Mitch Gaylord

Mitch Gaylord is a renowned gymnast, actor, and Olympic gold medalist. He gained prominence during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where he played a pivotal role in leading the U.S. men's gymnastics team to its first-ever team gold medal. Notably, Gaylord became the first American gymnast to achieve a perfect 10.0 score in Olympic competition.

Before his Olympic success, Gaylord attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he majored in history and competed for the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team. He secured the U.S. National All-Around titles in 1983 and 1984 and clinched the 1984 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship. During this period, he introduced two innovative high bar skills, the "Gaylord Flip" and the "Gaylord II," both of which are recognized as some of the most challenging maneuvers in gymnastics.

At the 1984 Olympics, in addition to the team gold, Gaylord earned a silver medal in vault and bronze medals in both parallel bars and rings. His exceptional performances and contributions to the sport led to his induction into several halls of fame, including the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1995, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2006, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2023.

After the Olympics, Gaylord was appointed to the President’s Council for Physical Fitness by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, a role which allowed him to engage in numerous speaking engagements across the country. He made his acting debut in the 1986 film "American Anthem" and served as a stunt double for Chris O'Donnell in the 1995 movie "Batman Forever." He also became a spokesperson for various brands, appeared on television programs, and contributed as a commentator for gymnastics events.

For over 35 years, Gaylord has been dedicated to motivating and inspiring audiences worldwide, from Fortune 500 companies to students. His personal mission: to encourage others to achieve greatness.