Quazi Syque Caesar (born August 22, 1990) is a Bangladeshi-American gymnastics coach. A retired artistic gymnast, he represented Bangladesh at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and was a captain of the Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics team. He was an assistant coach for the Stanford Cardinal men's gymnastics team for over six years, was the head coach for the men's gymnastics athlete resident program at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center until its dissolution in 2022, and is currently coaching at EVO Gymnastics.

Quazi Syque Caesar
Caesar in 2019
Personal information
Country represented Bangladesh
Born (1990-08-22) August 22, 1990 (age 34)
West Palm Beach, Florida
HometownPort Saint Lucie, Florida
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
College teamUniversity of Michigan
Head coach(es)Kurt Golder
Medal record
Representing  Bangladesh
South Central Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Dhaka Parallel Bars
Silver medal – second place 2011 Dhaka Vault
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Dhaka All-Around
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Dhaka Floor Exercise
Representing Michigan Wolverines
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 State College Team
Gold medal – first place 2014 Ann Arbor Team
Silver medal – second place 2009 Minneapolis Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 State College Parallel Bars
Bronze medal – third place 2013 State College Horizontal Bar
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Ann Arbor Parallel Bars

Early life

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Caesar was born in Florida, the son of immigrants from Bangladesh.[1] Raised in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, Caesar enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2008.[2] He was a member of the Michigan Wolverines men's gymnastics team from 2009 to 2012. As a sophomore in 2010, he helped lead Michigan to the NCAA team championship.[3] As a junior in 2011, he was elected co-captain of the Michigan men's gymnastic team and won the Big Ten Conference championship in the parallel bars.[3][4]

Accomplishments

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Caesar holds dual U.S. and Bangladesh citizenship and has represented Bangladesh in international competition. At the Central South Asian Artistic Gymnastic Championships in December 2011, Caesar competed for Bangladesh and won the parallel bars event—the first gold medal for Bangladesh in international competition.[1] He also won the silver medal in the vault and the bronze medals in the floor event and all-around competition.[1][5] He was dubbed "Golden Syque" in The Daily Star, Bangladesh's largest English-language newspaper.[5]

In April 2012, Caesar was chosen to represent Bangladesh at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[6] There he had hopes to end Bangladesh's distinction as the most populous nation never to have won a medal at the Olympic Games.[1][6] Caesar's roommate and Michigan teammate, Sam Mikulak, was also chosen to compete in the 2012 Olympics, representing the United States.[7] Caesar also competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.[8]

In late 2021 Caesar was named head coach for the men's gymnastics athlete resident program at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.[9]

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA FX PH SR VT PB HB
2009 NCAA Championships   23 22
2011 NCAA Championships 5 19 35
World Championships 174
South Central Asian Championships        
2012
Olympic Games 29 27 50
2013 NCAA Championships   4    
World Championships 21
2014 NCAA Championships     5
Commonwealth Games R3 R1
Asian Games 7 7

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Q & A with London-bound Syque Caesar". The Michigan Daily. May 3, 2012.
  2. ^ Colt Rosensweig (January 10, 2009). "Caesar's dramatic improvements may spell lineup spot". The Michigan Daily.
  3. ^ a b "Syque Caesar". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan.
  4. ^ "Caesar, Makowske Capture Big Ten Individual Event Crowns". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. April 2, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Golden Syque". The Daily Star, Bangladesh. December 31, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Saj Chowdury (May 10, 2012). "London 2012: Syque Caesar aims to bring Bangladesh glory". BBC.
  7. ^ Jo-Ann Barnas (July 1, 2012). "Sam Mikulak becomes Michigan's first U.S. Olympian in men's gymnastics". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  8. ^ "Glasgow 2014 - Quazi Syque CAESAR Profile". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  9. ^ "Caesar tapped to lead USAG men's resident program". USA Gymnastics. December 28, 2021.
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