View source for Bart Conner

{{Short description|American gymnast (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name            = Bart Conner
| image           = Bart Conner Olympic Park Rio de Janeiro 2016.jpg
| image_size      =
| caption         = Conner at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
| full_name       = Barthold Wayne Conner
| country         = [[United States men's national artistic gymnastics team|United States]]
| formercountry   = 
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1958|03|28}}
| birth_place     = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date      = 
| death_place     = 
| spouse          = {{Marriage|[[Nadia Comăneci]]|1996}}
| training        = 
| height          = 165 cm
| discipline      = MAG
| natlteam        = 
| gym             = 
| collegeteam     = [[Oklahoma Sooners men's gymnastics|Oklahoma Sooners]]
| headcoach       = [[Paul Ziert]]
| assistcoach     = 
| formercoach     = 
| eponymousskills = Conner (parallel bars)
| retired         = 
| worldranking    = 
| show-medals     = yes
| medaltemplates  = {{MedalSport|Men's [[artistic gymnastics]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Games]]|2|0|0
|[[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]]|1|0|2
|[[Pan American Games]]|1|0|2
| total = yes
}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Gymnastics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's artistic team all-around|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Los Angeles]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's parallel bars|Parallel bars]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Fort Worth]]|Parallel bars}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Fort Worth]]|Team}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1979 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships|1979 Fort Worth]]|Vault}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1975 Pan American Games|1975 Mexico City]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1975 Pan American Games – Men's artistic team all-around|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1975 Pan American Games|1975 Mexico City]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1975 Pan American Games – Men's floor exercise|Floor]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1975 Pan American Games|1975 Mexico City]]|[[Gymnastics at the 1975 Pan American Games – Men's rings|Rings]]}} 
}}

'''Barthold Wayne Conner'''<ref name='olybio'>{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/barthold-wayne-conner |title=Barthold Wayne Conner |website=olympics.com |access-date=October 19, 2023}}</ref> (born March 28, 1958) is a retired American Olympic [[gymnastics|gymnast]]. He was a member of the [[United States men's national artistic gymnastics team]] and won two gold medals at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]]. He owns and operates the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in [[Norman, Oklahoma]], along with his wife, [[Romania]]n Olympic gold medalist [[Nadia Comăneci]]. In addition, Conner is a long-time gymnastics commentator, and both Comăneci and Conner are highly involved with the [[Special Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=Nadia Comaneci, Global Ambassador |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209042443/http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Who_We_Are/Supporters/Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=2014-12-09 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |title=On Mats, Bars and Boards, Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci Lead by Example |access-date=2016-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112708/http://www.specialolympics.org/News_and_Stories/Stories2014/Special_Olympics_Heroes_Bart_Conner_and_Nadia_Comaneci.aspx |archive-date=2017-03-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Conner was born on March 28, 1958, the son of Harold Conner (1931-2024) and Jacqueline May ({{nee}} Hulsey, later Wolthausen; 1931-2000), and grew up in [[Morton Grove, Illinois]].<ref name=okbio>{{cite web |url=http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO044 |title=CONNER, BART (1958– ) |access-date=July 18, 2017 |date=2009 |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-12-25-0712241048-story.html |title=Death Notice: CALVIN GEORGE WOLTHAUSEN |website=Chicago Tribune |date=25 December 2007 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-04-19-0004190232-story.html |title=JACKIE CONNER-WOLTHAUSEN, 68, MOTHER OF OLYMPIAN |last=Gottesman |first=Walter |website=Chicago Tribune |date=19 April 2000 |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2529031/gymnasts-to-say-vows-in-romanian-capital/ |title=Gymnasts to Say Vows in Romanian Capital |date=1996-02-25 |website=Oklahoman.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref> He has two siblings, Michael and Bruce. He first became involved in gymnastics at school and at his local YMCA. He was later on the gymnastics team at [[Niles West High School]], where he graduated in 1976.<ref name=hs>{{cite web |url=http://www.nileswestnews.org/sports/q-a-with-bart-conner-olympic-gold-medalist/ |title=Q & A with Bart Conner, Olympic Gold Medalist |last=Goldwyn |first=Nick |date=September 6, 2011 |publisher=Niles West News}}</ref>

