Kyle Shewfelt

Kyle Shewfelt (May 6, 1982) is a Canadian gymnast. His gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics was the first medal ever by a Canadian in an artistic gymnastics event and was the first, and so far only Canadian gold of the 2004 Olympics.

Shewfelt, a native of Calgary, was considered a medal threat, but few expected him to win gold. He finished twelfth on the floor at the Sydney Olympics and has won two bronze medals at world championships and two golds at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

His gold medal performance was a very precise and error free one. He tied in score with Romanian gymnast Marian Dragulescu, but Shewfelt was awarded the gold after a series of tiebreakers. The next day Shewfelt competed in the men's vault. He completed two successful vaults with only small steps on landing. Controversially Shewfelt finished fourth with Dragulescu getting bronze, despite a fall on his second vault.

Born in Calgary Shewfelt first began practicing gymnastics in 1988 influenced by a neighbour. His father was also an athlete playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings hockey team. While Shewfelt was a skilled hockey player he turned to gymnastics at an early age. Lving in southeast Calgary he trains at the Altadore Gymnastic Club under coach Kelly Manjak, who has coached Shewfelt since age six.

His long goal held of Olympic gold this was endangered by an ankle injury in March 2004, but he made a full recovery in time for Athens. Before the Olympics Shewfelt has speculated on moving to Cirque du Soleil after his athletic career is over. A gold medal could easily open many other opportunities for him, however, as he has instantaneously became a household name in much of Canada.