invited to her 29th birthday party, after which they developed a long-distance friendship. When a mutual friend died in an accident in 1991, Conner invited Comăneci to come to Oklahoma to help him run a gymnastics school. They were together for four years before they became engaged. On April 27, 1996, Conner and Comăneci were married in a ceremony in ] that was televised live throughout Romania. Their wedding reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref> ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref> Conner and Comăneci have one child, a son named Dylan Paul Conner who was born on June 3, 2006, in ], Oklahoma.<ref> People, June 6, 2006</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726194240/http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/former-gymnasts-nadia-comaneci-and-bart-conner-baptized-their-first-child-dylan-paul-13602.html |date=2014-07-26 }} Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006</ref> |
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===American Cup=== |
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In March 1976, Nadia Comăneci competed in the inaugural edition of the ] at ] in New York City. She received rare scores of 10, which signified a perfect routine without any deductions, for her vault in qualifying and for her floor exercise routine in the final of the all-around competition which she went on to win.<ref> Robin Herman, ''],'' March 28, 1976.</ref> It was during this event that Comăneci first met Conner. While he remembered this meeting, Comăneci noted in her memoirs that she had to be reminded of it later in life. She was 14 and Conner was celebrating his 18th birthday.<ref>Comăneci, p. 53</ref> They both won a silver cup and were photographed together. A few months later, they both participated in the ] which Comăneci dominated while Conner was a marginal figure. Conner later stated, "Nobody knew me, and certainly didn’t pay attention to me."<ref name=first>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/adorable-way-olympic-couple-first-met |
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|title=The Adorable Way This Olympic Couple First Met |
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}}</ref> |
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===Nadia '81=== |
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==Eponymous skills== |
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Conner had one named element on the parallel bars, originally named in 1993, but removed from the code of points in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/pdf/mag_named_elements.pdf |title=Table of Named Elements Men's Artistic Gymnastics |date=December 2023 |website=gymnastics.sport |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name='magcop25'>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20MAG%20CoP%202025-2028.pdf |title=Men's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points 2025–2028 |date=July 3, 2024 |website=gymnastics.sport |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref> |
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In 1981, the Gymnastics Federation contacted Comăneci and told her that she would be part of an official tour to the United States they planned to call "Nadia '81", led by her coaches Béla and Márta Károlyi.<ref>. Ira Berkow, ''New York Times,'' March 6, 1981</ref> During this tour, Comăneci's team shared a bus trip with American gymnasts, thus allowing her to meet Conner for the second time (since their first meeting in 1976). She later remembered thinking that Conner was "cute. He bounced around the bus talking to everyone – he was incredibly friendly and fun."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 111–112</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|+Gymnastics elements named after Bart Conner |
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===1990-Present === |
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On November 27, 1989, Comăneci ]. They were all guided by Constantin Panait, a Romanian who was now an ] after defecting, and whom Comăneci had met at a party given by a friend of hers. In the years since Béla Károlyi's defection to the United States, she had changed her mind on the subject and met a number of Romanians at the party who talked about it. Comăneci notes in her memoir that her first impression of Panait was a positive one, as "he seemed nice, and he was believable because he was now an American."<ref>Comăneci, p.129</ref> Later after meeting Panait, her brother Adrian told her,t "Constantin was the real deal. He wasn't bluffing. There were six other Romanians who planned to trust him with their lives."<ref>Comăneci, p.133</ref> Comăneci then began a long period of planning for her escape.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 133–135</ref> Once it began, their dangerous overland journey (mostly on foot and at night) took her through Hungary, Austria, and finally to the United States.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 137–148</ref> |
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!scope="col"| Apparatus |
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!scope="col"| Name |
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After she had arrived in the United States in 1989 with Panait, Comăneci states, "Constantin told me that I was going to live with his wife and children for a bit. I never questioned him."<ref>Comăneci, p. 147</ref> Her arrival initially generated some negative press, however, as a result of the media's misrepresentation of her relationship with Panait.<ref name=says/> Comăneci later stated in her memoir that her response of "so what?" to a reporter's comment that Panait was married was due to her poor command of the English language at the time: "Constantin had offered to help me defect, and I'd accepted. I assumed that his wife knew that he was going to help a handful of Romanians get out of the country and that I was one of them. But what people took from my answer was that I was a home-wrecker. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In hindsight, I understand that I'd made a very poor choice of words. Constantin had plans to become my personal manager upon our arrival in the United States. I didn't know that, but he promised to help me get settled, and I guess I just accepted his involvement in my future career as fair payment for the risks he'd taken. People died every day trying to defect."<ref name=says>{{cite web |
