June 18, 2008
By John Regenfuss, Penn State Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Every gymnast, starting from the first time he chalks up, learns a skill, or develops a routine, dreams of making the Olympics. In that regard, Penn State men's gymnastics assistant coach Kevin Tan is no different. It is the select few, though, who are able to reach the elite level and earn the opportunity to make an Olympic team. In this respect, Kevin Tan has proven to be very special. Having already firmly established himself as a world-class gymnast, he is just one step away from making his ultimate dream become a reality.
This weekend, Tan will put a lifetime of preparation and dedication on the line when he competes at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia. At stake, is a bid to the six-member team that will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.
There was a time, though, when gymnastics was not always the all-consuming passion and centerpiece of life that is now for Tan. His beginnings in the sport occurred by happenstance - he signed up for his first class because a family friend competed - and for practical reasons - his parents needed an outlet for their seven-year-old son's hyperactivity. But it was soon evident that Tan had the natural ability and work ethic to excel in the sport.
"My progressions went quickly and by age nine and 10, I was already competing at a team level," said Tan, a native of Fremont, Calif. "During that time, I had a lot of fun with it, but I didn't really think anything of it. It wasn't until I was 14 or 15, when the head owner of the gym, who also happened to be my club coach, put me into another group that he alone coached. So, then you just had six or seven handpicked guys training together who were trying to reach an elite level. I think it was during those first couple of years that I really started to get better and started to do better in not only in state and regional competitions but also national competitions."
While reaching the pinnacle of the sport always occupied a place in the back of his mind, it was securing a collegiate gymnastics scholarship that was foremost for Tan throughout his high school years.
"One of my main goals was to get a scholarship and take that financial burden off of my father, who had put so much time, effort, and money so I could participate in gymnastics," said Tan.
That goal was accomplished when Penn State University and head coach Randy Jepson provided Tan with the gymnastics opportunity and the financial assistance he sought. While the benefits for Tan were numerous, including receiving a top-notch education and training in a world-class facility, he alone did not reap the rewards. Jepson and Penn State received a high rate of return on their investment.
During his time in Happy Valley, Tan became one of Penn State's most decorated gymnasts, earning six All-America honors and winning NCAA still ring titles in 2003 and 2004. One of just two Nittany Lions to be honored as an All-Big Ten performer in three consecutive years, he also captured three Big Ten rings crowns and a parallel bar title. As a senior, Tan helped Penn State win the program's 11th team national championship and was named a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, collegiate gymnastics' equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
With his days in the blue and white having drawn to a close, Tan stood at a crossroads. With an eye towards his future, Jepson met with his pupil. The outcome of that meeting would prove to be a defining moment in Tan's career and life.
"More than anything, it was a call to him just to assess where he was at and what he wanted," said Jepson, who has won three national championships in 17 years as Penn State head coach. "I knew the kind of commitment it was going to take and, while he was a very committed college student-athlete, he had to begin to think at a higher level and believe he could reach that point. If you can't believe it, then you are spinning your wheels. You need a work ethic that corresponds to that dream. From that time on, he immersed himself in such a way that he designed his whole life around meeting this goal and he has done everything to be ready to make the team...He bought into that mindset and it has really helped to get to where he is at today."
Over the last four years, Tan took Jepson's advice to heart and has executed their plan to near perfection, fashioning an impressive and unrivaled national and international resume. In competitions against top gymnasts from the U.S., Tan has excelled, winning three consecutive still rings titles at the VISA Championships and the Winter Cup Challenge. Internationally, Tan has experienced equaled success. He placed first in the still rings at the prestigious 2007 Internationaux de France - World Cup, besting a field that included 2004 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Jovtchev. Tan then co-captained the U.S. team that placed fourth at 2007 World Championships, thereby qualifying it for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Earlier this year in a dual meet versus Canada, Tan gave perhaps the finest performance of his career, capturing titles in the pommel horse, rings, and parallel bars.
Through all of the training and competitions, Tan has been able to effectively maintain a balancing act - one that has nothing to do with any of his routines. Along with flourishing in his competitive career, he has succeeded in his role as an assistant coach on the Penn State staff. In 2007, Tan helped the Nittany Lions claim their 12th national championship and was instrumental in guiding Matt Cohen to a Nissen-Emery Award win. For his efforts, Tan was named NACGC National Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2008, Penn State collected more hardware, claiming the program's second Big Ten Championship. In the end, it's been a win-win situation for all involved, in Tan's estimation.
"I think it's been beneficial both ways. Being an athlete and being on this side of it for 20 years, you can get a very one-sided perspective on how gymnastics should be done. In the past few years, being on the coaching side, it has really changed my way of thinking. I have gotten a better insight into why coaches do the things that they do. It's not just getting up and doing a routine. It's the training plan, getting your body to peak at the right time, and making sure you are recovering. All of these things play a huge role in how you do in competition. So, being on the coaching side of it, I know what Randy and Slava are thinking because I am talking to them as peers. Then, I am able to apply that to my athletic side. It definitely opens a different way of thinking and vice versa. I am able to take a lot of the experience I have had as an athlete and tell our gymnasts. It's a different perspective coming from someone who is actually going through at this point."
With the dizzyingly hectic schedule maintained by both a world-class gymnast and a collegiate coach, conflicts were bound to arise. This year, Tan skipped a national team training camp in Colorado in order to remain on campus for an important recruiting weekend. In April, he missed a USA Gymnastics media event in Chicago after flying directly from a competition in Germany to California in order to join the Penn State team at the national collegiate championships. However, Tan has no regrets and leaves no doubt as to where his loyalties lie.
