GRIFFIN, Lester “Griff” (Deceased, 1977) Inducted: 1963 Born: Dallas, TX Les Griffin was one of the early pioneer coaches in Texas. Beginning in the 1930’s and continuing for 44 years, he laid out the mats, placed the apparatus, and waited for the young people to come and learn some gym stuff, and learn they … Read more
CHENCINSKI, Linda Inducted: 1989 Born: Long Island, New York It is a distinct pleasure to write about as well as interview Linda Chencinski. After writing over 170 GHOF Inductees’ bios, Linda’s career seems to have made as great a positive impact on women’s gymnastics as any other inductee. Lest we forget, the AAU controlled women’s … Read more
BORDO, Louis John Inducted: 1971 Olympic Games: Team member, London, England, (1948); Named Honorary Olympic Team Member of 1944 team by the National Collegiate Gymnastics Alumni Association (NCGAA) consulting with former HOF Honorees and Olympians, (See NCGAA Newsletter, April, 2002). National AAU Championships: Bronze-AA, (1943); Silver-PB, (1948). National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships: Competing for Penn … Read more
BANNER, Larry S. U. .S. Gymnastic Hall of Fame – Induction 1993 1936 – 2013 Who’d a thunk it? Larry Banner was living at Page Military Academy in LA during WWII while his dad flew B-29’s over the hump and later over Tokyo while his mom helped build the famous P-38. Unfortunately, at age 7, … Read more
ZMESKAL-Burdette, Kim Inducted: 2001 Born: Houston, Texas The AAU sent a full team for the first time to the 1958 World Championships in Moscow, USSR. At the time, a significant number of experienced American officials and judges didn’t think that an American team or individual would win a medal of any color in either … Read more
THOMAS, Kurt Bilteaux Inducted: 1990 Born: Miami, Florida-USA Kurt Thomas began gymnastics at age 14 at Miami Central High School. He was a quick learner and by 1976 he made the U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Montreal and would have been a two-time Olympian had politics not interfered. Thomas ranks as one of Indiana … Read more
STRUG, Kerri Inducted: Member of 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Team Individually Inducted – 2002 Born: Tucson, Arizona Kerri’s courageous vault with a severely injured ankle helped people world wide better understand the concept of “American Resolve”. Her final score was reportedly a necessity for the U.S. Women to take the gold medal stand for … Read more
SIMONS, Kip Alexander Inducted: 2010 “Coaching at the Air Force Academy is a dream job,” Simons said. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see my athletes maximize their potential as gymnasts and then go on to become the best pilots in the nation.” Simons proved to be a top-level gymnast early on in his … Read more
SCHIER, Karl Kurt (Schwenzfeier) Inducted: 1982 Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 5, 1933 Before his legal name change in 1982, I knew this outstanding gymnast as Karl Schwenzfeier. I was highly respectful of his AA gymnastics abilities. His reputation was one of pushing himself to the limit in training and performing consistently in the top competitions. … Read more
MAZEIKA, Kevin Inducted: 2010 Coaching Career: Mazeika, a native of Houston, began coaching men’s gymnastics in 1984 and has served on the National Team Coaching Staff since 1988. He has coached at more than 35 international competitions and has been head or assistant coach at 15 international team events. While he was serving as head … Read more