Painting, drawing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, boating, jet skiing. (usagym.org, 16 Aug 2015)

Athlete

Biology - University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

English, Spanish

US Olympic Training Center [USOTC] [Colorado Springs, CO, USA]

Vitaly Marinitch [club] (usagym.org, 30 May 2016; usagym.org, 10 Jan 2016)

His father Paul competed in collegiate swimming and his aunt competed in collegiate gymnastics. (usagym.org, 16 Aug 2015)

He missed the 2011 college season due to a ruptured peroneal ligament in his left ankle. (dailyillini.com, 12 Oct 2011)

2010 (ncaa.com, 07 Feb 2010)

He took up gymnastics at Central New York Gymnastics in the United States of America in 1995 at age seven. (usagym.org, 16 Aug 2015; Facebook page, 17 Aug 2015)

"I first did diving when I was little, then my mum put me into gymnastics." (usagym.org, 16 Aug 2015)

To work in the medical field. (syracuse.com, 16 Jul 2015; Facebook profile, 10 Sep 2015)

He has a routine before the high bar where he controls his breathing and says something positive to himself. (gymnastike.org, 15 Jul 2015)

Awards
In 2012 he won the Nissen Emery Award, given to the best male collegiate gymnast in the United States of America. (LinkedIn profile, 2015)

He won the 2010 Dike Eddleman award, given to the University of Illinois' male athlete of the year. (LinkedIn profile, 2015)

General
ALONG FOR THE RIDE
After serving as the US team's reserve gymnast at three world championships, he said competing at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, gave him a new perspective. "The one thing that did surprise me was my ability to handle the pressure. There were a lot of nerves and a lot of emotions. Worlds was an emotional roller coaster."
(usagym.org, 16 Feb 2016)

SURPRISE SUCCESS
He said his ascent to the top level took him by surprise. "I never expected to become this level of a gymnast. I was always just doing it because I loved it. I knew I was talented, but I was just doing what I loved. If you told me 10 years ago this would be my life, I would be in a little bit of disbelief. I thought that I would be going to medical school. I think a younger Paul would be like 'Holy crap! You actually accomplished something!'" (teamusa.org, 16 Jun 2015); usagym.org, 16 Feb 2016)

TEAM HILTON
He is a member of Team Hilton, a programme created by USA Gymnastics and global hospitality company Hilton Worldwide that provides financial support to male gymnasts to help offset their training and living expenses while they pursue their Olympic ambitions. (usagym.org, 16 Aug 2015; usagymnastics.org, 16 Feb 2016)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2015 he graduated with a master's degree in business administration and marketing from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University, an online training organisation. (LinkedIn profile, 2015)