FROM BLUFFTON ICON - Alec Yoder, grandson of Alan and Diann Yoder of Bluffton, will compete this week for a spot on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team that will compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Dr. Alan Yoder is a retired Bluffton optometrist.

The 2019 Ohio State graduate is in St. Louis, Mo., for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which take place June 24 and June 26 at the America’s Center Convention Complex and The Dome at America’s Center.

There are five Olympic team positions available this week: four team and one individual. Yoder, a 2019 Ohio State graduate with a degree in sport industries, will be competing to make the team on pommel horse and parallel bars.

Yoder was an eight-time All-American for Ohio State between 2016 and 2019, including a three-time all-around All-American. Yoder capped his Buckeye career in April 2019 by winning a national championship on the pommel horse and earning All-American honors on the parallel bars.

Yoder, who is from Indianapolis, was the 2016 Big Ten Conference freshman of the year and a three-time first-team all-Big Ten performer. He helped Ohio State win consecutive Big Ten team championships in 2016 and 2017.