I interviewed American Olympic gymnast Jake Dalton as part of our “Making America’s Gladiators” series for Men’s Fitness. Some athletes are pretty numb when it comes to interviews, but not Jake—he was probably just as excited as I was.
One thing I marveled at in this reporting was just how seriously he takes his nutrition. It’s not unusual to hear bodybuilders log calories, but he tracks his nutrition like an ongoing experiment in human-broccoli interaction.
Don’t worry, though: He still occasionally eats maple glazed donuts.
READ: Making America’s Gladiators: Jake Dalton
Photo by Miller Mobley
As part of the “Making America’s Gladiators” feature in the Men’s Fitness run-up to the Rio Olympics, I had the opportunity to profile John Orozco, the Bronx-born gymnast who had overcome tremendous odds simply to compete at the qualifying meets to make the U.S. Olympic team. In his competitive career, Orozco had twice ruptured the same Achilles tendon, and was still in pain from that injury when he qualified—only to injure the ACL and meniscus of his left knee, essentially ending his Olympic hopes.
But he’s still got one more passion to pursue: acting.
READ: Making America’s Gladiators: John Orozco
Photo by Miller Mobley
Collected writing for Men's Fitness, Men's Journal, Muscle & Fitness, NBC News, and Notre Dame Magazine
