Steven Gluckstein (born June 24, 1990) is a former American
2012 Olympian in
gymnastic trampoline.[1] He is a six-time National Men's US Trampoline Champion, five-time National US Men's Synchronized Trampoline Champion, and a six-time
World Team member. In 2009, he and his partner
Logan Dooley were the first gymnastic trampolinists in
Team USA history to win a gold medal at a World Cup Series event.[2] Gluckstein retired from competitive gymnastics in 2016 and is currently the head coach of the Junior U.S. National Trampoline team, as well as a trainer at Elite Trampoline Academy in New Jersey.[3] He also regularly works with his wife,
Camilla Lopes Gomes, a top-ranked Brazilian trampolinist, training for a spot at the
2020 Olympics in Tokyo.[3]
Personal life and early career
Gluckstein was raised in
Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, the son of Loretta (née Abke) and Steven Gluckstein, Sr., a Wall Street Money Manager.[4][5][6] He attended
Henry Hudson Regional High School.[7] He has a sister Amanda, and a
brother Jeffrey who is currently an international competitive trampolinist also representing the USA. The Gluckstein brothers have created a dynasty in competitive US trampoline.[8] Between both kin they have won every National Men's Trampoline Championship between 2009 and present (2019).[9]
In June 2016, just days before competing in the US National Championships which assisted in deciding the one man who would represent Team USA at the
2016 Rio Olympic Games, Gluckstein married fellow trampolinist, Brazilian Camilla Lopes.[10] They first met in Denmark in 2011 but later, after Lopes came to the US initially for a few months to train, they became romantically involved. The two currently live together in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. They also train together at Gluckstein's long-time gym, Elite Trampoline Academy.[3][10]
Early career
Gluckstein began his sporting life in taekwando where at 9 years old he reached the first degree of black belt.[11] Unfortunately, shortly after reaching his new rank his school closed. Gluckstein explains how he transitioned to trampoline: "Thanks to the sport (taekwando) I was strong, flexible, fast, and disciplined. I was set up perfectly for my next sport. However, little did I know what my next sport would be. 'A jockey, a cheerleader, or a gymnast' were the options my mother gave. She made this decision because the tallest person in my ancestry up to my great grandparents was 5'11" and in my immediate family is 5'8". I was the smallest kid in my school class."[11]
Gluckstein further explains, "Against my will my mother brought me to gymnastics. I was hesitant to go into the gym because of the 'girly' reputation gymnastics sometimes gets, but once I was in there it was a blast! I was jumping on trampolines, swinging on bars, and flipping into foam pits. I was quickly approached by a woman, Tatiana Kovaleva, who was a 1996-1999 (trampoline gymnastics) World Champion from Russia that just recently moved to the United States. She asked my parents if I would be interested in joining the Trampoline team. Despite our lack of knowledge in the sport, they knew I would be great in it."[11]
Competition
Gluckstein captured the first US Champion title of his career at the Visa Championships in August 2009, prevailing over the defending US Champion Chris Estrada with 108.8 points.[12]
Trampoline and Tumbling World Cup
At the 2009
Trampoline World Cup in
Belgium, Gluckstein and his partner,
Logan Dooley, earned the first US Gold Medal in Gymnastic Trampoline at a FIG World Cup event by winning the
Synchronized Men's Trampoline title.[2] In 2010, the pair followed up that first with another for
Team USA; Overall FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Cup Series Champions - Men's Synchronized.[13] The Series Champion in 2010 was determined by the team's top three finishes of the seven-series event. S Gluckstein/Dooley paired to take one silver and two gold medal finishes in Portugal, Switzerland and Spain, respectively. In the individual trampoline, Gluckstein finished 12th overall that year.[13]
National competition results
2016 USA Gymnastics Championships, Providence, R.I. - 1st-TR, SY
2016 Elite Challenge, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 3rd-TR
2016 Winter Classic, Battle Creek, Mich. - 1st-SY; 3rd-TR
2015 USA Gymnastics Championships, Greensboro, N.C. - 1st-TR; 4th-SY
2015 Elite Challenge, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 1st-TR; 3rd-SY
2015 Kalon Ludvigson Invitational, Orem, Utah - 2nd-TR
2014 USA Gymnastics Championships, Louisville, Ky. - 1st-SY
2014 U.S. Elite Challenge, Spokane, Wash. - 1st-SY; 6th-TR
2014 Kalon Ludvigson Invitational, Salt Lake City, Utah - 1st-TR