Gilbert Larose

Gilbert Larose (also known as Gil LaRose ) was a gymnast who was named NCAA all-around champion for the University of Michigan in 1963 and competed for Canada in the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. Larose was the first University of Michigan gymnast to win the NCAA all-around title.

Early life
Larose was born in Montreal on 13 September 1942. He attended Immaculate Conception high school, where he played right wing on the school's hockey team. He enjoyed the trampoline and experimented with other gymnastics equipment, quickly becoming a skilled gymnast and winning the Novice Division of the Canadian National Gymnastics Championship in 1957. He competed as a gymnast while attending the University of Michigan.

University of Michigan
In 1963 Larose was named the All-Around NCAA Champion in gymnastics and won individual titles in Vault (Long Horse) and Horizontal Bar. Winning three NCAA titles in a single year is a university record that has not been repeated or exceeded (as of 2012). The University of Michigan men's gymnastics team (coached by Newt Loken) also won the NCAA Gymnastics Team Championship in 1963.

1964
At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Larose competed in the following gymnastics events: achieving a rank of 92 in Men's Individual All-Around.
 * Men's Floor Exercise
 * Men's Horse Vault
 * Men's Parallel Bars
 * Men's Horizontal Bar
 * Men's Rings
 * Men's Pommelled Horse

1968
At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Larose competed in the following gymnastics events: achieving a rank of 64 in Men's Individual All-Around and 16 in Men's Team All-Around.
 * Men's Floor Exercise
 * Men's Horse Vault
 * Men's Parallel Bars
 * Men's Horizontal Bar
 * Men's Rings
 * Men's Pommelled Horse

Later life
Larose returned to Montreal and became a high school teacher. He also served as coach of the Ontario-Québec Athletic Association (OQAA) University Conference gymnastics team and eventually died in Montreal on 25 August 2006.

(Note: In 1955 the OQAA was formed from a section of what had been known as the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union.  Following several reorganizations, the remaining members changed their name to Ontario Universities Athletic Association in 1971. )