INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 25, 2019 – USA Gymnastics announced today that its Athletes’ Council elected former U.S. National Team member Paul Ruggeri III of New York City to complete the term of Steven Legendre, who stepped down from the Board late last year, as the athlete representative for men’s gymnastics on the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors.
“Serving as the men’s athlete representative on the USA Gymnastics Board provides me with the opportunity to use my athletic experience to cultivate positive change for athletes and staff,” said Ruggeri, whose successful gymnastics career included U.S. and NCAA titles. “Working together with other accomplished, knowledgeable, and passionate Board members to secure and improve USA Gymnastics for future generations of gymnasts is a mission I welcome.”
“Paul’s perspective as an accomplished gymnast brings valuable insight to the Board,” said Kathryn Carson, USA Gymnastics Board chair. “As importantly, as the owner of a recreational gymnastics club himself, he can also provide the perspective as a successful businessperson and owner.”
Ruggeri currently operates the Paul Ruggeri Gymnastics, a recreational gymnastics club in New York City, and stages an annual competition in Paramus, N.J. In addition, he is a motivational speaker for young professionals and young athletes. He earned his Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Illinois. Ruggeri also received his Master of Business Administration in finance from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Ruggeri previously was the chief operating officer for U.S. Gymnastics Development Center II. Ruggeri’s term concludes at the end of 2019.
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Ruggeri competed on the club level and was on the junior national team before competing for the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, he won five NCAA titles, including the team in 2012, along with two silvers and a bronze. Ruggeri won the Nissen-Emery Award as the top senior collegiate gymnast and the Dike Edelman Award for Illinois’ athlete of the year. As a member of the U.S. Senior National Team, he represented the USA in the 2015 World Championships, was the alternate to three World Championships Teams, and helped the U.S. to Pan American Games Team gold and bronze medals, along with bringing home three individual medals (one gold, silver and bronze). Ruggeri also claimed 13 individual U.S. medals, including the horizontal bar title. He was a member of the Resident Athlete Program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center after graduating from college.
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. Former gymnast and business executive Li Li Leung begins her tenure as president and chief executive officer of USA Gymnastics on March 8. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, visit usagym.org.