How old is gymnast jake dalton

He was willing to do what I told him. He was willing to be in practice and not go out to parties and not be gone on vacation all the time. And he had a family that was willing to let him do it. Not everybody has that. It took him a long time to learn how to compete. In , his senior season of high school, he made the U. Later that year, Dalton competed in the London Olympics, fulfilling a life-long family dream.

So few are able to reach that point and it was very exciting and fulfilling to know everything we had done had helped him get to where he is now. The whole family worked around his goal. Our vacations were gym meets. It was just very rewarding.

In the London Olympics, Team USA was atop the standings after two days but struggled on the final day to finish in fifth place, two off the podium. In the individual events, Dalton placed fifth in the floor exercise, 12th in the rings and 14th in the vault, which was impressive but also short of the podium.

Four years later, after qualifying for the Olympics with his third-place showing in the all-around at the trials, Dalton and his teammates get another medal shot. For Dalton, it could be his last Olympic chance. Anything else is a bonus. Crazy it happens to be on the first day of our Olympic trials! RoadToRio pic. Jake Dalton may be familiar with St.

Louis after competing here in the USA Gymnastics Championships, but don't expect to find him gobbling down toasted ravioli this weekend. The year-old Olympian makes health a priority. But the year-old bears other outward signs of his Christian faith, including two tattoos: a pair of praying hands on his right side and the words of a New Testament verse on the other. Dalton has since become a four-time world medalist and has won more than a dozen national medals. He is set to compete on Saturday in the gymnastics competition in Rio.

The Reno, Nev. But he thinks divine intervention led him to focus on the floor routines. Since the London Olympics, Dalton had a physical setback.

He had to undergo surgery last year for a shoulder injury. Dalton said his faith -- especially daily prayer -- has helped him overcome his fears about competing. As he prepares to flip through the air and seek the perfect landing, Dalton said he will continue to try to focus on faith rather than fear.

Send your thoughts and reactions to Letters to the Editor. Now retired from competition, he helps manage the gymnastics club where he trained when he was growing up. An all-around athlete, he now dedicates himself to mentoring others, especially younger gymnasts.

In his spare time, Jake likes to spend time with his family, going camping and hiking. Gymnasts are, pound-for-pound, among the most powerful athletes in any sport.