Who Is Donnell Whittenburg? The Oldest Gymnast Vying for a Spot at the 2024 Olympic Trials

Many consider the USA’s gymnastics squad as one of the toughest teams to get into and for good reasons. The Americans have firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with when it comes to gymnastics. The ongoing Olympic Team Trials are seeing some spectacular performances being dished out, and the men have also joined in on the action today. As the final delegates to Paris wait to be named, let’s take a look at one of the biggest contenders for Team USA: Donnell Whittenburg.

The two-time World Championships bronze medalist will be heading to his third Olympic Team Trials in the hope of securing his spot on the grandest stage for the very first time. While Donnell is yet to make his place among the sport’s elites, things might be in for a change.

An article by Olympics.com from earlier today shared the mindset of Donnell going into Minneapolis at the Team Trials. There, he talked about what kept the fire in him alive ever since he was selected as a substitute for Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympics, an ambition he calls “…the dream ever since 2016.” Donnell is also the oldest gymnast who will set foot at the Target Center, but his stacked resume could be a menace for his younger colleagues.

Along with being a World Championships medalist, Whittenburg is also a three-time Pan American Games as well as the 2023 Pan American Championships gold medalist.

At the turn of 2024, Whittenburg shared his New Year’s Resolution, as he underscored his desire to make it to Paris in an interview with USAG. However, while the first day of the Team Trials doesn’t seem to have yielded the desired result for Donnell, the road is yet to be walked further.

Donnell Whittenburg: A sage of a resolute mindset

Considering the fact that Donnell is now 29, this might well be the last chance for the gymnast to make an attempt to bring some hardware home from the Olympics. “For me personally, I feel like this competition is probably the hardest,” confesses Whittenburg as he notes how high the stakes will be at the Team Trials. While the excitement will run high at the Target Center, Donnell also aims to keep his mind from wandering off. “I know I get distracted somewhat easily and my mind kind of races,” said Donnell to The Baltimore Banner as he said that he would like to keep to himself in between rotations.

However, his confidence levels seem to be on the right trajectory. “I already know there’s never going to be anyone like me in the sport,” Whittenburg was quoted saying in an interview with WBAL TV in March. “So for me, whatever happens, I have no regrets. I know I put the work in and I just have to go out there and try [to] do the best I can,” his determination to make his third attempt to be on the team might be the final stroke of luck that he needs to forever seal his legacy in men’ artistic gymnastics.

As of the moment, Whittenburg is ninth on the scoreboard at the Team Trials with 80.950 points to his name.