Blaine Wilson
Encyclopedia
Blaine Carew Wilson (born August 3, 1974) is an American
gymnast
from Columbus, Ohio
.
Wilson won his first World Championships medal at the 2003 Worlds when he helped the team to a silver-medal finish. Months later, at the 2004 Visa American Cup
, Wilson tore his left biceps tendon, and vowed to return for the 2004 Olympic Games
. His hard work and determination earned him a spot on the men's Olympic Team, and in Athens the team battled for a silver medal victory. Blaine is training at Ohio State, Columbus in preparation to return to elite level gymnastics.
Blaine is the first man to win five consecutive national titles since USA Gymnastics was named the sport's National Governing Body, and the third man to win five consecutive U.S. all-around titles (or more) in gymnastics history.
He comes from a sports-minded family and is named after baseball great Rod Carew
and former Dallas Cowboys guard Blaine Nye
. Wilson 's father started him in gymnastics at age four because he was so energetic. Before the 2004 Olympics, Wilson was also a member of the 2000 and 1996 Olympic Team. Both teams placed fifth. Wilson also finished fourth at the 1999 World Championships. He won his first national title at the 1996 Coca-Cola National Championships. In 1995, at his first World Championships competition, he was the highest U.S. all-around finisher (25th). He has completed his eligibility at Ohio State University
, winning the 1997 Big Ten Athlete of the Year
award.
Wilson married professional volleyball player Makare Desilets on March 28, 2001, whom he met at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado
They celebrated the birth of their first living child, a daughter, Wakaya, on Oct. 4, 2002, after suffering the loss of a son. Blaine and Makare divorced in 2006. Wilson married rhythmic gymnast
Aliane Baquerot. The couple are both performing on The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
, and after their stop in Sacramento, travelled to Reno, Nevada
and married there. Blaine and Aliane had a son named Jackson in August of 2009.
Wilson also enjoys golf, soccer, and biking.
On May 22, 2008, during the first night of competition at the Men's USA Championships, Blaine announced his retirement from the sport of gymnastics.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
from Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
Wilson won his first World Championships medal at the 2003 Worlds when he helped the team to a silver-medal finish. Months later, at the 2004 Visa American Cup
American Cup (gymnastics)
The American Cup, is an elite senior level international gymnastics competition held in the United States, and is generally considered to be one of the first major competitions of the Gymnastics season, as it is held in March or February of each year. In 1978-79 the event was sponsored by Dial and...
, Wilson tore his left biceps tendon, and vowed to return for the 2004 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. His hard work and determination earned him a spot on the men's Olympic Team, and in Athens the team battled for a silver medal victory. Blaine is training at Ohio State, Columbus in preparation to return to elite level gymnastics.
Blaine is the first man to win five consecutive national titles since USA Gymnastics was named the sport's National Governing Body, and the third man to win five consecutive U.S. all-around titles (or more) in gymnastics history.
He comes from a sports-minded family and is named after baseball great Rod Carew
Rod Carew
Rodney Cline "Rod" Carew is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, second baseman and coach. He played from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels and was elected to the All-Star game every season except his last. In 1991, Carew was inducted into the National...
and former Dallas Cowboys guard Blaine Nye
Blaine Nye
Blaine Francis Nye is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League and founder and president of Stanford Consulting Group, Inc...
. Wilson 's father started him in gymnastics at age four because he was so energetic. Before the 2004 Olympics, Wilson was also a member of the 2000 and 1996 Olympic Team. Both teams placed fifth. Wilson also finished fourth at the 1999 World Championships. He won his first national title at the 1996 Coca-Cola National Championships. In 1995, at his first World Championships competition, he was the highest U.S. all-around finisher (25th). He has completed his eligibility at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, winning the 1997 Big Ten Athlete of the Year
Big Ten Athlete of the Year
The Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year award is given annually to the man voted as the top male athlete in the Big Ten Conference.-History:...
award.
Wilson married professional volleyball player Makare Desilets on March 28, 2001, whom he met at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
They celebrated the birth of their first living child, a daughter, Wakaya, on Oct. 4, 2002, after suffering the loss of a son. Blaine and Makare divorced in 2006. Wilson married rhythmic gymnast
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which individuals or teams of competitors manipulate one or two pieces of apparatus: rope, clubs, hoop, ball, ribbon and Free . An individual athlete only manipulates 1 apparatus at a time...
Aliane Baquerot. The couple are both performing on The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
The Tour of Gymnastics Superstars was a nationwide concert tour that showcases the talents of 17 American gymnasts as well as recording artists Jordan Pruitt, Carly Patterson, and KSM...
, and after their stop in Sacramento, travelled to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and married there. Blaine and Aliane had a son named Jackson in August of 2009.
Wilson also enjoys golf, soccer, and biking.
On May 22, 2008, during the first night of competition at the Men's USA Championships, Blaine announced his retirement from the sport of gymnastics.