GYMNASTICS • 1938-40

Joseph Giallombardo is the men’s co-record holder in the number of times he won an individual NCAA event championship with seven gold medals. During his Fighting Illini career, he won three times in all-around, three times in tumbling and once in the flying rings. His record stood alone for more than 40 years until tied in 1982. Giallombardo led Illinois to two NCAA team titles. He was named All-American 16 times. Giallombardo also won six Big Ten individual titles. A member of the U.S. Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1966), he is the recipient of virtually every award available in the sport of gymnastics. Giallombardo was awarded the A.R. Rizzuto Award, given to outstanding American Athletes, of any sport, of Italian extraction. He was recipient of the College Coaches Association Honorary Lifetime Member Award, and is an inductee into the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Hall of Fame, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame and the Helms Hall of Fame for gymnastics in 1966. After graduating from Illinois, he served as gymnastics coach at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, until retirement in 1975. Giallombardo died in 2011 at the age of 94.