A Storybook Olympics:
Horton had the meet of his life in the team finals at the Beijing Games. He stuck his handspring double front vault, as well as his dismounts on high bar and floor. In the end, the US men took a surprise bronze medal.Later, Horton earned a silver on high bar, the only individual event medal for the American men's program.
Fourth in the World:
At the 2007 World Championships, Horton took fourth place in the all-around, just two tenths of a point off of the podium. This was the highest finish at Worlds for an American male since Paul Hamm’s victory in 2003. Though he was hoping to move up a spot in Beijing, he had an off day in the all-around to finish ninth.The Trickster:
Horton is often called “X-Games” for the extreme skills he throws on the competition floor. He attempted a mind-boggling dismount at the 2007 Winter Cup: a full-twisting triple back. He regularly competes a triple twisting double layout dismount off high bar, as well as full-twisting Kovacs (at :22) and layout Kovacs (at :28) release moves.Legendary in the NCAA:
Horton competed for the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a record six NCAA individual titles. He was named the 2008 Nissen-Emery Award winner, given to the country’s best senior gymnast.As a sophomore, Horton won the NCAA all-around title in 2006, and he was the runner-up in 2007 and 2008. In total, Horton captured 18 All-America honors during his career, another OU record.
His Achilles’ Heel:
Pommel horse has long been Horton’s weakness in the gym. At the 2007 Worlds, he scored only a 13.975 on horse, and ranged from 14.825-16.075 on the other events. At the 2008 Olympics, Horton competed on all events except pommels in the team finals. While top pommel horse workers usually have a 6.0-6.5 A score, Horton does a simpler routine, usually credited at a 5.2 A score.His strategy on the event? To just stay on and survive. His hope is to make up for that low score with higher marks on his other events.
Personal Info:
Born on December 31, 1985 in Houston, TX, Horton is the son of Al and Margo Horton. He has an older sister Margo, and a Pomeranian dog named Harley. He’s engaged to Haley Deprospero, a fellow University of Oklahoma gymnast. Horton is working towards a degree in business management at OU.In the future, Horton would like to open a gym in the Houston area or become a stuntman.
Gymnastics Results:
International:- 2008 Olympics: 3rd team; 9th all-around; 2nd high bar
- 2008 Tyson American Cup: 5th all-around
- 2007 World Championships: 4th team; 4th all-around
- 2007 Tyson American Cup: 1st all-around
- 2006 Tyson American Cup: 1st all-around
- 2005 Pan American Games: 1st team
- 2003 Pan American Games: 3rd team; 4th all-around
- 2009 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 1st all-around; 2nd floor; 1st rings; 4th vault; 5th parallel bars; 1st high bar
- 2008 US Olympic Trials: 1st all-around; 2nd floor; 2nd rings; 5th vault; 4th parallel bars; 4th high bar
- 2008 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 2nd all-around; 2nd rings; 3rd floor
- 2008 NCAA Championships: 1st team; 2nd all-around; 1st rings; 4th parallel bars
- 2008 Winter Cup: 3rd rings
- 2007 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 6th all-around; 4th rings; 4th parallel bars
- 2007 NCAA Championships: 2nd team; 2nd all-around; 1st floor; 3rd rings; 1st high bar
- 2007 Winter Cup: 2nd floor
- 2006 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 2nd all-around; 1st floor; 4th rings; 3rd high bar
- 2006 NCAA Championships: 1st all-around; 1st floor; 1st rings
- 2006 Winter Cup: 2nd all-around; 3rd floor; 3rd rings; 3rd high bar
- 2005 Visa Championships (US Nationals): 5th all-around; 5th floor; 5th vault
- 2005 NCAA Championships: 1st team; 3rd all-around; 4th floor; 3rd high bar
- 2005 Winter Cup: 1st floor; 4th vault
- 2003 National Championships (Jr. Division): 1st all-around
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