Dominique Moceanu

Induction Year : 2011

Sport: Gymnastics

Dominiquce Moceanu never let youth stand in her way.

An accomplished gymnast beyond her years, she was the youngest competitor at the Junior Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1992, where she won four gold medals and was the all-around silver medalist at age 10.

Her international stature only continued to grow as she developed under famed coach Bela Karolyi.

In 1994, she was the all-around gold medalist at the U.S. Junior National Championships and, at age 13 in 1995, she was the youngest gymnast to win the senior all-around title at the U. S. National Championships.  She went on to win a silver medal in the balance beam at the World Championships in Sabae, Japan, and was the youngest member of the United States team that earned a bronze medal.

A seasoned veteran at age 14, she was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning 1996 Olympic Team, named “The Magnificent Seven,” as she cemented herself as one of the sport’s elite competitors.  She showed her courage and determination at the Olympics as she competed despite a stress fracture in her right tibia.

After recovering from her injury, Moceanu trained under coach Luminita Miscenco and won gold medals in the vault and balance beam at the 1998 U.S. Senior Nationals.  At that year’s Goodwill Games in New York, she became the only American to win the all-around gold medal.

Once again, injuries took their toll and she retired in 2000.

Graduating from John Carroll University in 1999 with a degree in business management, she continues to coach and promote her sport in the area and at the national level.  She married Dr. Michael Canales, a former Ohio State gymnast, in 2006 and the couple have two children.

Rudy Bachna

Induction Year : 1980

Sport: Gymnastics

One of the nation’s leading contributors to the sport of gymnastics, he coached the men’s and women’s gymnastics teams at Kent State University for over 20 years and sponsored children’s gymnastics teams at the University for 17 years. Served as a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for Men’s Gymnastics from 1960 through 1972 and was the associate coach of the 1960 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team in Rome. Was a judge at the 1959 Pan-American Games, was National Physical Director of the Slovak Sokol from 1954 to 1962 and Coach-Manager of the National Sokol Teams at the 100th Sokol Anniversary celebration in Vienna, Austria in 1960.

Jean Daniels

Induction Year : 1980

Sport: Gymnastics

Won eight Ohio AAU Open Championships between 1946 and 1954, including the all-around title in 1954. Active as a member of the American Turners for over 40 years and served as a member of the Lake Erie AAU Gymnastics Committee for ten years. Coached many Junior Olympic all-around champions in the Cleveland area after her retirement as an active competitor.

Joe Giallombardo

Induction Year : 1980

Sport: Gymnastics

Began his career at Cleveland East Tech High where he was a three-time state tumbling champion (1933-34-35). All-American gymnast at the University of Illinois where he became the first gymnastics athlete ever to win seven NCAA championships. Also won National AAU Tumbling Championships in 1938, 1939 and 1940. Went on to coach and judge gymnastics at high school, college and national levels until his retirement in 1975. Enshrined in the National Association of Gymnastics Coaches section of the Helms Hall of Fame in 1966.

Gus Kern

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Gymnastics

Active at many levels in a variety of sports activities during his life, with emphasis on gymnastics. Received Helms Foundation Hall of Fame Award in 1961 for his contributions to that sport. Served as director of physical education at East Tech from 1913-1930 and chief of playgrounds and community centers for Cleveland Board of Education from 1930-53.

Paul Fina

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Gymnastics

NCAA All Around co-champion at University of Illinois in 1940. Also qualified for 1940 Olympic team, but Games were cancelled. National AAU floor exercise champion and runner-up on horizontal and parallel bars in 1946. Big Ten All Around, Horizontal Bar and Parallel Bars champion in 1939, competed for U.S. International Team vs. Czechoslovakia in 1947. Attended Cleveland East Tech High.

Edwin Jirousek

Induction Year : 1986

Sport: Gymnastics

In 1936 he won the All-Around Title in the Northeastern District of the American Sokol Organization. That same year in AAU competition he won the Side Horse and Parallel Bars competition. A national title was his in the All-around category in 1937. In addition to a highly successful competitive career, he subsequently lent leadership to the sport as a coach and administrator.

Robert Grueninger

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Gymnastics

Chairman of the Physical Education Department of Western Reserve University from 1926 to 1971, he was chairman of the National Physical Fitness Committee of the AAU from 1974 through 1977, a member of the AAU’s National Gymnastics Committee form 1963-76 and a member of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Committee from 1968 to 1971. Served as president of the Lake Erie AAU in 1973 and 1974 and chairman of the Lake Erie AAU Gymnastics Committee form 1955 to 1973.

Joseph Kotys

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Gymnastics

Member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1948 and 1956, alternate in 1952. Gold medalist in long horse at 1955 Pan-American games, also winning two silver and three bronze medals in those games. National AAU champion in parallel bars, 1948, 1949 and 1951 and in side horse, 1956. Two-time NCAA all-around and parallel bars champion (1949 and 1950) at Kent State University. Also won NCAA championships in horizontal bars, 1950, and side horse, 1951. Coach of U.S. team in 1966 North American Championships at Montreal.

Betty Maycock

Induction Year : 1976

Sport: Gymnastics

Member of U.S. Olympic Team in 1960 and U.S. Pan-American Team in 1959. Shared team gold medal and won two individual silver medals at Pan-Am Games. Member of U.S. All-American AAU Team in 1959 and 1960 and U.S. World Games Team in 1962. Won National AAU junior all-around championship in 1959 and won AAU award as most promising young gymnast in nation in 1960. Earned gold medal in USA-USSR dual meet in Moscow, 1961.