Paul Ruggeri

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Paul Ruggeri
— Gymnast —
Full name Paul Ruggeri III
Country represented  United States
Born (1988-11-12) November 12, 1988
Hometown Manlius, New York
Height 5'8"
Discipline Men's artistic gymnastics
Level Senior elite
College team Hilton HHonors
Head coach(es) Genadi Chub
Medal record
Pan American Games
Gold 2011 Guadalajara Horizontal Bar
Silver 2011 Guadalajara Parallel Bars
Bronze 2011 Guadalajara Team
P&G Gymnastics Championships
Silver 2012 Saint Louis Floor Exercise
Silver 2013 Hartford Floor Exercise
Silver 2010 Hartford Horizontal Bar
Bronze 2010 Hartford Vault
Bronze 2013 Hartford Vault
Bronze 2011 Saint Paul Horizontal Bar

Paul Ruggeri (b. 12 November 1988)[1] is a senior elite American gymnast who competed for the University of Illinois.

Childhood

Ruggeri is the grandson of an Italian immigrant.[2] His father was a swimmer and his aunt a gymnast.[3] His home town was Manlius, New York.[3] He began gymnastics in 1995.[3]

College career

Ruggeri competed for the University of Illinois from 2008 to 2012. In 2008, Ruggeri was the NCAA national champion on high bar. In 2009, he repeated high bar gold and added gold on parallel bars. In 2012, Ruggeri was national champion on vault and won silver on parallel bars; the Illini were also national team champions. In 2012 he was named the Nissen Award winner, the gymnastics version of the Heisman. [2]

Ruggeri had five years of college gymnastics because he redshirted (cut short or skipped because of injury) his 2011 (senior) year. The cause was a torn peroneal (ankle) ligament[4] at U.S. elite Winter Cup competition. Over the years, he won nine All American honors.[2]

Elite career

In 2010, Ruggeri was an alternate on the U.S. squad at the World Championships.[5][6]

At the 2011 Pan American Games, Ruggeri won gold on high bar and silver on parallel bars.[1]

At 2012 US Nationals, Ruggeri finished 7th in the all around.[1] A member of the U.S. senior national team, Ruggeri hoped to compete in the 2012 Olympics. However, he was not selected. He finished 6th in the all around at Olympic Trials.[1]

As of March 2013, Ruggeri worked as a gymnastics coach and trained for elite competition.[1] In April, 2013, Ruggeri participated in a World Cup competition and won gold on vault and high bar. In recognition, the United States Olympic Committee named him as their male athlete of the month.[7]

Gymnastics traits

Ruggeri considers rings and pommel horse his weak events.[1] He has vaulted a Yurchenko entry to two different tricks: a half turn and double full off[8] or (without turn) to 2-1/2 twists (Shewfelt).[1] His height is 5-8.[2]

Personal

Ruggeri studied molecular biology at the University of Illinois,[1] with organic chemistry as his favorite class.[3] School was challenging for him because of the difficulty in balancing sports and studies.[8] During college, he was targeting becoming a doctor,[8] but (as of 2013) he considered his options open. His post-gymnastics plans were to craft a career combining sports and chemistry, perhaps nutrition.[1]

Ruggeri studied art in high school and enjoys painting, drawing and photography. He also likes acrobatic water and snow sports.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Crumlish, John; "IG Online Interview: Paul Ruggeri (U.S.)"; International Gymnast
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Paul Ruggeri"; University of Illinois Athletics
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Paul Ruggeri III"; USA Gymnastics
  4. ↑ Bayce, Emily; Ruggeri beginning redemptive journey toward Olympic Games"; The Daily Illini; 12 October 2011
  5. ↑ "MGYM: Big Ten Gymnastics Represented at 2010 World Championships"; Big 10 Conference and CBS interactive
  6. ↑ http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/gymnastics/2010-08-14/illini-gymnast-selected-us-team.html
  7. ↑ "Triathlete Gwen Jorgensen, gymnast Paul Ruggeri, U.S. Women's National Ice Hockey Team earn U.S. Olympic Committee's April honors"; United States Olympic Committee; 08 May 2013
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lawrence, Blythe; "Twenty questions with Paul Ruggeri (Photos)"; Gymnastics Examiner (January 2, 2011)

External links

Routines

Uploads by USA Gymnastics from 2012 National Championships:

Interviews

Uploads by USA Gymnastics and University of Illinois Athletics:

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