Mario McCutcheon

Mario McCutcheon (born 1957 or 1958^[1]) is a retired American artistic gymnast. He was the United States horizontal bar champion in 1983. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a silver medal at the 1983 Pan American Games.

Mario McCutcheon
Born	1957 or 1958 (age 66–67) Georgia, U.S.
Hometown	The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Gymnastics career
Discipline	Men's artistic gymnastics
Country represented	United States
College team	Southern Connecticut State College Owls
Head coach(es)	Abie Grossfeld
Medal record Men's artistic gymnastics Representing  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Pan American Games 0 1 0 Total 0 1 0 Pan American Games 1983 Caracas Team
Awards	Nissen-Emery Award (1980)

Early life and education

McCutcheon was born in 1957 or 1958 in Georgia.^[1][2] The second oldest of seven children, McCutcheon was raised in The Bronx, New York.^[1][2] His father died when he was five and the family was on welfare.^[2]

McCutcheon started gymnastics later in childhood and had limited experience through middle school.^[3] After witnessing the sport of gymnastics, he became interested and took it up at 16 years old.^[3][4] He attended DeWitt Clinton High School, where he quickly became the school's best gymnast.^[1][3] He was recruited by, and offered full scholarships from, Indiana State University, Louisiana State University, and Iowa State University, but ultimately chose to enroll at Southern Connecticut State College to pursue gymnastics after high school graduation.^[2]

Gymnastics career

While a student at Southern Connecticut State College, he was a member of the Owls men's gymnastics team under coach Abie Grossfeld.^[2] He was the winner of the 1980 Nissen-Emery Award, given to the top senior collegiate gymnast.^[5]

At the 1982 U.S. National Sports Festival, McCutcheon was able to perform in front of his brother and sister whom he hadn't seen in over a decade.^[6] He won six medals, giving away one each to his brother and sister in attendance.^[6] McCutcheon was the 1983 United States horizontal bar champion.^[7]

Internationally, McCutcheon was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team. He was an alternate member for the 1981 and 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships teams.^[8] He represented the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games and won a silver medal.

He was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Owls hall of fame in 2001.^[9]

References

1. "Big Gym Group But Small Body". Morning Sentinel. Vol. 76, no. 24. Waterville, Maine. March 30, 1979. p. 19. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
2. York, Randy (March 30, 1980). "S. Connecticut gymnasts take tough road to NCAA finals". Sunday Journal and Star. Vol. 110, no. 13. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 1E. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
3. Pincus, Arthur (January 30, 1975). "Clinton Gymnasts Develop Dynasty". The New York Times. Vol. CXXIV, no. 42, 740. p. 46. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
4. Woodson, Rick (August 5, 1981). "How Mario caught on to this different sport". The Honolulu Advertiser. Vol. 126, no. 42, 727. p. C-1. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
5. "Gymnast garners honor". The Grand Island Independent. Vol. 111, no. 49. April 4, 1980. p. 17. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
6. "Festival Touching For One Medalist". Vero Beach Press Journal. Vol. 63, no. 304. August 3, 1982. p. 1B. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
7. "Gaylord Wins Three Events as Vidmar Falls Three Times". Los Angeles Times. Vol. CII, no. 185. June 6, 1983. p. III-11. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
8. "World Championships - U.S. Men's Team Rosters". usagym.org. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
9. Anderson, Woody (May 16, 2001). "Notebook - Around The State". Hartford Courant. Vol. CLXIII, no. 136. p. C3. Retrieved February 5, 2025.

External links

• Mario McCutcheon at the Southern Connecticut Owls Hall of Fame