Roethlisberger Wins Fourth National Gymnastics Championship

John Roethlisberger won the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships’ all-around title Thursday night, becoming the first gymnast in 28 years to win four titles.

“I feel really lucky,” Roethlisberger said. “In a sport like gymnastics, you work your butt off, and I’ve worked real hard, but it always takes a little bit of luck, and I’ve had some over the years.”

Roethlisberger, 25, of Minneapolis, was in first place at the end of the compulsories with a score of 68.28, and maintained his lead throughout the optionals. He finished with 113.42 points.

Mihau Bagiu, 24, of Albuquerque, N.M., per forming injury-free for the first time in over a year, was second with 110.56.

Blain Wilson, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, who finished ninth in the all-arounds last year, jumped to third with 110.42 points.

The top 14 senior men qualify for the world team trials Sept. 8-9 in Austin, Texas. Their scores in the nationals count as 40 percent of their world team trials all-around score. The top seven men in the trials will travel to Sabae, Japan for the World Gymnastics Championships Oct. 1-10.