Mike Racanelli (born October 20, 1970) is an American retired gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a gold and silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games. His specialty was floor exercise, where he had an expressive style.[1][2]
| Mike Racanelli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mike Racanelli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 20, 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Ohio State Buckeyes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Awards | Nissen-Emery Award (1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gymnastics career
editCollege
editRacanelli competed for Ohio State University, where he was a 10-time All-American.[3] His coach at OSU was Peter Kormann, who had medalled in the 1976 Olympics. In 1990, Racanelli won the Nissen Award, the "Heisman" of gymnastics,[4] as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor.[5] At the 1990 NCAA championships, Racanelli won gold in the all-around and floor exercise. Also, he qualified for finals on all 6 apparatus that year, the only athlete to do so.[6][7] Racanelli is a member of Ohio State's Men's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame.[5]
Elite
editIn 1989 Racanelli won gold on the floor exercise at the U.S. National Championships[8] and bronze in the all-around.[9] That year, he was also a member of the U.S. World Championships team.[10][11]
In 1990, Racanelli won floor exercise at the Chunichi Cup, becoming the first American since 1984 to win an event gold. Later that year, he competed at the U.S. Olympic Cup.[12]
In 1991, Racanelli, recovering from a shoulder injury, finished only 11th in the all-around at Nationals but won gold on the floor. Later that year, he won floor gold at the World University Games.[2][8] In August, he won another floor gold, at the Pan American Games.
In 1992, Racanelli did not participate in Nationals or Olympic Trials.[13]
In 1995, Racanelli finished 16th overall at Nationals.[14]
In 1996, at Nationals, Racanelli finished fourth on pommel horse and 6th on vault.[15] His all-around score was 17th. Only the top 14 were invited to Olympic Trials.[16]
References
edit- ^ Towson, Toby (January 1998). "What's Happened to the "Free" in Floor Exercise?" (PDF). usagym.org. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ a b "UNIVERSITY GAMES : Racanelli Wins Gymnastics Gold". Los Angeles Times. Sheffield, England. 20 July 1991. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "Men's Gymnastics To Compete in The NCAA Championships". Ohio State Buckeyes. 25 March 2000. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "USA Gymnastics | Nissen Emery Award". usagym.org. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- ^ a b "OhioStateBuckeyes.com - The official athletic site of the Ohio State University - Traditions". www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "GYMNASTICS NCAA MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS : Ohio State Star Wins Five Medals". Los Angeles Times. Minneapolis. 22 April 1990. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ Hooley, Bruce (2002). Ohio State's Unforgettables. Sports Pub. ISBN 9781582612430. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ a b "USA Gymnastics | U.S. National Champions - Men". usagym.org. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "18-YEAR-OLD RYAN IS YOUNGEST EVER TO WIN NATIONAL GYM CHAMPIONSHIP". DeseretNews.com. 9 July 1989. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "USA Gymnastics | World Championships - Men's Team Rosters". usagym.org. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ Stein, Ricki (1 October 1989). "RYAN LEADS U.S. MEN'S TEAM". themorningcall.com. The Morning Call. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "WOOLSEY, RINGNALD LEAD AMERICANS INTO SLC MEET". DeseretNews.com. 28 May 1990. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ Ridenour, Maria (12 May 1992). "U S CHAMPIONSHIPS, OLYMPICS ARE OUT FOR EX-OSU GYMNAST MIKE RACANELLI". Columbus Dispatch. p. 1 F. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "GYMN-L Digest - 17 Aug 1995". www.gymn-forum.net. 17 August 1995. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "Event Champions Named at the Coca-Cola National Gymnastics Championships". USA Gymnastics. 8 June 1996. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "GYMN-L Digest". www.gymn-forum.net. 6 June 1996. Retrieved 2 March 2013.