James Hartung (born June 7, 1960) is a retired American

gymnast Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, sh ...

. He was born in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

Elite competition

Hartung was a member of the 1980 Olympic team but did not compete due to the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia. As consolation, he was one of 461 athletes to receive a

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

many years later. In 1984, he was a member of the gold-medal winning Olympic Team. In 1979, Hartung was a member of the U.S. bronze-medal winning

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

team. He was also part of the 1978 Worlds,

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

and 1983 Worlds squads. At USAG national championships, Hartung won the all-around gold in 1981. Over several years, he collected 13 golds on apparatuses. He is also considered one of the best NCAA men's gymnasts of all time as the leader of the 5-time in a row winning Nebraska team and because of his record 22 All-Americans. He was also the 1980 and 1981 NCAA all-around champion.

College competition

Hartung competed for the

University of Nebraska A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

and was a member of four straight national championship teams: 1979–1982. He was the all-around NCAA champion in 1980 and 1981. During his career, he also won five apparatus gold medals at NCAA championships. In 1982, Hartung won the

Nissen Award The Nissen Award (Nissen Emery Award) is the award given to the best male collegiate gymnast in the United States. The award reflects admirable scholarship and moral characteristics as well as sporting success. List of winners See also * AAI Awa ...

(gymnastics's "

Heisman The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

").

Post-athletic career

After gymnastics, Hartung became a high level gymnastics judge. Since 2006, he has been an assistant coach of the men's gymnastics team at the University of Nebraska. Hartung entered the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame as a member of the gold medal Olympic team in 1984 and then in 1997 as an individual. In 2006, he and his 1984 teammates were inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Hartung is also a member of the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame and the

Omaha Sports Hall of Fame Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartung, Jim 1960 births Living people American male artistic gymnasts Gymnasts at the 1984 Summer Olympics Olympic gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics Nebraska Cornhuskers men's gymnasts Sportspeople from Omaha, Nebraska Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Congressional Gold Medal recipients