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America's Next Top Judge
Eta Kappa alum serves as a "chief judge" for men's gymnastics at 2012 Olympics
Steve Butcher (San Diego State) is headed to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, although you'll probably never see him on TV.
Butcher is one of seven men recently elected, through votes by 87 countries, to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Men's Technical Committee—only the third American in the FIG's 127 year history. It will be his second Olympics—Butcher judged the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, last summer, as well as two World Championships in 2005 and 2007. In London, he will serve as an apparatus supervisor for one of six men's gymnastics events during the next Olympic Games. "It's a great honor but, of course, with that comes tremendous responsibility," says Butcher.
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Indeed. As part of his role, Butcher will also serve as an apparatus supervisor for the World Championships leading up to the Olympics (including 2009 in London, 2010 in Rotterdam, and 2011 in Tokyo—the Olympic qualifying event). "For me to be the supervisor of an apparatus at the Olympics is a very stressful and demanding position. So, I am really looking forward to all the World Championships leading up to that event to better prepare myself," Butcher explains.
But that's not all he's got on his Olympic-sized plate. Butcher will be teaching judging courses throughout the world—he's already taught in Iceland and here in the US and is headed to Egypt in May. And he'll fulfill World Cup responsibilities. "I go to World Cup competitions every year and for at least one or two of them I act as technical director," he shares. This means he oversees the whole competition—from running judges' meetings and trainings to overseeing judges' interactions with coaches. "I feel very fortunate to have reached a leadership position in the world of gymnastics. I look forward to doing this for hopefully 20 more years."
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Having some fun at the Great Wall of
China while not judging in 2008 |
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Butcher started his career as a gymnast in Long Island, New York, where he competed on his high school gymnastics team. After some injuries, he decided not to compete at the college level and instead started coaching and judging. "I was judging college students when I was in college," he says. "That's not a typical thing to do." As a coach, he's proud to have produced one Olympic gymnast during his career, John Macready, 1996 Atlanta all-around finalist.
When he's not criss-crossing the world to judge competitions, Butcher's day job keeps him busy in the gymnastics and cheerleading arena as well. "I'm one of the few judges I know who has a job |
that's related to gymnastics," Butcher says about his position as Director of Gymnastics Operations and Regional Manager for Premier Athletics (a subsidiary of Varsity Brands) based in Knoxville, Tenn. Every day is different whether it's training coaches, meeting with parents or leading a clinic. "I'm very fortunate that I have a role internationally in gymnastics. My job and my life are gymnastics; I'm involved in it daily," he shares.
Butcher says he's often asked to what he attributes his success. "A lot of people say my strength is really working with people, and I always credit it back to Sigma Nu," the 1988 SDSU graduate says. "My life as a Sigma Nu at the Eta Kappa Chapter is what I really feel has transformed me into the person I am today." He says the communication and people skills he learned are invaluable. "If you learn how to socialize with people, that quality can help you for the rest of your life," explains Butcher.
With a schedule that's pretty booked up through 2012, Butcher says he has already marked his calendar for one event after that. He plans to attend the 50th anniversary celebration for Sigma
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Nu's Eta Kappa Chapter in San Diego in 2013…no judging required. |
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