"Penn State has helped me out quite a bit, no question about it, so if they need me, I am there."
For Tan and the few others like him, the life of a competitive gymnast could hardly be described as glamorous or cushy. The travel schedule is grueling with no time for sightseeing or even venturing outside of the hotel. The physical toll is heavy - sore muscles, sprains, bumps, bruises - not to mention the specter of serious or career-ending injury that constantly looms. The mental toll is equally burdensome - singular focus and attention to detail is demanded at all times. With all the sacrifices that must be made and the hardships that are involved, one has to wonder what motivates Tan to continue.
"A lot if it is just the love of the sport," he said, still shivering from his full-body ice bath experienced in the training room just prior to his interview. "It has been such a huge part of my life and something I have enjoyed so much and learned so much from, it is fun to keep going. I have a great support system, not only through my coaches and family but everyone here at Penn State. Everyone has been so supportive of me and encouraged me to shoot for those high goals. They have been nothing but there for me."
For Tan, the inevitable and unceasing passage of time also serves as motivation.
"I think a lot if it is knowing that I don't have too much time left in this sport. My window is getting smaller and smaller. I walk in the gym every day and try to give it 100% and don't leave until all of the work is done. It helps when I have two coaches in that gym who are there to solely coach me. I don't want to let them down and have them feel like they are wasting their time. That's why I am in there busting my butt."
Elite athletes rarely are able to reach the pinnacle of their chosen sport without help. Such is the case with Tan. He is quick to give credit to Jepson and fellow assistant coach Slava Boiko for contributing to his success.
"You talk about two people who have given everything they can to help me succeed in my dream. It's very selfless and it's amazing to put that much effort and time into someone else's goals and dreams. Randy has definitely been there every step of the way in making sure that I am not steering away from the plan and that I am getting what I need to get done to the point where I can be confident and successful. He has also been great friend and someone I can talk to. Slava has had so much experience in training championship gymnasts and Olympic team members. Having his knowledge has been comforting and he has helped me to realize what I need to compete at this level. He has always been there for anything I have ever needed."
On a personal level, Tan seems to be a study in contrasts. His all-business demeanor and stoic facade, whether it be competing or coaching, belies an affable personality and hides a movie star smile. While quiet and unassuming in most situations, he is funny and outgoing around friends and teammates. On the inside burns an unmatched competitive fire but, outwardly, he is mild-mannered and levelheaded. In the gym or competitive arena, he stands out because of his physical strength and fitness but at 5-5 and in street clothes, he blends into a crowd. With all of the success he has had, he would have every reason to think highly of himself, but he remains humble and grounded.
Regardless, outside of his phenomenal gymnastics talent, he truly is a regular guy. He has his likes - ice cream, Cornnuts (when he can find them), and the Waffle Shop (he eats there nearly every day) - and his dislikes - pizza (cheese is a big no-no), living out of a suitcase, and cold weather. He owns a dog (Gizmo). He lives in a split-level ranch home on a tree-lined street. He is close to and receives unconditional support from his loved ones and his friends. This normalness is a fact that Tan readily acknowledges.
"I always think of myself as normal person. In the grand scheme of life, gymnastics is just one small part, so it's hard not to."
He continued, "I am just a normal guy just trying to do my job. Granted, in another person's shoes, like me four year ago, looking at people on the World Championship and Olympic teams, they were amazing. You look at them and say, `They have reached the top, met their goals, and are superstars.' But now, being on this side of it now, I don't feel any different."
That all soon may change. If Tan makes the U.S. Olympic Team, with the global appeal of the games, it's possible that literally millions or perhaps even billions of people around the world will know who he is. Those prospects will be aided by the coincidence that the Olympics are being held in Beijing, China and that Tan is of Chinese descent. In fact, Tan, who's given first name in Kai Wen, still has aunts, uncles, and cousins who live China. Despite this, he reserves his enthusiasm for the games rather than the location.
"To me, in the end, the excitement is that I have a chance to make the Olympics. It doesn't matter where they Olympics are, they will be amazing. The fact that it is China, it will be nice because I will get to see some of my heritage and my tradition. At the same time, it is the Olympics and there is nothing that could excite me more."
Tan has already begun to receive national and worldwide attention. A Chinese speaking television station from San Francisco made the 2,700 mile, coast-to-coast trek to State College to spend two days documenting his seemingly every move. He has also done interviews for Chinese publications. His hometown newspaper, the San Jose Mercury News, is featuring articles on him and Philadelphia newspapers are finally starting to pick up on his story. Yet, Tan remains unfazed by it all.
"Sitting here right now, all of the attention is not something that crosses my mind. My blinders are on. I am solely focused on what I have to do right now to make the Olympic team."
With his single-minded approach, his unwavering dedication to his training regimen, and his unparalleled competitive credentials, barring the unforeseen, Tan will realize his dream of making the U.S. Olympic team at the trials, an accomplishment in which his coach takes great pleasure.
"I am very proud of Kevin and there is a lot of more to come to be proud of, I think," said Jepson. "I think he has represented Penn State is such a great way, as an athlete and as a coach. His best days are still ahead of him."
Here's hoping that a few of those days come in Philadelphia this weekend and in Beijing in August.