Chelsea Piers Girls Gymnastics Team

Peter Kormann /// Assistant General Manager, Director of Gymnastics, Dance and Rock Climbing

The Field House at Pier 6 is a constant hub of activity with both girls and boys gymnastics teams, classes offered to toddlers through to adults, parties, special events and rock climbers tackling the wall. Peter Kormann keeps it all running smoothly, and despite the hectic pace, he frequently finds time to spend with the team girls during work out and is the first to encourage them towards and/or congratulate them on their successes. Both boys and girls team athletes benefit from his leadership and presence as auxiliary coach; Peter brings a fairly rare and unique perspective to gymnastics as his experience with it is so comprehensive.



Peter Kormann (right) coaching John Roethlisberger at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta


He is a modest man, but for those of our athletes who know of his accomplishments in the sport Peter is a tremendous inspiration. As a competitor Peter’s experience ran the full spectrum; he was a 2-time gold medalist at the 1975 Pan American Games, and in 1976 he earned an Olympic medal, thus ending a 44-year drought for the US in this category and causing him to be anointed the first USA Gymnastics “Gymnast of the Year”. By the end of his competitive career Peter had represented the US as an athlete more than 20 times in over 15 countries and was an 8-time NCAA champion.

As a college coach Peter has led the US Naval Academy at Annapolis men’s gymnastics team and subsequently the Ohio State University men’s team and its individuals to numerous championships and awards, including 1996 NCAA Team Championship for Ohio State. On the international scene Peter has worked from 1994 to 2000 as Head Coach of the USA men’s team, bringing the team to medal finishes at the Goodwill Games and Pacific Alliance, and Olympic appearances in both 1996 (team fifth place) and 2000.

Peter is close to the heart of US gymnastics given he is a member of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors, the National Gymnastics Judges Association and the US Olympic Committee, and thus is a great resource for our coaches. Through his expansive network of friends and colleagues within the sport Peter is able to periodically bring noted gymnasts to the Piers, giving our athletes access to role models from the elite level of our sport.

His varied responsibilities keep him busy but Peter always finds time to pop into the gym to check on his team athletes. “Whenever Peter has a chance he spends time with us in the gym. He gives us advice and enjoys watching us work. I can tell that he is happy with our progress and feels proud of us.” Fiona Leslie, level 10.