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!scope="col"| Description |
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|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-12-13/news/8903170746_1_constantin-panait-ken-pataki-comaneci-and-panait |
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!scope="col"| Difficulty |
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|title= Comăneci Says Live-in Is Manager |
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!scope="col"| Added to Code of Points |
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|accessdate=August 19, 2016 |
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| '''''Conner''''' |
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|date=December 13, 1989 |
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| "Straddle L-sit on one rail with 180° or 360° turn" |
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|publisher=Chicago Tribune |
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| align=center|Removed from CoP on December 31, 2000. |
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}}</ref><ref>Comăneci, p.149</ref> |
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| align=center|1993 |
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During that time, "old friends" such as Béla Károlyi and Conner "strained to learn the news of my plans. They tried to contact me by telephone but Constantin did not relay their messages."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 149–150.</ref> When Conner read in the newspaper that she was scheduled to appear on '']'' in January 1990 with Panait,<ref name="scoop" /><ref>Comăneci, pp. 149–154.</ref> he wondered "why it was still impossible for any friends to contact" Comăneci.<ref name="bio150">Comăneci, p.150.</ref> As he had worked for NBC Sports as a host during the previous Olympics, he knew the producer Michael Weisman (who had since moved to CBS) and contacted him to inquire about Comăneci's upcoming interview. They discussed the "fact that none of old friends had been able to see or contact" Comăneci, and Conner was worried (given the bad press that she had been given) that "something fishy" was going on. Weisman was thus able to arrange for Conner to make a guest appearance on the show if he could be in Los Angeles by taping at 5 pm.<ref name="scoop">{{cite web |
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{{notelist}} |
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|url=http://newsok.com/article/2304764 |
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|title=Bart Gets The Scoop On Nadia |
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|accessdate=August 19, 2016 |
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|last=Rohde |
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|first=John |
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|date=January 24, 1990 |
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|publisher=] |
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}}</ref><ref name="bio150" /> Conner liked the idea of surprising Comăneci: "I'm thinking if she's going to be on Sajak, I might as well go out there and say, 'Hey, Nads,' " <ref name="scoop" /> |
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Conner's plane arrived at LAX at 4:40 pm and he was flown by helicopter to CBS Studios, landing by the time of a commercial break. After appearing on the show, Conner gave Comăneci his telephone number, but at the time, Comăneci, who was "shy and suspicious of him also sensed that he was being open and honest. For a second, I was tempted to ask for help...I needed to move on and find a better life for myself. Bart told me later that he tried to call me after the show, but Constantin never let me know of his calls."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 153–154</ref> Of Conner's sudden appearance on the show, Comăneci later commented in her memoir, "There was nothing romantic about motivation. It was based on his desire to help a young woman he'd met once who was an icon in our shared sport."<ref name="bio150" /> |
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Later in 1990, Alexandru Stefu (another old friend from Romania) invited Comăneci and Panait to Montreal, where he was staying with his family and with Béla Károlyi. Comăneci notes in her memoir that after they arrived in Montreal, and "when he finally had an opportunity to get me alone, Alexandru asked what was next for me. I told him that I was thinking about staying in Montreal, but hadn't yet mentioned the idea to because he'd already booked us on a flight back to Los Angeles. The next day, Alexandru sent me to meet with the director of the Olympic stadium, who told me that I could do some exhibitions and appearances for him When I woke up the next morning and went downstairs, Alexandru told me that was gone. I never heard from him again, but I hope he is well and thank him for his help. I realize that our business relationship may have tarnished my name and image, but I safely escaped from Romania, and that is truly what was most important. There wasn't too much time to figure out why had left because very soon after his departure, CNN contacted me."<ref name=p154>Comăneci, p. 154</ref> |
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Later that year, Conner traveled to Montreal to see her once again, this time to interview her for ]. A few months later, Stefu surprised Comăneci by inviting Conner to her 29th birthday party,<ref>Comăneci, pp. 157–159</ref> after which they developed a long-distance friendship for a few years. When Stefu died in a scuba diving accident over the Labor Day weekend in 1991, Conner invited Comăneci to come to Oklahoma to help him run a gymnastics school.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 160–162</ref> |
