Mike Racanelli

Mike Racanelli (born October 20, 1970) is an American retired gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a gold and silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games. His specialty was floor exercise, where he had an expressive style.^[1][2]

Mike Racanelli
Full name	Mike Racanelli
Born	(1970-10-20) October 20, 1970 (age 54)
Gymnastics career
Discipline	Men's artistic gymnastics
Country represented	United States
College team	Ohio State Buckeyes
Medal record Men's artistic gymnastics Representing  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Pan American Games 1 1 0 Total 1 1 0 Pan American Games 1991 Havana Floor 1991 Havana Team
Awards	Nissen-Emery Award (1990)

Gymnastics career

College

Racanelli competed for Ohio State University, where he was a 10-time All-American.^[3] His coach at OSU was Peter Kormann, who had medalled in the 1976 Olympics. In 1990, Racanelli won the Nissen Award, the "Heisman" of gymnastics,^[4] as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor.^[5] At the 1990 NCAA championships, Racanelli won gold in the all-around and floor exercise. Also, he qualified for finals on all 6 apparatus that year, the only athlete to do so.^[6][7] Racanelli is a member of Ohio State's Men's Varsity "O" Hall of Fame.^[5]

Elite

In 1989 Racanelli won gold on the floor exercise at the U.S. National Championships^[8] and bronze in the all-around.^[9] That year, he was also a member of the U.S. World Championships team.^[10][11]

In 1990, Racanelli won floor exercise at the Chunichi Cup, becoming the first American since 1984 to win an event gold. Later that year, he competed at the U.S. Olympic Cup.^[12]

In 1991, Racanelli, recovering from a shoulder injury, finished only 11th in the all-around at Nationals but won gold on the floor. Later that year, he won floor gold at the World University Games.^[2][8] In August, he won another floor gold, at the Pan American Games.

In 1992, Racanelli did not participate in Nationals or Olympic Trials.^[13]

In 1995, Racanelli finished 16th overall at Nationals.^[14]

In 1996, at Nationals, Racanelli finished fourth on pommel horse and 6th on vault.^[15] His all-around score was 17th. Only the top 14 were invited to Olympic Trials.^[16]