Bart Conner

Bart Conner, a product of the University of Oklahoma gymnastic program, is the most accomplished gymnast American has ever produced. He is the only American gymnast , male or female, to win gold medals at every level of competition.

He is a junior national champion, an elite national champion, a Pan American Games champion, a World Cup champion, a world champion and Olympic champion.

Conner, who calls himself "Joe Midwest", came to Oklahoma in 1976 from Maywood, Illinois, to attend the University of Oklahoma. He won the hearts of America when he cried on the victory stand after winning two gold medals at the 1984 Olympics.

Conner is married to Nadia Comaneci, the queen of Romanian gymnastics who became the first gymnast in Olympic history to score a perfect 10, which drew world wide attention. He owns a gymnastics club in Norman and co-owns International Gymnast magazine with Paul Ziert, his long-time coach and manager.

Conner's gymnastic accomplishments include: 1972, AAU Junior National Champion; 1974 USGF Junior National Champion; 1975 USGF Co-Champion of the USA; Elite Division All-Around, and Pan American Games Champion Team; 1976 Champion of the First American Cup, and the youngest member of the U.S. Men's Olympic Team.

Others include: 1978 NCAA All-Around Champion; 1979, Champion of the USA; Elite Division All-Around, World Cup Pommel Horse Champion, and World Champion Parallel Bars; 1980, top qualified U.S. Men's Olympic Team; 1981, American Cup Champion; 1982, American Cup Champion; 1984, Team and Parallel Bars Olympic Champion, and 1991, inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.