Alex Diab
{{Short description|American gymnast}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name = Alex Diab
| image = Alex Diab (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Diab at the 2024 Winter Cup
| full_name = Alexander Michael Diab
| country = United States
| formercountry =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|04|25}}
| birth_place = Glen Ellyn, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| training =
| height =
| weight =
| discipline = MAG
| level =
| natlteam = 2021–present
| gym = EVO Gymnastics
USOTC
| collegeteam = Illinois Fighting Illini
| headcoach = Syque Caesar
| assistcoach =
| formercoach =
| eponymousskills =
| retired =
| worldranking =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's artistic gymnastics}}
{{MedalCountry| the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|World Cup|0|0|1
|total=no
}}
}}
Alexander Michael Diab (born April 25, 1997) is an American artistic gymnast. He is a still rings specialist and is a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team. He was an alternate for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Diab was a member of Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics team from 2016 to 2019, where he won 44 career event titles, and set a program record with 31 career still rings titles. He also is a two-time NCAA National Champion on still rings and a six-time NCAA All-American.
Early life and education
Diab was born in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, to Mark and Jennifer Diab. His father Mark was an Iowa State Cyclones men's gymnastics team member from 1981 to 1986 and was the Male Athlete of the Year in 1986. He attended Glenbard West High School.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster/alex-diab/8349 |title=Alex Diab |website=fightingillini.com |access-date=June 26, 2021}} He also has a sister, Maddie Diab, who also competed for the Iowa State Cyclones women's gymnastics team.
Gymnastics career
=2016–17=
Diab began competing for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnastics in 2016. During his freshman year, he won the still rings title at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, with a score of 15.125. That was the eighth event title he won during the season, tying for second-most on the team. He also earned All-America honors on the horizontal bar at the NCAA Championships, finishing fifth on the horizontal bar with a score of 14.900. Following the season he was named Fighting Illini Newcomer of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2016/6/15/general-poulter-diab-named-fighting-illini-newcomers-of-the-year.aspx |title=Poulter, Diab Named Fighting Illini Newcomers of the Year |website=fightingillini.com |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
During his sophomore year, he won his second-straight Big Ten still rings event title, with a score of 14.875.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2017/4/8/mens-gymnastics-illini-win-three-big-ten-event-titles.aspx |title=Illini Win Three Big Ten Event Titles |website=fightingillini.com |date=April 8, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} He was NCAA All-American on still rings, earning a score of 14.650 for seventh place overall at the NCAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2017/4/22/mens-gymnastics-illini-finish-in-third-place-at-ncaa-championships.aspx |title=Illini Finish in Third Place at NCAA Championships |website=fightingillini.com |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} In August 2017, he competed at the 2017 World University Games.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2017/4/27/mens-gymnastics-diab-selected-to-compete-at-2017-world-university-games.aspx |title=Diab Selected to Compete at 2017 World University Games |website=fightingillini.com |date=April 27, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
=2018=
In February 2018, he competed at the 2018 Winter Cup, posting a combined score of 28.550 on still rings and won silver.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2018/2/17/mens-gymnastics-still-rings-title-for-diab-at-winter-cup.aspx |title=Still Rings Title for Diab at Winter Cup |website=fightingillini.com |date=February 17, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
During his junior year in April 2018, he competed at the NCAA Championships, where he posted a score of 14.500 on still rings and won gold and helped his team win bronze at the event. The win marked his 10th rings title during the season, which is the most in a season in program history.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2018/4/21/mens-gymnastics-illini-place-third-at-ncaa-championships.aspx |title=Diab Wins Rings Title, Illini Place Third at NCAA Championships |website=fightingillini.com |date=April 21, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
