Al Fong
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alvin Fong[1] (born c. 1953[2]) is an American gymnastics coach and owner of Great American Gymnastics Express, a gymnastics club in Blue Springs, Missouri.[3] Fong coached Julissa Gomez and Christy Henrich, Olympic hopefuls for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, who died after a competition accident and from anorexia, respectively. He has since coached two Olympic silver medalists: Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool.
In 2025, USA Gymnastics suspended Fong from coaching for five years after an investigation substantiated allegations of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse.
A second-generation Chinese-American, born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Fong earned a gymnastics scholarship to Louisiana State University.[2] In 1975, he graduated and became a gymnastics coach. In 1979, Fong started his own gym, the Great American Gymnastics Express (also known as GAGE Center), in Blue Springs, Missouri.[2]
In the 1980s, Fong coached Julissa Gomez and Christy Henrich. Gomez died after breaking her neck while performing a Yurchenko vault. Henrich died from complications of anorexia nervosa. After Henrich's death, Fong stopped coaching elite gymnastics and instead taught after-school programs for some time.
In the early 2000s, Fong coached Terin Humphrey and Courtney McCool at GAGE Center.[4][5] At a selection camp for the 2003 World Championships, Humphrey was selected as a second alternate. She was not allowed to practice with the U.S. team. Fong commented that the experience was very painful and said Humphrey should have been picked to compete.[6]
At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Humphrey and McCool helped the U.S. team win the team silver medal; Humphrey also took silver in individual uneven bars. Fong also told reporters that South Korean officials did not properly lodge a protest against the scoring of American gymnast Paul Hamm in the men's all-around competition.[7]
In 2007, he acknowledged "yelling or screaming" at his gymnasts in the 1980s, but told ESPN that he had since adopted a calmer style.[4]
In 2019, Fong coached Leanne Wong and Kara Eaker.[8]
In 2020, Fong became the subject of an investigation by U.S. Center for SafeSport into about 40 allegations of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse.[9] On December 22, 2025, Fong was suspended for five years; his wife, Armine Barutyan, was given a one-year suspension.[10][11][12]
