Todd Thornton
{{short description|American artistic gymnast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox gymnast
| name = Todd Thornton
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| full_name = Todd Thornton
| country = United States
| formercountry =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|14}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| training =
| height =
| weight =
| discipline = MAG
| level =
| natlteam = 2001–2008
| gym = Houston Gymnastics Academy
Team Texaco
| collegeteam =
| headcoach = Vitaly Marinich
| assistcoach = Alex Shchennikov, Kevin Mazeika
| formercoach =
| eponymousskills =
| retired = {{Circa|2007}}
| worldranking =
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's artistic gymnastics}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|Pan American Games|0|0|1
| total = yes
}}
{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}
{{MedalBronze|2007 Rio de Janeiro|Team}}
}}
Todd Thornton (born October 14, 1982) is a retired American artistic gymnast. He was a member of the United States men's national artistic gymnastics team and won a bronze medal while representing the United States at the 2007 Pan American Games. He was the all-around champion in the United States at the 2005 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships.
Early life and education
Thornton was born October 14, 1982. He started gymnastics at seven years old.{{Cite magazine |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Meet Kimberly Thornton of Thornton's Gymnastics Center in League City |url=https://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-kimberly-thornton-thorntons-gymnastics-center-league-city/ |magazine=VoyageHouston |access-date=August 18, 2024}} He spent most of his childhood in the Clear Lake, Texas area.{{Cite web |url=https://www.leaguecitytx.gov/3171/Todd-Thornton |title=Todd Thornton |website=leaguecitytx.gov |access-date=August 18, 2024}}
Gymnastics career
He was one of the "Houston Six", a group of elite men's gymnasts based out of the Houston area in the early 2000s that made an impact for the United States internationally.{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=David |date=July 14, 2012 |title=Men carry Houston's gymnastics legacy |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/olympics/article/Men-carry-Houston-s-gymnastics-legacy-3707852.php |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=August 18, 2024}} In 1996, his family helped house teammate Sean Townsend.{{Cite magazine |last=Cazeneuve |first=Brian |date=October 15, 2001 |title=Housewarming Home is where the heart is for U.S. all-around champion Sean Townsend |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2001/10/15/housewarming-home-is-where-the-heart-is-for-us-all-around-champion-sean-townsend |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=August 18, 2024}}
Domestically, Thornton had strong showings at numerous Winter Cup events from 2001 through 2005. He also performed well at the national championships, culminating in being the United States all-around champion at the 2005 U.S. National Gymnastics Championships.
Internationally, Thornton represented the United States as an alternate for the 2001 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships team and participated at the 2005 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He won a team bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games. He retired after the event.
Personal life
After retirement from gymnastics, Thornton began coaching. He worked in the Clear Lake, Texas area. He and his wife Kimberly opened a gym with a business partner in 2014. In 2016, they sold their portion and opened their own, Thornton's Gymnastics Center, in League City, Texas in August.{{Cite web |url=https://thorntonsgymnastics.com/about-us-2/ |title=About Our Owners |website=thorntonsgymnastics.com |access-date=August 18, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Sports links}}
{{USAGChampionsArtisticGymnasticsMenAA}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Todd}}
Category:American male artistic gymnasts
Category:Gymnasts at the 2007 Pan American Games
Category:Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games
Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics