24YO Gymnastics Champ Ian Gunther; All Set to Make an Impact Beyond TikTok and the Gymnastics Mat

America’s Ian Gunther is taking the gymnastics party to social media. Gunther, who is an NCAA athlete, has a decent record, where he boasts of winning the NCAA title on four occasions. However, it is not his gymnastics prowess that has gained traction recently. Garnering a reputation of being an avid social media user, Gunther’s popularity is skyrocketing. 

In a broader picture, it is not only Ian Gunther who is benefiting from the fame. His fan following is indirectly helping people get interested in gymnastics, which is a huge thing at the moment. With the advent of more glamorous and fast-paced sports, gymnastics has seen a steady fall in viewership. Luckily, a certain someone is here trying to save the sport. 

Ian Gunther enjoys exclusive fame on social media

Back during the lockdown, amidst the dark shadows of Covid-19, Gunther found a silver lining in TikTok. Unfortunately, his initial attempts were dismissed as “cringey” by his teammates. But the 24-year-old remained unfazed. His zeal for content creation surely paid off big time, as Gunther has amassed 287000 followers on Instagram and 1.2 million on TikTok. Boasting an average of 1.7 videos per day, Ian Gunther is now a celebrity. 

His growing popularity contributes largely to the descending enthusiasm towards gymnastics. The lack of significant success from the US Men’s national team along with fewer NCAA programs has made the audience lose interest. Gunther’s popularity would be pivotal in changing the sad scenario. Reflecting on the prospect of such content, Gunther said, “People are clearly interested in this sport, at least learning more about it… I think there’s a market here that no one is really pursuing to the level that it should be.”

Thom Glielmi recalled Gunther’s celebrity status as well. The Stanford gymnastics coach narrated that he was taken aback when a group of fans came forward to inquire about Ian Gunther at the UK Worlds. Well, guess what? He was not even participating! While the NCAA star is enjoying a significant social media presence, here’s a look at how it all started with Gunther and gymnastics. 

Gunther fell in love with gymnastics as a child 

A coupon from a local gym, a birthday party, and boom! Ian Gunther was enrolled in gymnastics classes. Looking at his initial talents, his childhood coach approached his parents to let him pursue the discipline, and they obliged immediately. At the tender age of 13, Tom Meadows from Cypress Academy of Gymnastics started coaching him. 

Read More: Gymnastics Winter Cup 2024: Disappointment Strikes NCAA Gymnast Ian Gunther as He Breaks Bars

His talents earned him a scholarship at Stanford, and the rest is history. Now when Gunther is on the verge of bidding adieu to the sport, he is trying hard to reach as many fans as he can and make them interested in gymnastics so that the sport does not lose its charm.

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