Bart Connor - U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist

Here is another story about some of the interesting people who we have met since we moved to Oklahoma.  Tonight I re-acquainted myself with Bart Connor, former U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast (from 1984).  The black tie optional event was the annual induction ceremony for the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (which is located in OKC), and my old friend Bart Connor was the ceremony emcee.

 

You may wonder how I know Bart Connor.  Bart and I were in freshman Physics classes together at OU, (way) back in 1976.  I did not know who the kid sitting next to me was, but I noticed he tended to miss classes often (not good habit in freshman Physics).  I recall Bart saying to me one time, after he was out of class for several weeks; "Tanner, can I borrow your notes?  I'm really behind".

I gladly shared my notes, but said something to the effect of: "How can you possibly miss three weeks of Physics class, and hope to catch up?" 

"Oh, man; I've been in Russia", Bart replied!

At the time, I didn't know how great a gymnast he was, and would go on to become.  Bart was a qualifier for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, but did not attend, due to the U.S. boycott.  In 1981, Conner won the Nissen Award (the "Heisman" of men's gymnastics).  He went on to participate on the gold-medal winning Men’s Gymnastics team at the Los Angeles Olympics, in 1984.   He also won an individual gold medal in the Parallel Bars, there.  

          

 

So last night, I re-introduced myself to Bart, and met his lovely wife, the former gold medal winning gymnast from Romania - Nadia Comaneci.  Bart and Nadia run a successful gymnastics studio, down in Norman.  We also got to meet Olympic gold medalist, Jordyn Wieber, from last year’s London Olympics.  

We also shared our table with Edward Azaryan, the son of one of the Hall-of-Fame inductees.  His father, Albert Azaryan, was a gold medalist from Armenia, representing the “then” Soviet Union.  Edward, himself was a gold medal gymnast, who now lives in LA.  We spoke, at length, about Armenia, the former Soviet Union, my many visits to Armenia's neighbor, Azerbaijan.

I really enjoyed re-connecting with Bart, and am happy that he and Nadia are now proud Oklahomans!