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After leaving Montreal and moving to Oklahoma, Comăneci stayed in a room in the home of Conner's gymnastic's coach, ]. Eventually, Ziert became her manager. In addition, Conner and she were friends for a while before they developed a relationship, and were together for four years before they became engaged.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 162–164</ref> On April 27, 1996, Conner and Comăneci were married in a ceremony in ] that was televised live throughout Romania. Their wedding reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref> ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref> In an interview years later, Comăneci recalled that the experience "was very emotional, not just seeing my mother but seeing an entire country I’d left. When I got married in Bucharest there were 10,000 people on the street. People didn’t go to work that day. It was emotional to see how people care about you." <ref name=daily>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2711049/The-terrifying-day-I-defected-NAdia-Comaneci-tells-harrowing-story.html|title=The terrifying day I defected: She was the golden girl of gymnastics at just 14 – before fleeing Romania for the States. Now, Nadia Comăneci tells her full harrowing story |author=Rebecca Hardy|date=August 1, 2014|work=DailyMail}}</ref> Conner and Comăneci have one child, a son named Dylan Paul Conner who was born on June 3, 2006, in ], Oklahoma.<ref> People, June 6, 2006</ref><ref> Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006</ref> |
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==Books== |
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==Books== |
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*Conner, Bart with Paul Ziert. ''Winning the Gold''. Warner Books, 1985. |
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*Conner, Bart with Paul Ziert. ''Winning the Gold''. Warner Books, 1985. |
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== See also == |
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* {{Portal-inline|Biography}} |
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* {{Portal-inline|Gymnastics}} |
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==References== |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==Cited sources== |
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==Cited sources== |
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* {{cite book|ref=Comaneci|author=Comăneci, Nadia|year=2004|title=Letters to a Young Gymnast |series=] |publisher= Basic Books|isbn=0-465-01276-0}} |
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* {{cite book |ref=Comaneci |author=Comăneci, Nadia |year=2004 |title=Letters to a Young Gymnast |series=] |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=0-465-01276-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/letterstoyounggy00coma}} |
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==External links== |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Bart Conner}} |
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{{Commons}} |
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* {{Sports links}} |
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* {{Official website|bartandnadia.com}} |
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* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=bart-conner|old_id=Bart-Conner|archive=20230602030554}} |
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* First person interview conducted on February 28, 2013, with Bart Conner. |
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* at ] |
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* {{IMDb name|175123}} |
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* {{IMDb name}} |
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* {{Official website|https://www.bartandnadia.com/|Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci official website}} |
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* First person interview conducted on February 28, 2013, with Bart Conner. |
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Conner was born on March 28, 1958, the son of Harold Conner (1931-2024) and Jacqueline May (née Hulsey, later Wolthausen; 1931-2000), and grew up in Morton Grove, Illinois. He has two siblings, Michael and Bruce. He first became involved in gymnastics at school and at his local YMCA. He was later on the gymnastics team at Niles West High School, where he graduated in 1976.
He won the 1972 U.S. Junior National Championships when he was 14 and the U.S. Gymnastics Federation All-Around championship when he was 17, and was the youngest member of the Olympic team during the 1976 Summer Olympics. He also won a team all-around gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games.
Although he qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was unable to participate due to the boycott. Four years later, in the 1984 Summer Olympics, he won two gold medals for the team all-around and for the men's parallel bars. His win on the parallel bars helped the U.S. win its first men's Olympic gymnastic gold medal in 80 years. He demonstrated an original move called the "Conner spin" during the 1984 Olympics. He appeared as "Bart Taylor" in the 1986 film Rad.
Conner is a highly decorated gymnast who has won "medals at every level of national and international competition." Some of his honors include "induction into the USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (1991), the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1997), and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1997)." While Conner did not compete in the 1980 games, he was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many years later.
Conner had one named element on the parallel bars, originally named in 1993, but removed from the code of points in 2000.
Conner at the 2016 Summer Olympics
United States (USA): Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, Jim Hartung, Scott Johnson, Peter Vidmar
1976 USA Olympic Gymnastics Team_pictogram.svg)
