Nickname
Dad ["My Stanford [University] gymnastics teammates gave it to me because I would always look out for them."] (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Hobbies
Collecting coins, darts, tennis, listening to music, learning languages. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Occupation
Student
Education
Biology - Stanford University: United States
Family
Partner Ashley
Spoken languages
Czech, English, Spanish
Club
Sokol Brno I : Czech Republic
Coach
Petr Hedbavny [club, national], CZE
Sporting relatives
His mother Hana Ricna-Jessen competed in artistic gymnastics for Czechoslovakia at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, while his father Lorin Jessen has served as a gymnastics coach. His sister Sandra has competed in gymnastics at international level. (Parkettes National Gymnastics Facebook page, 01 Jun 2019; thesundevils.com, 01 Jan 2019; denik.cz, 04 Jun 2015; baku2015.com, 30 Apr 2015; SportsDeskOnline, 24 Jul 2021)
International senior debut
2015
Injuries
In 2018 he suffered a torn labrum and biceps tendon in his left shoulder that took him six months to recover from. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Start sporting career
He took up the sport at age two in Florida, United States of America.
Reason for taking up the sport
His parents were gymnastics coaches. His mother competed in artistic gymnastics for Czechoslovakia at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
Ambitions
To attend medical school and become a doctor. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Competing in the all-around final at the 2020 European Championships in Basel, Switzerland. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Hero / Idol
Japanese gymnast Kohei Uchimura, his mother. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Most influential person in career
His mother Hana Ricna-Jessen. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Rituals
He carries good luck elephant key chains with him to every competition. (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Philosophy / Motto
"Treat every training session and competition as if it were your last." (Athlete, 19 Jul 2021)
Additional information
RETIREMENT PLANS
He was a health care volunteer in the United States of America during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping out in a testing centre. He would like to pursue a career or further health or medical studies after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He plans to retire from the sport after competing in Tokyo. "I think it will probably be better if I move on with my life." (idnes.cz, 25 Jun 2021)
REPRESENTING CZECH REPUBLIC
He was born in the Czech Republic but moved to the United States of America as a child with his family. Although he represented the United States of America as a junior, he later switched to compete for the Czech Republic. "I decided for myself that representing the Czech Republic would provide me a better opportunity to compete at international level." (intlgymnast.com, 15 Feb 2017; baku2015.com, 30 Apr 2015)
NAMED ELEMENT
He has an element named after him in the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG] Code of Points. First performed in international competition at the 2019 World Cup in Doha, Qatar, the pommel horse element includes a Direct Stokli A [DSA] with hop backward through handstand on the other end. (gostanford.com, 22 Apr 2020)
Last update : 2023-09-22
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