Men's Gymnastics
Juha Tanskanen
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Juha (u-HA) Tanskanen enters his fifth season as assistant coach for the U-M men's gymnastics team in 2026. He arrived in the United States in 1998 after being a member of the Finnish National Team, and coached his brother, Jani high bar championship at the 1997 World Championships.
Tanskanen formerly owned and operated Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi, MI. He has helped place athletes on several national teams and helped earn them spots on various
NCAA programs, including numerous current and former Wolverines. Before opening MEGA, he served as the head coach of the Finnish Junior National team, as well as head men's coach at Twistars USA in Lansing, MI.
Since serving as an interim assistant coach during the 2022 season, he has helped coach the Wolverines to five back-to-back Big Ten Titles, the first five-peat for the program since the
1960s and second in program history, as well as four-straight NCAA Championship podium finishes including two-straight runner-up finishes and the 2025 National title.
Tanskanen’s coaching extended to the international stage, where he recently mentored Fred Richard and Paul Juda at the 2023 World Championships. At the event, Team USA secured their first team medal since 2014, earning bronze, while Fred Richard further distinguished himself as the third-best gymnast globally in the All Around competition.
Most recently, he accompanied Wolverine Lais Najjar to the 2024 Paris Olympics, earning a Tripartite invitation as the first male gymnast to represent Syria in the Olympic Games. Najjar
competed in four events, with his best finish coming on vault (13.900).
He is also a Brevet-rated judge and has judged prestigious competitions such as World, European, and United States Championships. Additionally, he has featured at NCAA
Championships, Big Ten Championships, and United States Olympic Trials.
Tanskanen formerly owned and operated Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi, MI. He has helped place athletes on several national teams and helped earn them spots on various
NCAA programs, including numerous current and former Wolverines. Before opening MEGA, he served as the head coach of the Finnish Junior National team, as well as head men's coach at Twistars USA in Lansing, MI.
Since serving as an interim assistant coach during the 2022 season, he has helped coach the Wolverines to five back-to-back Big Ten Titles, the first five-peat for the program since the
1960s and second in program history, as well as four-straight NCAA Championship podium finishes including two-straight runner-up finishes and the 2025 National title.
Tanskanen’s coaching extended to the international stage, where he recently mentored Fred Richard and Paul Juda at the 2023 World Championships. At the event, Team USA secured their first team medal since 2014, earning bronze, while Fred Richard further distinguished himself as the third-best gymnast globally in the All Around competition.
Most recently, he accompanied Wolverine Lais Najjar to the 2024 Paris Olympics, earning a Tripartite invitation as the first male gymnast to represent Syria in the Olympic Games. Najjar
competed in four events, with his best finish coming on vault (13.900).
He is also a Brevet-rated judge and has judged prestigious competitions such as World, European, and United States Championships. Additionally, he has featured at NCAA
Championships, Big Ten Championships, and United States Olympic Trials.
Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient: Paul Juda
Wednesday, May 14
Olympic Preview 1:1 - Fred Richard
Friday, July 26
Olympic Preview 1:1 - Lais Najjar
Wednesday, July 24
Olympic Preview 1:1 - Paul Juda
Monday, July 22
