Peter Vidmar
Encyclopedia
Peter Glen Vidmar is an American gymnast
and Olympic medalist. He won gold medals in the men's all-around team competition and the pommel horse competition, as well as a silver medal in the men's all-around individual gymnastics competition at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He was born in Los Angeles
to Slovenia
n parents. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. He has a total of three Olympic medals: 2 golds and a silver. Peter is one of only three athletes inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice; first as an individual, then as a member of the historic 1984 U.S. men's gymnastics team. He also was the highest-scoring American gymnast in Olympic history.
He is an alumnus of UCLA and host of the Annual Peter Vidmar Men's Gymnastics Invitational at Brentwood School in Los Angeles
. Peter has been a gymnastics anchor for both CBS
and ESPN
. He is currently a motivational speaker as well as the Co-Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee Summer Sports Summit. In 1998 Vidmar was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
. He was named chairman of the U.S. Gymnastics Board of Directors in December 2008.
He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Vidmar was selected to be the chef de mission for the 2012 Olympics, where he would have represented all U.S. athletes and marched in the opening ceremonies. His selection drew criticism from LGBT activists and athletes, including Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir
, because in 2008 Vidmar donated money to and publicly campaigned for Proposition 8 that banned same-sex couples from being married in California. Vidmar decided several days after his selection to decline the appointment. As reported by Olympic news source Around the Rings, Vidmar chose not to allow others create a distraction that might hinder the US "Olympic family."
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
and Olympic medalist. He won gold medals in the men's all-around team competition and the pommel horse competition, as well as a silver medal in the men's all-around individual gymnastics competition at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He was born in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n parents. He was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. He has a total of three Olympic medals: 2 golds and a silver. Peter is one of only three athletes inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice; first as an individual, then as a member of the historic 1984 U.S. men's gymnastics team. He also was the highest-scoring American gymnast in Olympic history.
He is an alumnus of UCLA and host of the Annual Peter Vidmar Men's Gymnastics Invitational at Brentwood School in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Peter has been a gymnastics anchor for both CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He is currently a motivational speaker as well as the Co-Chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee Summer Sports Summit. In 1998 Vidmar was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
. He was named chairman of the U.S. Gymnastics Board of Directors in December 2008.
He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Vidmar was selected to be the chef de mission for the 2012 Olympics, where he would have represented all U.S. athletes and marched in the opening ceremonies. His selection drew criticism from LGBT activists and athletes, including Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir
Johnny Weir
John Garvin "Johnny" Weir is an American figure skater. He is a three-time U.S. National Champion , the 2008 Worlds bronze medalist, a two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and the 2001 World Junior Champion....
, because in 2008 Vidmar donated money to and publicly campaigned for Proposition 8 that banned same-sex couples from being married in California. Vidmar decided several days after his selection to decline the appointment. As reported by Olympic news source Around the Rings, Vidmar chose not to allow others create a distraction that might hinder the US "Olympic family."