Background
Ruggeri is the grandson of an Italian immigrant. His father was a swimmer and his aunt a gymnast.
Ruggeri is the grandson of an Italian immigrant. His father was a swimmer and his aunt a gymnast.
He attended Fayetteville Manlius High School, in His home town of Manlius, New New York
He began gymnastics in 1995 at Central New York Gym Centre. Ruggeri competed for the University of Illinois from 2008 to 2012. In 2009, he repeated high bar gold and added gold on parallel bars.
Ruggeri had five years of college gymnastics because he redshirted (cut short or skipped because of injury) his 2011 (senior) year.
The cause was a torn peroneal (ankle) ligament at United States. elite Winter Cup competition. In 2010, Ruggeri was an alternate on the United States. squad at the World Championships.
At 2012 United States Nationals, Ruggeri finished 7th in the all around. However, he was not selected.
He finished 6th in the all around at Olympic Trials.
As of March 2013, Ruggeri worked as a gymnastics coach and trained for elite competition. In recognition, the United States Olympic Committee named him as their male athlete of the month. On 6 February 2014, he underwent surgery (meniscectomy) for a meniscus tear in the right knee.
He was an alternate on the United States. men"s team to the 2014 world championships.
In addition to placing first in the All Around competition, he placed first in vault and high bar, as well as third on floor exercise. He has been named to the United States. Gymnastics senior national team for 2015.
On July 11, 2015, Ruggeri helped the United States. Men"s Gymnastics team to their first Gold medal in twenty years at the Pan-American Games. At 2015 United States Nationals Ruggeri"s notable finishes include placing 8th in the all around, 5th on floor and winning a silver medal on high Barometer
Ruggeri considers rings and pommel horse his weak events.
He has vaulted a Yurchenko entry to two different tricks: a half turn and double full off or (without turn) to 2-1/2 twists (Shewfelt). His height is 5-8.
Ruggeri studied molecular biology at the University of Illinois, with organic chemistry as his favorite class. School was challenging for him because of the difficulty in balancing sports and studies.
During college, he was targeting becoming a doctor, but (as of 2013) he considered his options open.
His post-gymnastics plans were to craft a career combining sports and chemistry, perhaps nutrition. Ruggeri studied art in high school and enjoys painting, drawing and photography.
He also likes acrobatic water and snow sports. Uploads by United States of America Gymnastics from 2012 National Championships:
Floor exercise, day 1
Pommel horse, day 1
Still rings, day 2
Vault, day 2
Parallel bars, day 2
High bar, day 1
Interviews
Uploads by United States of America Gymnastics and University of Illinois Athletics:
2013: Winter Cup
2012: National Collegiate Athletic Association championships
2010: World Championships.
A member of the United States. senior national team, Ruggeri hoped to compete in the 2012 Olympics.