He later attended the [[University of Oklahoma]] to work with coach [[Paul Ziert]] on the gymnastics team.<ref name=trials>{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/article/2077817 |title=Bart's Trials Conner Says Conflict Preceded Golden Feats |last=Bailey |first=Dean |date=August 13, 1984 |publisher=The Oklahoman}}</ref> He eventually graduated from OU in 1984, where he was an All-American and won the 1981 Nissen Award as America's best gymnast.<ref name=sr/>

==Gymnastics career==
He won the 1972 U.S. Junior National Championships when he was 14 and the U.S. Gymnastics Federation All-Around championship when he was 17, and was the youngest member of the Olympic team during the [[1976 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=okbio/> He also won a team all-around gold medal at the [[1975 Pan American Games]].<ref name=sr>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html |title=Bart Conner |publisher=SR Olympic Sports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622060239/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/bart-conner-1.html |archive-date=2016-06-22}}</ref>

Although he qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was unable to participate due to the [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycott]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caroccioli |first1=Tom |last2=Caroccioli |first2=Jerry |title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games |year=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=Highland Park, IL |isbn=978-0942257403 |pages=243–253}}</ref> Four years later, in the [[1984 Summer Olympic Games|1984 Summer Olympics]], he won two gold medals for the [[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's artistic team all-around|team all-around]] and for the [[Gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's parallel bars|men's parallel bars]].<ref name=okbio/> His win on the parallel bars helped the U.S. win its first men's Olympic gymnastic gold medal in 80 years.<ref name=latp>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-1984_olympics13_k44u6gnc-photo.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828112237/http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-1984_olympics13_k44u6gnc-photo.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-08-28 |title=1984 Summer Olympic Games |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> He demonstrated an original move called the "Conner spin" during the 1984 Olympics.<ref name=sr/> 

==Gymnastics commentator==
Conner has been a play-by-play commentator for gymnastics since he was a competitor, when he began working as a network TV analyst on gymnastics meets where he was not a participant. In 2015, after over 30 years as a gymnastics commentator, Conner joined the [[SEC Network]] in its inaugural year of gymnastics coverage. He announces meets across ESPN platforms, including ABC, ESPN, SEC Network, and ACC Network.<ref>[https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/bart-conner/], ''SEC Bios''</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Conner is a highly decorated gymnast who has won "medals at every level of national and international competition." Some of his honors include "induction into the USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (1991), the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1997), and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1997)."<ref name=okbio/> While Conner did not compete in the 1980 games, he was one of 461 athletes to receive a [[List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Congressional Gold Medal]] many years later.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Caroccioli |first1=Tom |last2=Caroccioli |first2=Jerry |title=Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games |year=2008 |publisher=New Chapter Press |location=Highland Park, IL |isbn=978-0942257403 |pages=243–253}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On November 27, 1989, [[Nadia Comăneci]], the famous Romanian gymnast Conner had met at the 1976 Montreal games, [[Defection#International politics|defected from Romania with a group of other Romanians]]. In January 1990, when Conner read in the newspaper that she was scheduled to be interviewed on ''[[The Pat Sajak Show]]'', he contacted the producer and arranged to make a guest appearance on the show.<ref name="scoop">{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/article/2304764 |title=Bart Gets The Scoop On Nadia |access-date=August 19, 2016 |last=Rohde |first=John |date=January 24, 1990 |publisher=[[The Oklahoman]]}}</ref> Conner liked the idea of surprising Comăneci: "I'm thinking if she's going to be on Sajak, I might as well go out there and say, 'Hey, Nads,' " <ref name="scoop" /> Actually, Comăneci was in an abusive relationship with the person who had led the escape group and who was acting as her current manager and promoter. Conner sensed her fear of this person and reached out to help. According to a 1996 ''New York Times'' article, "He helped make the connections that eventually led to her escape from that abusive relationship, and a new life in Montreal with a Romanian rugby coach and his family. For a year, they were phone pals."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/05/sports/2-gymnasts-flip-and-fall-for-each-other.html 2 Gymnasts Flip and Fall for Each Other], ''New York Times'' (archives), Robert Lipsyte, April 5, 1996.</ref>

