Twenty-nine years after his death, Edward Hennig gained induction to the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame. It was appropriate it took that much time to get in, given his lengthy career, the fact he was the oldest ever nominee for the Sullivan Award, and that he was often considered a “gymnastics geriatric marvel.”
Hennig’s two gold medals in the 1904 Olympics, along with his one AAU National Championship gold medal, came in the early 1900s. However, his effect on the sport lasts today. He took up the Indian Clubs at his doctor’s suggestion in order to rehabilitate an ill-ridden childhood, proving the sport’s purpose as not just competitive but therapeutic as well.
