INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 11, 2015 – 1984 Olympic gold-medalist Peter Vidmar of San Clemente, Calif., resigned today as chairman of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors at the Board meeting earlier today. Paul Parilla of Lake Forest, Calif., who has served as Board vice chair since 2009, will serve as Board chair until the completion of Vidmar’s term in December 2016.
Vidmar and his wife, Donna, have accepted a three-year appointment to oversee mission efforts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where they will serve with young men and women in a soon to be determined geographic area. The Vidmars’ church assignment begins July 2016.
“On behalf of USA Gymnastics, I want to thank Peter for all he has done for USA Gymnastics, not only as Board chairman, but also as an athlete, advocate and role model,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “Under Peter’s leadership, the organization has moved forward in best practices in many areas, including governance and safe sport, and the USA has become a recognized leader in the international community. We appreciate Paul’s willingness to complete Peter’s term, and we expect a seamless transition.”
“I love gymnastics, and it has shaped my life for the better,” said Vidmar, who was a two-time gold medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games. “Through gymnastics I have learned discipline, hard work, trust, integrity, teamwork, and faith. Most important, I met my wife through gymnastics. I cherish the many friendships and the collective memories of trying to do good for our sport. Upon my return, I look forward to again doing what I can to assist USA Gymnastics moving forward.”
Vidmar was elected as Board chair in December 2008 and re-elected for a second term in 2012, after being voted onto the FIG Executive Committee in the fall of 2012. Parilla became chairman in accordance with USA Gymnastics’ by-laws, which call for the vice chair to assume the chairmanship if the need arises. Vidmar’s term expires in December 2016.
Parilla has served as Board vice chair since 2009, and he headed up the committee that oversaw the transition to the existing USA Gymnastics Board and governance structure in 2008. Parilla has dedicated a number of years to service for both USA Gymnastics and the sport of trampoline and tumbling. His other volunteer USA Gymnastics commitments include: member or officer of the Board of Directors since 1999; member of the Executive Committee from 1999-2008; 2005 Executive Search Committee; and past chair for the Governance Task Force (2006-07), Transition Committee (2007-08) and the Acrobatic Gymnastics Merger Task Force. He also served as the vice chair for Trampoline and Tumbling Program from 1999-2007, following his presidency of USA Trampoline and Tumbling prior to its merger with USA Gymnastics.
Parilla, who earned his juris doctorate from the Marquette University Law School and undergraduate degree at Carthage College, is a real estate and business litigation lawyer. He has had his law practice in southern California since the late1970s. Parilla is a retired Marine Corps colonel and military judge. He is married with two children, and his daughter, Jennifer, is a two-time Olympian for trampoline.
“Paul has been a part of this organization’s leadership for more than 16 years, not only as a member of the Board but also as the chair for several key committees,” said Penny. “He brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to this position.”