Peter Vidmar, born June 3, 1961, was the first U.S. male gymnast to ever win an Olympic medal.In fact, as captain of the 1984 men’s gymnastics team, Peter led them to their first gold medal as a team as well as earning a gold medal for his perfect pommel horse routine and the all-around silver medal.He has been the only U.S. Men’s Olympic Gymnast to medal in the all-around category.
Peter Vidmar once stated, “The reason I’m in gymnastics is because I enjoy it.”
But, he also admits that enjoyment is only one facet of what it takes to be an Olympic champion.He touts the need for hard work, desire, luck, great coaching and many other qualities as factors in being able to reach his Olympic dreams.
He tries to instill in others what he feels is the key to any success in life— work hard, and then work just a little bit harder.Peter Vidmar feels that in almost any area in life it’s the little bit of extra that helps any of us reach our goals and go beyond mediocrity.Quoting Matthew 21:28-31, Peter Vidmar once challenged a group of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with these words:
“Let’s not settle for mediocrity. Let’s always try our best. Let us decide now what type of person we want to be. . . Let’s not just talk about what we want to be. Let’s not just dream about what we want to be. Let’s just do it, whatever it takes. . .In whatever you want to improve upon, whether it be schoolwork, athletics, music, or studying the scriptures, just give a little extra—every day.”
Peter Vidmar’s athletic accomplishments include:
- Member of the 1980 and 1984 U.S. Olympic teams
- First USA male gymnast to win an Olympic medal
- One time highest scoring male gymnast in the Olympics
- 2 Olympic gold medals and 1 silver medal in 1984
- U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
- International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
- Named gymnast of the year by the U.S. Gymnastics Federation
- Record holder for the highest point total in U.S. National Championship and U.S. Collegiate competition
- Three-time Pacific Athletic Conference champion
- Fifteen-time All-American
- Five-time member of the U.S. National team
- 1981 NCAA parallel bar champion, 13th place world championship in Moscow, and all-around winner Champions All meet in London, England
- 1982 NCAA all-around, high bar, and pommel horse champion, and third place World Cup in the horizontal bar
- Chairman of USA Gymnastics board of directors in 2008
- Offered position of chef de mission for 2012 London Olympics, stepped down
- Called as Mission President, July 2016-July 2019