Ian Gunther

{{Infobox gymnast

| name = Ian Gunther

| image = Ian Gunther 2019.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Gunther in 2019

| fullname = Ian David Gunther

| altname =

| nickname =

| country = United States

| regionsrepresented =

| formercountry =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|09|10}}

| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| hometown =

| residence =

| spouse =

| training =

| height = 5 ft 7 in

| discipline = MAG

| level =

| natlteam = 2021–2022

| gym = Cypress Academy

| collegeteam = Stanford Cardinal (2019–23)

| headcoach = Thom Glielmi

| assistcoach =

| formercoach = Syque Caesar

| choreographer =

| music =

| eponymousskills =

| retired = December 8, 2024

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

File:Stanford Cardinal logo.svg

| module =

{{Infobox YouTube personality

| embed = true

| genre = Sport

| channel_handle = @iangunther

| channel_display_name = Ian Gunther

| subscribers = 1.61 million

| views = 2,893,714,166

| stats_update = 4 November 2024

| years active = 2022–present

| silver_button = yes

| silver_year =

| gold_button = yes

| gold_year =

| diamond_button = no

| diamond_year =

| module =

{{Infobox TikTok personality

| embed = true

| page = ian.gunther

| page_display_name = Ian Gunther│Gymnastics Daily

| followers = 1.4 million

| likes = 204.1 million

}}

Ian David Gunther (born September 10, 1999){{Cite web |title=Ian David Gunther |url=https://earth.stanford.edu/people/ian-gunther |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Stanford Earth |language=en}} is an American artistic gymnast and social media content creator. He is a 4-time NCAA team champion, and an MPSF team champion with Stanford.{{Cite web |title=Ian Gunther |url=https://members.usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=261534 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=USA Gymnastics}} Individually, he was a horizontal bar bronze medalist at the 2023 Winter Cup,{{Cite web |title=2023 Winter Cup Louisville, KY |url=https://gymnasticsresults.com/results/2023/winter-cup/index.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=GymnasticsResults.com}} and placed 8th all-around.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |title=2023 Winter Cup {{!}} Men's All-Around Live Blog |url=https://thegymter.net/2023/02/24/2023-winter-cup-mens-all-around-live-blog/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=The Gymternet |language=en}} He is a former member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team.

Early life and education

Gunther was born in Houston, Texas, on September 10, 1999.{{Cite web |title=Ian Gunther Age, Bio, Girlfriend Info of Famous Gymnast |url=https://talkwithcelebs.com/web-stories/ian-gunther/ |website=Talk With Celebs}} He attended Westside High School in Houston, class of 2018.{{Cite web |title=Ian Gunther |url=https://www.ckwluxe.com/ian-gunther-full |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ckwluxe |language=en}} At Stanford, he majored in product design, graduating in 2022, and completed an M.S. in sustainability science & practice.{{Cite web |title=Ian Gunther - Men's Gymnastics |url=https://gostanford.com/sports/mens-gymnastics/roster/ian-gunther/19379 |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Stanford University Athletics |language=en}}

Gunther has suffered from osteochondritis dissecans of the knee from his intense gymnastics training. He had surgery to correct it in 2015.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-13 |title=Athlete overcomes knee pain to pursue Olympic dreams |url=https://blog.orthoindy.com/2017/03/13/no-pain-no-gain-16-year-old-athlete-overcomes-knee-condition-to-pursue-olympic-dreams/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=OrthoIndy Blog |language=en-US}}

Gymnastics career

Gunther began in gymnastics at age 4 and a half.{{Cite web |title=Ian Gunther |url=https://www.ckwluxe.com/ian-gunther |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ckwluxe |language=en}} During his career, he has been an NCAA All-American 10 times. In 2017, he won gold on rings and parallel bars at the Junior Olympic national meet.

Gunther began competing for the Stanford Cardinal in the 2018–2019 season. During the 2019 NCAA National Championships Gunther helped Stanford win as a team; individually he placed fourth on rings. Gunther would go on and help Stanford win the team title again in 2021, 2022, and 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/36201200/stanford-wins-4th-straight-ncaa-men-gymnastics-championship|title=Stanford wins 4th straight NCAA men's gymnastics championship|work=ESPN|date=April 15, 2023}}

In 2021 Gunther qualified to compete at the 2020 Olympic Trials.{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/usa-gymnastics-names-eight-additional-athletes-to-mens-junior-and-senior-national-teams-introduces-inaugural-senior-development-team-lineup/|title=USA Gymnastics names eight additional athletes to Men’s Junior and Senior National Teams, introduces inaugural Senior Development Team lineup|date=June 9, 2021|work=USA Gymnastics}} He finished twelfth overall.{{cite web|url=https://usagym.org/usa-gymnastics-announces-mens-olympic-team-roster-for-artistic-gymnastics/|title=USA Gymnastics announces men’s Olympic team roster for artistic gymnastics|date=June 27, 2021|work=USA Gymnastics}} In 2022, he received media attention for breaking a horizontal bar in half.{{Cite web |last=McCharles |first=Rick |date=2022-03-30 |title=Ian Gunther snaps a H Bar |url=https://gymnasticscoaching.com/2022/03/30/ian-gunther-snaps-a-h-bar/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Gymnastics Coaching.com |language=en}}

