Marshall Avener

Marshall Scott Avener[1] (born December 10, 1950) is an American gymnast. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics.[2]

Marshall Avener
Country represented United States
Born (1950-12-10) December 10, 1950
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
College teamPenn State Nittany Lions
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place1975 Mexico CityVault
Representing the Penn State Nittany Lions
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place1973 EugeneAll-Around
Silver medal – second place1973 EugeneTeam
Bronze medal – third place1970 PhiladelphiaLong Horse
Bronze medal – third place1971 Ann ArborAll-Around
Bronze medal – third place1972 AmesAll-Around
Bronze medal – third place1972 AmesParallel Bars
Bronze medal – third place1973 EugeneParallel Bars
Bronze medal – third place1973 EugeneVault

Gymnastics career

Early career

Avener attended Island Trees High School in Levittown, New York. He represented the school in state competitions.[3] Avener claimed that during his high school career, he had broken his toe while trying to impress the crowd.[4]

Avener represented Pennsylvania State University where he was a speech major. He represented the USA at the 1970 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Ljubljana, SR Slovenia.[5]

1972 Summer Olympics

Avener was a member of the US team for the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He was selected after finishing 5th out of 11 candidates in a selection meet in Des Plaines, Illinois.[6]

In Munich, Avener sometimes clashed with coaches and teammates. He irritated his team after choosing to get married during the third day of a six-week camp, then demanding his wife be housed together. Avener was allegedly punched in the eye by teammate John Crosby Jr. after offending him.[7]

After returning home from Munich, Avener visited a psychiatric clinic in an effort to control his ego and temper.[8]

NCAA Champion

1973 was Avener's most successful collegiate season; he tied with Steve Hug to become the all-around champion at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships held during April in Eugene, Oregon.[9] A month later, Avener clinched the all-around title at a national level, crowned champion in the men's national competition that took place in the familiar surrounds of Penn State Rec Hall.[10]

Avener was unable to compete at the 1973 Summer Universiade due to injury.[11]

1975 Pan American Games

After graduating, Avener represented the USA at the 1975 Pan American Games, winning a bronze medal in the men's vault competition.[12]

1976 Summer Olympics

Avener represented the USA in artistic gymnastics at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was the only returning member of the US team from the Munich Olympics.

Individually, Avener competed in horizontal bar, floor exercise, horse vault, parallel bars, all-around, pommel horse, and rings. As part of the team all-around he helped the USA to a 7th-placed finish.[13]

Coaching career

Following the Munich Olympics, Avener became women's gymnastics coach at Penn State University.[14] Avener left this coaching position after 1982 after it was alleged gymnasts felt he had mistreated them.[15] In 2012, he was inducted into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame.[16]

References
  1. "Marshall Scott Avener". Olympics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Marshall Avener Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  3. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-marshall-avener-gymnast/129841535/
  4. "A smile-in after a mouth-off". Sports Illustrated. April 16, 1973. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  5. "Hall of Fame Inductee: Marshall Avener". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  6. https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-avener-on-uncle-sams/129843572/
  7. "A smile-in after a mouth-off". Sports Illustrated. April 16, 1973. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. "A bunch of new gym dandies". Sports Illustrated. July 12, 1976. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. "Iowa Staters Capture NCAA Gymnastics Title". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 9, 1973. p. 14.
  10. Horlacher, Bill (May 7, 1973). "Avener 1st Again". Centre Daily Times. p. 25.
  11. https://issuu.com/usagymnastics/docs/1973_7oct
  12. "Men's and Women's Pan American Games U.S. Medalists". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. "Marshall Scott Avener". Olympics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  14. "A bunch of new gym dandies". Sports Illustrated. July 12, 1976. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2016/06/group_of_penn_state_gymnastics.html
  16. "Hall of Fame Inductee: Marshall Avener". USA Gymnastics. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
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