Later in 1990, Conner interviewed her for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. A few months later, Conner was invited to her 29th birthday party, after which they developed a long-distance friendship. When a mutual friend died in an accident in 1991, Conner invited Comăneci to come to Oklahoma to help him run a gymnastics school. They were together for four years before they became engaged. On April 27, 1996, Conner and Comăneci were married in a ceremony in [[Bucharest]] that was televised live throughout Romania. Their wedding reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121020031214/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72893201.html "Nadia Tumbles over Wedding"] ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref> Conner and Comăneci have one child, a son named Dylan Paul Conner who was born on June 3, 2006, in [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080319195221/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1201186,00.html "Nadia Comăneci, Bart Conner Have a Boy] People, June 6, 2006</ref><ref>[http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/former-gymnasts-nadia-comaneci-and-bart-conner-baptized-their-first-child-dylan-paul-13602.html "Former Gymnasts Nadia Comăneci and Bart Conner Baptized Their First Child, Dylan Paul"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726194240/http://jurnalul.ro/vechiul-site/old-site/english-version/former-gymnasts-nadia-comaneci-and-bart-conner-baptized-their-first-child-dylan-paul-13602.html |date=2014-07-26 }} Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006</ref>

==Eponymous skills==
Conner had one named element on the parallel bars, originally named in 1993, but removed from the code of points in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/site/pdf/mag_named_elements.pdf |title=Table of Named Elements Men's Artistic Gymnastics |date=December 2023 |website=gymnastics.sport |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name='magcop25'>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gymnastics.sport/publicdir/rules/files/en_1.1%20-%20MAG%20CoP%202025-2028.pdf |title=Men's Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points 2025–2028 |date=July 3, 2024 |website=gymnastics.sport |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Gymnastics elements named after Bart Conner
|-
!scope="col"| Apparatus
!scope="col"| Name
!scope="col"| Description
!scope="col"| Difficulty
!scope="col"| Added to Code of Points
|-
| Parallel bars
| '''''Conner'''''
| "Straddle L-sit on one rail with 180° or 360° turn"
| align=center|Removed from CoP on December 31, 2000.
| align=center|1993
|}
{{notelist}}

==Acting==
He appeared as Bart Taylor in the 1986 film ''[[Rad (film)|Rad]]'' and in 1984 as Richie Halberstrom in Season 1 Episode 7 (“One Fresh Batch of Lemonade: Part 2”) on the TV show “Highway to Heaven.”

==Books==
*Conner, Bart with Paul Ziert. ''Winning the Gold''. Warner Books, 1985.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Cited sources==
* {{cite book |ref=Comaneci |author=Comăneci, Nadia |year=2004 |title=Letters to a Young Gymnast |series=[[Art of Mentoring]] |publisher=Basic Books |isbn=0-465-01276-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/letterstoyounggy00coma}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Sports links}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=bart-conner|old_id=Bart-Conner|archive=20230602030554}}
* [https://members.usagym.org/pages/athletes/archivedbios/c/conner_bart.pdf Bart Conner] at [[USA Gymnastics]]
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Official website|https://www.bartandnadia.com/|Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci official website}}
* [http://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/conner-bart/ Voices of Oklahoma interview with Bart Conner.] First person interview conducted on February 28, 2013, with Bart Conner.

'''Video clips''':
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mts306F19fU The Adorable Way This Olympic Couple First Met | Where Are They Now | Oprah Winfrey Network] - [[Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel)]], 2016
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRMpT5XsubM Nadia Comaneci & Bart Conner Commentate on Their Perfect Olympic Routines | Take the Mic] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2016
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Jpb6Qukkg Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner, 11 Olympic Medals in this Olympic Family] – [[International Olympic Committee|The Olympic Channel]], 2016

{{Olympic champions artistic gymnastics Men TC|1984}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Parallel Bars Men}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 1980 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 1984 Summer Olympics}}
{{NavigationWorldChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMen'sParallelBars}}
{{International Gymnastics Hall of Fame members}}
{{Navboxes
|title = United States National Championships for Bart Conner
|list =
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenAA}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenPommel}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenRings}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenPBars}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenHBar}}
}}
{{Nissen-Emery Award}}
{{Navboxes
|title = NCAA Championships for Bart Conner
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Oklahoma Sooners|color=white}}
|list =
{{Footer NCAA Gymnastics All-Around Champions (Men)}}
{{Footer NCAA Gymnastics Floor Champions (Men)}}
}}
{{Nadia Comăneci}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conner, Bart}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male artistic gymnasts]]
[[Category:Gymnastics broadcasters]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Gymnasts from Chicago]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships]]
[[Category:Oklahoma Sooners men's gymnasts]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Special Olympics]]
[[Category:World champion gymnasts]]
[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Gymnasts at the 1975 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1975 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics]]
[[Category:Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]