In August 2018, he competed at the 2018 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where he posted a score of 14.500 on still rings on day one, and 14.450 on day two, for a combined score of 28.950, and won silver.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2018/8/18/mens-gymnastics-illini-gymnasts-come-up-big-at-us-championships.aspx |title=Illini Gymnasts Come up Big at U.S. Championships |website=fightingillini.com |date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
=2019=
In February 2019, he competed at the 2019 Winter Cup, where he posted a score of 14.550 on still rings during the preliminary round, and 14.600 to finish with a two-day total of 29.150 and won silver in the event. He also placed 10th on both floor and vault, finishing with scores of 27.250 and 28.350, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/2/17/mens-gymnastics-illini-gymnasts-impress-at-winter-cup-challenge.aspx |title=Illini Gymnasts Impress at Winter Cup Challenge |website=fightingillini.com |date=February 17, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
On March 2, 2019, Diab set a career-best and Illinois program record score of 15.200 on rings. He was subsequently named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week.{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/news/2019/3/5/minnesota-and-penn-state-earn-weekly-mens-gymnastics-awards.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627063333/https://bigten.org/news/2019/3/5/minnesota-and-penn-state-earn-weekly-mens-gymnastics-awards.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |title=Illinois and Nebraska Earn Weekly Men’s Gymnastics Awards |website=BigTen.org |date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} During his senior year in April 2019, he competed at the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships, where he won his second straight national championship on still rings with a score of 14.733, becoming the first gymnast in program history to win two national titles on the event. Diab finished his Illinois career as a six-time NCAA All-American, a four-time Big Ten still rings champion, a two-time still rings national champion, the school's all-time leader with 31 titles on still rings.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/4/20/mens-gymnastics-diab-claims-second-straight-still-rings-title.aspx |title=Diab Claims Second-Straight Still Rings National Title |website=fightingillini.com |date=April 20, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} Following the season, he was named a finalist for the Nissen Award and 2019 CGA Specialist of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/3/8/mens-gymnastics-diab-named-nissen-emery-award-finalis.aspx |title=Diab Named Nissen-Emery Award Finalist |website=fightingillini.com |date=March 8, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/4/18/mens-gymnastics-alex-diab-named-cga-specialist-of-the-year.aspx |title=Alex Diab Named CGA Specialist of the Year |website=fightingillini.com |date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
In August 2019, he competed at the 2019 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where he finished with a two-day total of 29.350 and won gold on still rings.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2019/8/12/mens-gymnastics-illini-gymnasts-wrap-up-competition-at-2019-us-gymnastics-championships.aspx |title=Illini Gymnasts Wrap Up Competition at 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships |website=fightingillini.com |date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
=2020–21=
In February 2020, he competed at the 2020 Winter Cup, where he posted a score of 14.600 on still rings in the preliminary round, and scored a 14.850 to finish with a two-day total of 29.450 to win gold in the event. He also competed in floor exercise, vault, and horizontal bar, placing within the top 20 on each apparatus.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2020/2/23/mens-gymnastics-diab-impresses-at-winter-cup-challenge.aspx |title=Diab Impresses at Winter Cup Challenge |website=fightingillini.com |date=February 23, 2020 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
In February 2021, he competed at the 2021 Winter Cup, where he won gold on still rings.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/2/26/mens-gymnastics-fletcher-diab-to-compete-at-winter-cup.aspx |title=Fletcher, Diab To Compete at Winter Cup |website=fightingillini.com |date=February 26, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/2/28/mens-gymnastics-diab-fletcher-finish-winter-cup-strong.aspx |title=Diab, Fletcher Finish Winter Cup Strong |website=fightingillini.com |date=February 28, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} In June 2021, he competed at the 2021 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where he won gold on still rings with a score of 14.950. As a result, he qualified to compete at the Olympic trials and was named to the United States men's national gymnastics team.