Raj Bhavsar Olympian - Board Member

Raj Bhavsar is an American artistic gymnast of Indian descent. He earned a bronze medal as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. In 2004, Raj missed competing in Athens and was named alternate to the team, after which he turned to yoga and philosophy to garner an Olympic birth four years later in Beijing.

Raj credits most of his success to the study and practice of yoga and believes the practice is a fundamental step on the path to self-realization. Raj believes asana (posture) competitions provide a medium in which athletes can expand on their practice, develop a healthy competitive spirit, and learn self mastery under pressure situations. “Practitioners of yoga should have a chance to showcase their art.”

Bhavsar created two new skills in gymnastics which are now named after him. Raj continues to be involved in the sport as an advisor to the U.S. National Gymnastics Team and as an elite sports clinician, coaching and speaking to youth level athletes nationwide. He is currently a performing artist for Cirque du Soleil’s cinema based show, “IRIS.”