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Representing the  United States
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1984 Los Angeles | Team competition |
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1984 Los Angeles | Vault |
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1984 Los Angeles | Rings |
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1984 Los Angeles | Parallel bars |
Mitchell ("Mitch") Jay Gaylord (born March 10, 1961) is an American gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist. He was born in Van Nuys, California to a Jewish family.
While attending UCLA, he won the All-Around in the 1983 & 1984 US National Championships, and the 1984 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship.
In the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Gaylord led the gold medal winning US men's gymnastics team. There, Gaylord became the first US Gymnast ever to score a perfect 10.00 in the Olympics. He also won the silver medal in vault, the bronze in parallel bars, and the bronze in the rings.
Gaylord invented techniques performed on the horizontal bar named after himself: the "Gaylord Flip," "The Gaylord Thrust," and the "Gaylord Two" are still performed by gymnasts today. Many athletes, on completing a signature Gaylord move, have reported a sensation commonly described as "The Post-Gaylord Rush."
Gaylord appeared in several movies and TV shows. Most notably, he performed as a stunt double for Chris O'Donnell (as Robin) in the 1995 movie Batman Forever. He also was notable for his role in American Anthem, starring opposite Janet Jones (now Mrs. Wayne Gretzky). In the film, he plays a moody, stubborn gymnast who is looking to return to the sport after time off due to injury. He shows off some great gymastics moves. He also appeared in several other films, showing off his well-built torso, and frequently appeared on Hollywood Squares back in the 1980s.
Mitch is currently launching his new workout program via the infomercial market and website (www.Perfect10Workout.com) nationwide this year.
Mitch Gaylord is married to World Artist Singer/Songwriter Valentina (www.ValentinaGaylord.com). The couple married July 8, 2005. After marrying her husband, Mitch Gaylord, Valentina converted to Judaism on June 5, 2006. Valentina embraced Judaism and felt it was important that their children be born Jewish, as the couple plan to raise their family in a Jewish home.
See also
External links
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- 1961 births
- American gymnasts
- Gymnasts at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Jewish American actors
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Jewish gymnasts
- Living people
- People from Los Angeles
- UCLA Bruins athletics
- Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics
- Olympic competitors for the United States
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- Gymnastics biography stubs