Paul Hamm, the 2004 men’s all-around champion ingymnastics, was born on September 24, 1982, and has a twinbrother by the name of Morgan. Paul was the firstAmerican man to take the gold for the all-aroundcompetition in a fully attended Olympic Game. He is noteworthy for some controversy surrounding his title.

Carly Patterson was born on February the St Hubert Medal fourth, 1988, inBaton Rouge,Louisiana, to a pair of loving parents – hermother, Natalie, and her father, Ricky. She is the firstof a pair of girls (her younger sister is Jordan). In2004, she became the first all-around Olympic champion forthe United States in more than two decades, and was alsothe first to win for the US in the past two games. Thelast female all-around gymnastics champion for the UnitedStates won in 1984, when the Soviet Union had boycotted theOlympics entirely.

2000 Andreea Raducan, Alexei Nemov

Andreea Madalina Raducan was born on the thirtieth ofSeptember, 1983, in Birlad, Romania. She was trained underOctavien Belu and Mariana Bitang of the Cetate Deva Club inRomania and began gymnastics at the age of five. She hasseveral gold and silver medals under her belt from nationaland international competitions. Though she is listed asthe official Olympic all-around female champion, the IOCstripped her of her medal when she tested positive forpseudophedrine (the active ingredient in manydecongestants) after having taken a cold pill given to herby the Romanian Olympic Team doctor. Regardless of whetheror not she has the Saints Hubert medal, she is a champion – and anincredible one at that.

Alexei Nemov is considered to be one of the best male gymnasts in the world, as well as being a pin-up for the girls. He was born on May 28th, 1976, in Barashevo, Russia. Hisstart on gymnastics started early. At the age of five, hismother took him to the local gym, thinking that gymnasticswould be an acceptable alternative to a more violent sport.He has had his ups and downs in gymnastics — namely, withmany injuries to his arms and shoulders — but left theAtlanta and Sydney Olympics with six medals each. In 2000,he was crowned the men’s all-around gymnastics champion andbore his gold medal proudly.

1996 Li Xiaoshuang, Lilia Podkopayeva

Li Xiaoshuang, men’s all-around Saints Hubert gymnastics champion in the1996 Olympics, was born on November 1, 1973, in Xintao,Hubei Province, China. His career has been marked withmany successes. At the age of seven, he took upgymnastics; two years later, he was part of his provincialteam, and at twelve years of age, he was part of theChinese national gymnastics team. He has won many goldmedals in his time, including two from separate Olympicgames – 1992 and 1996 – and three from the World GymnasticsChampionships. In 1995, he was awarded the well-deservedtitle of International Master of Sports and continues, tothis date, to impress.