 Simpson in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Diane Simpson |
| Gymnastics career | |
| Sport | Rhythmic gymnastics |
| Country represented |  United States |
Diane Simpson (born April 7, 1969, inEvanston, Illinois) is an Americanrhythmic gymnast who competed at the1988 Summer Olympics. She was inducted into theUSA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2004. She now works in media.
Simpson was the first rhythmic gymnast to twice qualify a spot for the United States, for the1988 Summer Olympics and1992 Summer Olympics.
Simpson began rhythmic gymnastics when she was 13.[1] During her career, Simpson won more than 20 international medals, three Olympic Festival titles, and 22 national titles. She won all four event finals and the all-around title at the 1988 U.S. National Championships.[2]
Simpson competed at fourWorld Championships from 1985 to 1991, along with the1986 Goodwill Games, the 1986, 1988, and 1990Four Continents Championships, and the1987 Pan American Games, where she won two gold medals in rope and ribbon and two silver medals in the all-around and hoop final.[3]
She was one of two American gymnasts who competed at the1988 Summer Olympics after tying for first place at the U.S. National Championships withMichelle Berube in a close competition.[4] She placed 26th after competing on anulcer.[1]
After the Olympics, she competed at the1990 Goodwill Games and the 1991 Pan American Games, where she won bronze in the team event.[3] At the event, she fainted due tohypoglycemia and anelectrolyte imbalance; she had lost a large amount of weight due to a longstandingeating disorder.[1] In 1992, she did not train much from January to May due to various health issues, and she placed fourth at the 1992 Olympic Trials after five weeks of training. She was not selected for the team.[1]
She was inducted into theUSA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2004.[3]
After her competitive career, she became a qualified judge and worked in gymnastics media; she has worked as a commentator for theUSA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Program and worked withNBC during their gymnastics coverage at the2000 Summer Olympics.[2]
Simpson was president of the Midwest Chapter of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians,[5] a regional chapter of the U.S. Olympians Association.[6] She also previously served as secretary of the Female Athlete Triad Coalition, now the Female and Male Athlete Triad Coalition.[7]
Simpson held the role of manager of athlete relations and communications for theChicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics from 2006 to 2009. She was one of about 20 Olympians and elite athletes who traveled toCopenhagen, Denmark, for the2016 Olympic Games host city announcement that took place Oct. 2, 2009.[8]
Simpson has a sister and a brother.[1] She has two children with her husband, Alexis and Jonathan.[3]
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