{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=26283|title=USA Gymnastics names eight additional athletes to Men's Junior and Senior National Teams, introduces inaugural Senior Development Team lineup|website=usagym.org|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=June 27, 2021|archive-date=January 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119002943/https://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=26283|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/6/4/mens-gymnastics-diab-qualifies-for-olympic-team-trials.aspx |title=Diab Qualifies for Olympic Team Trials |website=fightingillini.com |date=June 4, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021}} At the Olympic trials, he posted scores of 14.500 and 14.900 (29.400) and finished in first on still rings. He was subsequently named an alternate for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://fightingillini.com/news/2021/6/26/mens-gymnastics-diab-selected-as-alternate-for-team-usa.aspx |title=Diab Selected as Alternate for Team USA |website=fightingillini.com |date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/06/26/us-olympic-mens-gymnastics-team/ |title=Diab named an alternate for Team USA |work=The Daily Illini |first=Bradley |last=Zimmerman |date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=June 27, 2021}}
Competitive history
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;" | |||||||||
| width=7% class=unsortable| Year
! width=37% class=unsortable| Event ! width=7% class=unsortable| Team ! width=7% class=unsortable| AA ! width=7% class=unsortable|FX ! width=7% class=unsortable|PH ! width=7% class=unsortable|SR ! width=7% class=unsortable|VT ! width=7% class=unsortable|PB ! width=7% class=unsortable|HB | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1"|2012 | align=left | J.O. National Championships (JE14-15) | 7 | {{silver2}} | {{bronze3}} | |||||
| rowspan="1"|2013 | align=left| U.S. National Championships (Junior) | 12 | 10 | 18 | {{bronze3}} | 4 | 17 | 4 | |
| rowspan="2"|2014 | align=left | J.O. National Championships (L10 JE16) | 6 | {{silver2}} | {{gold1}} | |||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | 29 | 16 | 30 | 8 | 19 | 34 | 29 | ||
| rowspan="2"|2015 | align=left | Winter Cup | 14 | 33 | 13 | 28 | 34 | 16 | ||
| align=left | J.O. National Championships (JE17) | {{bronze3}} | 6 | 14 | {{gold1}} | 10 | 11 | 4 | ||
| rowspan="3"|2016 | align=left | Winter Cup | 8 | |||||||
| align=left| NCAA Championships | 4 | 10 | 5 | ||||||
| align=left| U.S. National Championships | 33 | 17 | 35 | 14 | 38 | 33 | 34 | ||
| rowspan="3"|2017 | align=left | Winter Cup | 6 | |||||||
| align=left| NCAA Championships | {{bronze3}} | 7 | |||||||
| align=left | Universiade | 7 | 53 | 35 | 11 | 14 | 55 | 71 | ||
| rowspan="3"|2018 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{silver2}} | |||||||
| align=left| NCAA Championships | {{bronze3}} | 7 | {{gold1}} | ||||||
| align=left| U.S. National Championships | 29 | {{silver2}} | 29 | 31 | |||||
| rowspan="4"|2019 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{silver2}} | |||||||
| align=left | NCAA Championships | 5 | 7 | {{gold1}} | 11 | 10 | ||||
| align=left | Universiade | 6 | 7 | |||||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | 25 | 14 | {{gold1}} | 12 | 14 | ||||
| rowspan="1" | 2020 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{gold1}} | |||||||
| rowspan="3" | 2021 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{gold1}} | |||||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | {{gold1}} | ||||||||
| align=left | Olympic Trials | {{gold1}} | ||||||||
| rowspan="4" | 2022 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{gold1}} | |||||||
| align=left | Cairo World Cup | 6 | ||||||||
| align=left | Baku World Cup | 5 | ||||||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | 22 | {{silver2}} | |||||||
| rowspan="2" | 2023 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{gold1}} | |||||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | {{bronze3}} | ||||||||
| rowspan="4" | 2024 | align=left | Winter Cup | 20 | {{gold1}} | ||||||
| align=left | U.S. National Championships | {{gold1}} | ||||||||
| align=left | Olympic Trials | {{silver2}} | ||||||||
| align=left | Christmas Cup | {{silver2}} | ||||||||
| rowspan="4" | 2025 | align=left | Winter Cup | {{silver2}} | |||||||
| align=left | Baku World Cup | {{bronze3}} | ||||||||
| align=left | Osijek World Cup | 8 | ||||||||
| align=left | Cairo World Cup | 4 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{FIG|bio=48503|lic=31492}}
- {{USA Gymnastics}}
- {{Olympics.com}}
{{Footer USA Gymnastics 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenRings}}
{{Navboxes
|title = NCAA Championships for Alex Diab
|titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}
|list =
{{Footer NCAA Gymnastics Rings Champions (Men)}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diab, Alex}}
Category:American male artistic gymnasts
Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's gymnasts
Category:Sportspeople from Hinsdale, Illinois