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Famous LDS People: Athletes
Peter Vidmar - Olympic Gold Medalist, Gymnastics
A member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame, Peter Vidmar won 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal in gymnastics at the
1984 Olympic Games. He is currently rated among the top ten corporate speakers in America.
When Peter Vidmar was 11 years old, his parents found an ad in the newspaper for a new "experimental gymnastics
program designed to develop future Olympic champions." The Vidmars brought their son to the gym and Makoto Sakamoto,
the former Olympian who ran the ad, made good on his promise. For the next 12 years (minus four days off for his
honeymoon and every Sunday because he refused to break the Sabbath), Vidmar and Sakamoto practiced and practiced,
and then practiced some more. While his friends rode dirt
bikes and surfed, Vidmar was busy learning and developing new skills in the gym. And as his friends' interests
changed with time, Vidmar remained focused on gymnastics. He had a goal in mind and was determined to achieve it.
In 1984, what began as an ad became a forecast of the future. Vidmar captained the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Team to
its first ever Olympic gold medal. He also captured the gold in the pommel horse - scoring a perfect 10. And he won
a silver medal while becoming the first American to medal in the individual all-around men's competition. His winning
performance averaged 9.89, making him the highest scoring U.S. male gymnast in Olympian history.
In addition to his Olympic success, he has numerous
NCAA and international titles, an economics degree from UCLA and experience as a television announcer for CBS. He
also serves on the Executive Committee of USA Gymnastics and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
for the State of California. In short, Vidmar is in a category all his own.
Vidmar's most common piece of advice is to put forth the extra effort required to succeed in life.
*Information for these biographies came from the following sources:
rulongardner.com, Sports Gallery, Latter-day Heroes by Chad Hawkins, BYU Cougar Club, Lordly & Dame, Inc.
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