Prior to this, he was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, which did not compete due to a U.S. boycott, and for his inclusion on that team he later received a Congressional Gold Medal. His international career also included being a bronze medalist at the 1979 World Championships.
During his career at the University of Nebraska from 1979 to 1982, he became a seven-time NCAA champion in gymnastics, including back-to-back all-around titles in 1980 and 1981. He earned 22 All-American awards and led his team to four consecutive NCAA national championships.
In 1982, he received the Nissen Award as the nation's top male collegiate gymnast. He retired from competition after his 1984 Olympic success. He became a high-level brevet judge and visitation coach for the U.S. national team, later serving as an assistant coach for the University of Nebraska's men's gymnastics team for 19 seasons.
He was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2006.
