Gymnastics Gets a Two-Year Extension at NCAA Convention

Peter Vidmar, former UCLA and Olympic gymnastics champion, was so happy Tuesday he thought about doing a back flip on the floor of the NCAA convention.

“But that would have been inappropriate,” he said.

Instead, he glowed in the aftermath of a major victory for men’s gymnastics, which was saved from possible extinction when the NCAA voted to continue sponsoring its championships for two years on the last day of the 89th convention in San Diego.

With 33 schools sponsoring men’s programs, gymnastics fell under the minimum 40 needed for an NCAA championship. But after a strong lobbying effort by USA Gymnastics and the National Assn. of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches, the sport was saved, at least temporarily.

Vidmar and others in the Olympic movement said they will help schools upgrade club programs to intercollegiate level within the next two years to ensure the sport’s future.

Vidmar’s first goal will be to help UCLA, once a model program, return to varsity competition.

He said 15 Bruin gymnasts have stayed at the school to train with the coaches on a club level, although all could have transferred when the program was dropped. One, Steve McCain, is considered one of the country’s best, even though he will be unable to compete in the national meet.

In the last two years, UCLA has dropped men’s gymnastics and men’s swimming in cost-cutting moves that were fueled in part by the threat of a gender-equity suit.

Vidmar and others argued that the loss of college gymnastics would damage the development of male competitors.

“The notion that somehow the (NCAA) should come out and develop those programs is not right,” said Peter Dalis, UCLA athletic director. “I reject that. The association should not be the sole resource for Olympic development. The burden can’t fall totally on the colleges and universities when they are already strained now.”

Still, Dalis said it was a most painful experience to see his outstanding minor sports programs eliminated. Since he has been the Bruins’ athletic director, wrestling, water polo, men’s swimming and men’s gymnastics have been discontinued.

“Twenty years ago it was different, with women’s sports emerging,” Dalis said. “Well, women’s sports are here. We’ve got to address it morally and legally.”

Vidmar said Tuesday’s victory could also signal a new attitude toward other so-called minor sports such as water polo, which has 41 schools, just enough to stage a tournament.

But these sports are facing increasing opposition for funding from emerging women’s sports. Cedric Dempsey, NCAA executive director, said the issue is not opportunity but rather what constitutes a national competition.

“When is a national championship a national championship?” Dempsey asked. “Is it OK to offer a national championship with two schools?”

Ron Galimore of USA Gymnastics said the dropping of UCLA’s program was a shock, but it galvanized a lobbying effort that won the reprieve.

“We can breathe easier now,” he said.