George Gulack

George Julius Gulack (May 12, 1905 – July 28, 1987)

Gymnastics career As a youth in Latvia, Gulack divided his time between gymnastics, becoming the national all-around champion in 1921, and pole-vaulting but after immigrating to America around 1922 he narrowed his focus, and competed exclusively as a competitive gymnast. He was a member of New York Turnverein. His best event was the rings, taking the Olympic gold medal in 1932 at the tenth Olympiad in Los Angeles as well as two national titles; one in 1928 as recognized by the American Athletic Union, and one in 1935. He also competed in floor exercises and the parallel bars.

Tokyo Olympics controversy Gulak was involved in a controversy during the year of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when wives of the members of some of the American team left before completing a tour of Japanese cities to which they had been invited after the Olympics. Gulack felt strongly that the wives, as important representatives of the team, should remain on the tour, after several had made plans to leave, and had already boarded trains to leave. Abie Grossfeld, the Assistant Head Coach of the Men's team was particularly displeased with Gulack's insistence that the wives remain on the multi-city Japanese tour, and another member of the Gymnastics team, Ron Barak felt strongly his wife should be allowed to leave as she had dysentery. There was also an issue of nepotism as several Gymnastic coaches and team members resented the fact that Fay Gulak, George's wife, had been selected as a judge at the World Championships, the National Championships, and the Olympic Trial gymnastic competitions without having had any significant experience with Gymnastics. The gymnasts and coaches who sided against Gulak's management convinced Gulak and his wife to leave the tour, though a meeting between Gymnastics Coach Abie Grossfeld and AAU officials back in America did not result in specific penalties for the rebelling group or the Gulaks. As a result of the controversy, six years later in 1970, the American Athletics Union was replaced by the United States Gymnastics Federation as the Gymnastics organization recognized by the International Federation of Gymnastics Congress.

George and his wife Fay retired to Boca Raton around 1983 from Connecticut. He had worked as a building construction contractor in prior years. Gulack died on July 28, 1987, at the age of 82.

Awards and honors In 1984, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.