VAN AALTEN, John (1915 – 2008) Inducted: (1970) Born: Netherlands John Van Aalten had to be a person who went into a gym one day and something strange happened. He fell in love with gymnastics and, fortunately for all, a knowledgeable mentor was nearby to help orchestrate that love. John recently celebrated his 90th … Read more
VOLZE, Irwin (1890-1967) Inducted: 1960 Born: Frankfort, Germany Irwin Volze arrived in the U.S. at age 19. He attended the Turner Normal School in Indianapolis, Indiana later moving to the Los Angeles area in California. Mr. Volze was an institution in local, area, and national gymnastics for decades. He was a soft-spoken, very dignified person … Read more
VDOVETS, Irina Inducted: 2007 Prelude to Rhythmic Gymnastics The history of Rhythmic Gymnastics can be traced as far back as 1814 by Per Henrik Ling. Ling promoted aesthetic gymnastics in which students expressed their feelings and emotions through bodily movement but it was still calisthenics without apparatus. Then it 1864 proponents of the activity began … Read more
BEDARD, Irvin “Irv” Inducted: 1993 Born: Chicago, April 8, 1927, Chicago, Illinois Seems hard to believe that there could be more disappointment than that suffered by the USA boycott of the Olympics in Moscow, 1980, but Irvin Bedard had to be very disappointed after finishing 1st in the Olympic Trials Tumbling event thus making … Read more
VOGEL, Herbert (1932-2001) Inducted: 1974 Born: Chicago, Illinois Herb Vogel is generally regarded as “The Father of Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics. He initiated a Women’s Gymnastic Team at So. Illinois U. (SIU) in 1962 and won every competition until 1968. Competitor: Herb Vogel competed in the AA at Indiana University, (1949-’53). Coaching: Herb started a women’s … Read more
VISE, Holly Diane Inducted: 2008-Team Member: Gold Medal World Championship Team, (2003) According to University of Oklahoma Coach A.J. Kindler, “When I got to campus, I met with her Holly, and she was 30 pounds overweight, out of shape and had no intention of competing. I told her my expectations, and they started with … Read more
SMIDL, Henry (1894-1985) Inducted: 1960 Henry Smidl was a Czech-American from the West Side of Chicago almost single-handedly introduced gymnastics to Illinois high schools. Gymnastics originated in America almost exclusively as an ethnic sport practiced by Czechs and Slovaks in Sokol Clubs and by Germans in Turner Halls. In 1924, Smidl, who was teaching on … Read more
SCHROEDER, Henry Inducted: 1963 Henry Schroeder was a living legend in the American Turners to the extent that the organization posthumously established a Henry Schroeder Memorial Award in his memory. The Turner organization recognized Henry Schroeder as being regarded by several generations of N.Y. Turners as the foremost influence in living their lives according to … Read more
SCHIGET, Henry (1904 – 1969) Inducted: 1974 Born: Charleroi, PA Henry Schiget was an energetic mover and shaker in the Turner world of gymnastics. His program insights rivaled those of the universities of America that had discovered the world of gymnastics. In the Turner world, gymnastics is the hub of physical activity, and numerous future … Read more
SCHIFANO-SJURSEN, Helen (1922-2007) Inducted: 1974 Jerry Wright writes, “Helen Schifano-Sjursen was competing at a national level after only three years in the sport. She was so good . . . that her coach would not put her in some meets for fear of discouraging other gymnasts.” It appears that Helen had a great deal … Read more