Michael Dutka (born February 6, 1978) is a retired American artistic gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. He competed collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
| Mike Dutka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Michael Dutka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 6, 1978 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hometown | Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb (59 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Men's artistic gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years on national team | 1997–2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gym | Team Gattaca - HGA Gymnastrum Macey's Gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Penn State Nittany Lions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach(es) | Kevin Mazeika | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former coach(es) | Randy Jepson, Joe Stallone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and education
editDutka was born on February 6, 1978, to Michael and Peggy Dutka in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He grew up in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania and started gymnastics in 1984 at Macey's Academy of Gymnastics in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.[2] As he grew older, he joined many gymns before commuting to Allentown, Pennsylvania to train gymnastics under Joe Stallone as a member of Gymnastrum.[1] He attended Bishop Egan High School and upon graduation enrolled at Pennsylvania State University to pursue gymnastics.[1]
Gymnastics career
editDutka was a United States junior national team member for five years from 1991 to 1996. While still in high school, Dutka competed at the 1992 Junior Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships in São Paulo and won four individual gold medals, a team gold medal, and an individual bronze medal.[3] Dutka's 5 total gold medals set a Junior Pan Am Games record.[4]
Dutka became the youngest elite-level athlete to compete when he appeared at the 1993 Winter Cup.[5] Later that year he won Junior Boys National Gymnastics Champion.[6] He spent nine months training at the United States Olympic Training Center.[7]
From 1997 to 1998, Dutka was a member of the Penn State Nittany Lions men's gymnastics team. He was named the 1997 Big Ten Conference Freshman Gymnast of the Year.[7] He left Penn State after two years to join Team Texaco and train at Houston Gymnastics Academy under Kevin Mazeika in hopes of making the 2000 Summer Olympics team.[2][8]
On the international stage, Dutka represented the United States at the 1997 Pan American Gymnastics Championships in Medellín and won a silver medal in the team all-around. He was also a member of the 5th-placed United States team at the 1997 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Representing the United States at the 1999 Pan American Games, Dutka won a silver medal in the team all-around.[9]
Post-athletic career
editDutka is currently a co-owner of and coach at American Flip Factory in Huntsville, Texas.[10] He previously coached alongside Jim Culhane Jr. at Texas Star Gymnastics in Tomball, Texas.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c Pucin, Diane (December 25, 1992). "Dutka, 14, gets off on right foot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Vol. 326, no. 178. pp. D1, D3. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Local man competes in national gymastics[sic]". The Reporter. Lansdale, Pennsylvania. August 15, 2001. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Cable, Susan (March–April 1993). "Jr. Pan American Games". USA Gymnastics. Vol. 22, no. 2. pp. 32–33. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "DUTKA DUCKS DISTRACTIONS TO WIN GOLD". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. December 22, 1992. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "GYMNASTICS GYMNASTRUM'S DUTKA, ELLEFSON COMPETE IN WINTER CUP". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. February 5, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "GYMNASTRUM'S DUTKA, CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMP". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. May 12, 1993. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Tully, Jon (April 5, 1997). "Man at work". Centre Daily Times. State College, Pennsylvania. pp. 1B, 4B. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ Reinhard, Paul (February 4, 1999). "Dutka among top invaders for Brian Babcock event". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. C7. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Artistic gymnastics at the 1999 Pan American Games results" (PDF). usagym.org. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "About the Owners". americanflipfactory.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "Next Generation Gymnasts". Houston Chronicle. March 17, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2024.