In the fall of 2024, Gunther participated in the Gold Over America Tour.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/general/article/simone-biles-gold-over-america-19666336.php|title=Simone Biles is back. Where to see her perform on the Gold Over America Tour|date=September 17, 2024|work=Houston Chronicle}} He later competed at the 2024 Sokol Grand Prix and placed second with teammate Denelle Pedrick.{{Cite web |url=https://gostanford.com/news/2024/12/1/cardinal-competes-at-czech-grand-prix |title=Cardinal Competes at Czech Grand Prix |date=December 1, 2024 |website=gostanford.com |access-date=December 5, 2024}} In a YouTube short, Gunther announced it was his last competitive routine.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ILKx2G4C6qA |title=My last competitive routine EVER |date=December 3, 2024 |website=youtube.com |access-date=December 5, 2024}} He followed that with an Instagram post on December 8, 2024, confirming his retirement from competitive gymnastics.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/olympics/news-it-s-truly-opportunity-lifetime-simone-biles-led-goat-gymnast-ian-gunther-announces-retirement-emotional-note|title=“It's truly been the opportunity of lifetime”- Simone Biles-led GOAT gymnast Ian Gunther announces retirement with an emotional note|date=December 8, 2024|work=Sportskeeda}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/iandgunther/p/DDSMIGNOaSJ/ |title=This isn’t a goodbye, but a hello ❤️ |date=December 8, 2024 |website=instagram.com |access-date=December 9, 2024}}

Social media

Gunther received media recognition for his work on Collyge, an app rivaling TikTok in the short-form video market.{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Evan |date=April 17, 2023 |title=New Social Media App Takes on TikTok |url=https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/collyge-social-media-app-takes-on-tiktok/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=BestColleges |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hilsman |first=Patrick |date=March 23, 2023 |title=Stanford graduate student creates 'Collyge' video app to replace TikTok |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/03/23/collyge-app-tiktok-replacement/4701679603019/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=UPI.com |language=en}} The app launched in March 2023.{{Cite press release |title=USA-Based App Collyge to Launch This Week as a TikTok Replacement for College Students |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usa-based-app-collyge-to-launch-this-week-as-a-tiktok-replacement-for-college-students-301780228.html |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=PR Newswire |language=en}}

Gunther has gained attention from the national media for his efforts to promote gymnastics via social media.{{Cite news |last=Lerner |first=Danielle |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Houston's Ian Gunther is making men's gymnastics go viral |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/general/article/ian-gunther-mens-gymnastics-winter-cup-18684386.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=November 4, 2024}} He started creating content during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States when the NCAA gymnastics season was shut down.{{Cite news |last=Maine |first=D'Arcy |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Gymnast Ian Gunther has embraced viral fame on TikTok |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/37715835/ian-gunther-tiktok-gymnastics |website=espn.com |access-date=November 4, 2024}} His activity on social media allowed Gunther to pay for his Stanford student tuition.{{Cite magazine |last=Wu |first=Natalie |date=August 28, 2023 |title=Stanford gymnast Ian Gunther used social media to pay off his college tuition |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2023/08/28/ian-gunther-stanford-gymnastics-tiktok-instagram.html |magazine=Silicon Valley Business Journal |access-date=November 4, 2024}}

Competitive history

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
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%;"
colspan="10" \| Junior
rowspan="1" \| 2016	align=left \| U.S. National Championships (15-16)		19	25	6	6	28	11	16
rowspan="3" \| 2017	align=left \| RD761 International					{{silver2}}		5
align=left \| Winter Cup		27	33	30	23	33	35	27
align=left \| U.S. National Championships (17-18)		10	14	10	4	15	{{bronze3}}	5
rowspan="2" \| 2018	align=left \| Winter Cup		14	14	4	9	13	13	{{silver2}}
align=left \| Elite Team Cup	{{gold1}}
colspan="10" \| Senior
rowspan="2" \| 2019	align=left \| Winter Cup		36
align=left \| NCAA Championships	{{gold1}}			28	4
rowspan="1" \| 2020	align=left \| Winter Cup		10	17	5	7	20	9	6
rowspan="3" \| 2021	align=left \| NCAA Championships	{{gold1}}			5	4		7
align=left \| U.S. National Championships		8	22	11	14	20	4	6
align=left \| Olympic Trials		12	13	12	11	16	11	8
rowspan="2" \| 2022	align=left \| Winter Cup		13	31	10	14	34	20	4
align=left \| NCAA Championships	{{gold1}}				6		5
rowspan="4" \| 2023	align=left \| Winter Cup		8	20	9		5	13	{{bronze3}}
align=left \| NCAA Championships	{{gold1}}				14		10	17
align=left \| U.S. Classic		12	47	39	50	40	11	17
align=left \| U.S. National Championships		16	18	18		13	28	19
rowspan="2" \| 2024	align=left \| Winter Cup			11		9			6
align=left \| U.S. National Championships			21		13		27	8