LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 25: Jonathan Horton practices during men's artistic gymnastics training sessions ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on July 25, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Join us as we follow BP Team USA, a group of nine U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls that are aiming to bring home gold from London this summer. Today, we meet gymnast Jonathan Horton.
As a self-described "wild child," Jonathan Horton was doing flips on his parents' bed and climbing shelves in stores as a four-year old. Clearly, gymnastics was is in hus future.
He was born in, and grew up, in Houston, Texas, and began gymnastics at a young age, entering his first gym in 1990. Horton won his first gold at the U.S. National Championships as early as 2002 (in both Rings and Vault), and a silver in the All-Around, when he was just 17. His obsession took him to Oklahoma University, where as a member of the gymnastics team, he helped lead the Sooners to three national championships.
Horton made his Olympic debut in 2008 and quickly established himself at Team USA's best gymnast. Facing stiff competition from China, which swept the men's medals, Horton helped the United States win bronze in the team competition and earned a silver medal for himself in the Horizontal Bar. His efforts earned him title of USA Gymnastics Men's Athlete of the Year in 2008.
Now 26, Horton is back in the Olympics with the 2012 U.S. Gymnastics team, a squad that could come away from the London with the team gold medal. Since Beijing, Horton has only added to his resume, winning the U.S. all-around titles in 2009 and 2010.
The men's gymnastics team competition is set to take place July 30, at 11:30 a.m. ET. Individual all-around is August 1.
Follow along as we meet all the Olympians and Paralympians from BP Team USA
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