Kevin Tan
Encyclopedia
Kai Wen "Kevin" Tan is an American
artistic gymnast.
in 1981 to immigrants from Taiwan. He graduated from Mission San Jose High School
, Class of 2000.
He is of Chinese
descent. His Chinese and legal name is Kai Wen and that is the name he uses in international competition. He uses his English language name Kevin in domestic events and in his coaching at Penn State.
as a senior in 2004 and also won the individual titles in still rings in 2003 and 2004, thus becoming Penn State's first back-to-back NCAA champion on the still rings. He also earned All-American honors on the parallel bars (2002) and high bar (2003) during his career.
and is a 3-time U.S. national champion on the still rings, his specialty.
and was selected as captain of the team. Tan did not qualify for the event final for his signature event the rings. During the finals on the last event the pommel horse
, Tan scored 12.755. Fellow team member and original alternate Alexander Artemev
secured the bronze medal with a score 15.350.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artistic gymnast.
Early life
Tan was born in Fremont, CaliforniaFremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
in 1981 to immigrants from Taiwan. He graduated from Mission San Jose High School
Mission San Jose High School
Mission San Jose High School , is a public, co-educational, four-year secondary school founded in 1964 and located in the Mission San Jose district of Fremont, California, United States...
, Class of 2000.
He is of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
descent. His Chinese and legal name is Kai Wen and that is the name he uses in international competition. He uses his English language name Kevin in domestic events and in his coaching at Penn State.
Career
At Penn State, Tan was a six time All-American. He won the NCAA team championshipNCAA Men's Gymnastics championship
This is a list of National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Gymnastics champions, by division and year. All schools currently compete in one division, because only 17 schools sponsor men's gymnastics teams...
as a senior in 2004 and also won the individual titles in still rings in 2003 and 2004, thus becoming Penn State's first back-to-back NCAA champion on the still rings. He also earned All-American honors on the parallel bars (2002) and high bar (2003) during his career.
Coaching
Following his graduation, he began working as an assistant coach of the Penn State men's gymnastics team.International
He was a member of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 U.S. teams to the World Gymnastics ChampionshipsWorld Gymnastics Championships
The Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique organises World Gymnastics Championships for each of the gymnastic disciplines:...
and is a 3-time U.S. national champion on the still rings, his specialty.
Olympics 2008
Tan was named to the 2008 Olympic teamUnited States at the 2008 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. American athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since the 1896 Summer Olympics except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which the U.S. boycotted. The United States entered the Games as the most successful nation in...
and was selected as captain of the team. Tan did not qualify for the event final for his signature event the rings. During the finals on the last event the pommel horse
Pommel horse
The pommel horse is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. Traditionally, it is used by only male gymnasts. Originally made of a metal frame with a wooden body and a leather cover, modern pommel horses have a metal body covered with foam rubber and leather, with plastic handles .- History :The pommel...
, Tan scored 12.755. Fellow team member and original alternate Alexander Artemev
Alexander Artemev
Alexander Vladimirovich "Sasha" Artemev is an American artistic gymnast. He is the 2006 all-around U.S. National Champion, the 2007 and 2008 U.S. National Champion on the pommel horse and an individual bronze medalist at the 2006 World Championships. Artemev was a member of the bronze medal...
secured the bronze medal with a score 15.350.