Paul Juda is in the transit of making some astonishing achievements during his career as an artistic gymnast. He has been an active achiever for the Michigan Wolverines and has won some notable honors for the team over the years. With the mega games looming over everyone’s heads like non ominous clouds of joy and hope, what showers await Juda and Co? Also, what role does his formidable coach play?

‘A good coach can change your game, but a great coach can change your life,’ they say. This quote has been immutably true in the case of this gymnast. The Nissen Emery Awardee is all set to make his Olympics debut at the Paris Olympics 2024. But this name wouldn’t have reached heights if there wasn’t the able backing of Yuan Xiao behind him. Who is Yuan Xiao? What is his role in the bolstering of this young champ? Let’s dig in!

All about Paul Juda’s head coach, Yuan Xiao

Paul Juda is a star in his own right, but his coach deserves a slice of the pie too. Let’s delve into the legend of Yuan Xiao, a former gymnast who started his sojourn at a nascent age, has not looked back since. He has had an illustrious coaching career, having coached multiple Chinese Olympians to glory. Xiao has had a stroke of luck even coaching at the University of Oklahoma for five consecutive years. The inimitable coach contributed to their NCAA team titles in 2002, 2003 and 05.

Yuan Xiao had humble beginnings. He came across coaching opportunities that ensured his connection with gymnastics on diverse tiers. The head coach has been training the Chinese National Team since 1994. He coached the team to win gold medals in the 1994, 1995, and 1998 World Championships. He wanted something different from what he was currently doing; he wanted to move out of China and came to America to seek greener pastures!

Yuan Xiao fixated on his first break to the US when he met Kevin Mazeika, the head coach of the US gymnastics teams back in 1999. Kevin offered a trail to Xiao to shine in the US, and he immediately grabbed it with both hands. “I just wanted to find a different life,” Xiao said. “The U.S. was my first choice,” he claimed. He joined Oklahoma in 2000, and the rest is history. Oklahoma won three National Titles and the NCAA Championship in 2005. Yuan decided to join Michigan in 2005.

Michigan has since, soared to greater heights ever since Yuan helmed the gymnastics wing. He guided the Wolverines to win the Big Ten regular season and the conference championship in 2023. He made history when he persisted as the only active collegiate coach to contribute to the NCAA success of Oklahoma and Michigan. Xiao has coached Chris Cameron to win the NCAA World Championship for Michigan since 1963! This celebrated coach has been consistently facilitated for his unwavering dedication towards the team, making him win the Lifetime Achievement Awards in 1997, Big Ten Coach of the Year, and College Gymnastic Association Regional Coach of the Year. As the Paris Olympics approaches, it will be great to know what new goals Xiao will be achieving. one thing’s for certain though? Paul Juda is blessed with a wealth of knowledge.

Xiao’s glimmering presence

As Xiao approaches to coach Wolverines for the third consecutive season as a head coach, he is all set to shine in international competitions as well. It is not the first time that Yuan will be facing an international bout. From training the Chinese National Team to gaining cross cultural gymnastics coaching experience in his kitty, Xiao has shone in his coaching career and guided teams to win National and International honors with aplomb and his technical know-how. He has trained many Olympians and several senior national team members. 

Yong Wei and Xing Aowei were backed by his able tutelage and were, ironically enough, both team gold medalists at Sydney 2000, so the magnitude of his teaching is pretty evident for all and sundry. Xiao’s exceptional coaching prowess and training enabled Fred Richard and Paul Juda to establish a mark at the 2023 World Championship, where Team USA secured their win earning a bronze medal! He is currently training Paul Juda, and it remains to be seen what mark the latter will leave on the gymnastics mats in the City of Love.