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Marshall Avener

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Marshall Avener
Full nameMarshall Scott Avener
Born (1950-12-10) December 10, 1950 (age 74)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Gymnastics career
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Country representedUnited States
College teamPenn State Nittany Lions
Medal record
Men's artistic gymnastics
Representing  United States
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Pan American Games 1 0 1
Total 1 0 1
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1975 Mexico City Team
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Mexico City Vault

Marshall Scott Avener[1] (born December 10, 1950) is an American gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics.[2]

Gymnastics career

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Early career

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Avener attended Island Trees High School in Levittown, New York. He represented the school in state competitions.[3] Avener claimed that during his high school career, he had broken his toe while trying to impress the crowd.[4]

Avener represented Pennsylvania State University where he was a speech major. He represented the USA at the 1970 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Ljubljana, SR Slovenia.[5]

1972 Summer Olympics

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Avener was a US team member for the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He was selected after finishing 5th out of 11 candidates in a selection meet in Des Plaines, Illinois.[6]

In Munich, Avener sometimes clashed with coaches and teammates. He irritated his team after choosing to get married on the third day of a six-week camp and demanding he and his wife be housed together. Avener was allegedly punched in the eye by teammate John Crosby Jr. after offending him.[7]

After returning home from Munich, Avener visited a psychiatric clinic to control his ego and temper.[8]

NCAA Champion

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1973 was Avener's most successful collegiate season; he tied with Steve Hug to become the all-around champion at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships held during April in Eugene, Oregon.[9] A month later, Avener clinched the all-around title at a national level, crowned champion in the men's national competition that took place at Penn State Rec Hall.[10]

Avener was unable to compete at the 1973 Summer Universiade due to injury.[11]

1975 Pan American Games

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After graduating, Avener represented the USA at the 1975 Pan American Games, winning a bronze medal in the men's vault competition.[12]

1976 Summer Olympics

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Avener represented the USA in gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was the only returning member of the US team from the Munich Olympics.

Individually, Avener competed in horizontal bar, floor exercise, horse vault, parallel bars, all-around, pommel horse, and rings. As part of the team all-around he helped the USA to a 7th place finish.[13]

Coaching career

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Following the Munich Olympics, Avener became women's gymnastics coach at Penn State University.[14] Avener left this coaching position after 1982 after it was alleged gymnasts felt he had mistreated them.[15] In 2012, he was inducted into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Marshall Scott Avener". Olympics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Marshall Avener Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "Marshall Avener Gymnasts Victor". The Buffalo News. March 13, 1967. p. 13.
  4. ^ "A smile-in after a mouth-off". Sports Illustrated. April 16, 1973. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductee: Marshall Avener". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Avener on Uncle Sam's Gym Squad". Centre Daily Times. June 19, 1972. p. 19.
  7. ^ "A smile-in after a mouth-off". Sports Illustrated. April 16, 1973. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "A bunch of new gym dandies". Sports Illustrated. July 12, 1976. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Iowa Staters Capture NCAA Gymnastics Title". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 9, 1973. p. 14.
  10. ^ Horlacher, Bill (May 7, 1973). "Avener 1st Again". Centre Daily Times. p. 25.
  11. ^ "Gymnast Magazine - October 1973 by USA Gymnastics - Issuu". July 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "Men's and Women's Pan American Games U.S. Medalists". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Marshall Scott Avener". Olympics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "A bunch of new gym dandies". Sports Illustrated. July 12, 1976. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Group of Penn State gymnastics alumni suggest 'clean sweep' would be best for program". June 30, 2016.
  16. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductee: Marshall Avener". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
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