Tai Gopaul

Photo by: Ray Bahner

Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Buffalo Grove, Ill.
High School:
Adlai E Stevenson

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2024: Member of the Falcons’ lineup in nine meets…set personal-best marks on the floor exercise (13.850) and still rings (13.340) at the Rocky Mountain Open…added a career-best score of 13.450 on the parallel bars at the All-Academy Championships…collected top-eight finishes on the rings (13.200, fifth) and parallel bars (13.350, eighth) at the USAG Collegiate Nationals to help Air Force to its first team title in four championship meets…earned top-three finishes on the floor exercise (13.350, second) and still rings (13.250, third) in the Falcons’ win over Simpson.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2023: Competed in five meets…recorded career-best marks on the vault (14.400) and floor exercise (12.750) in collegiate debut at the Rocky Mountain Open…added personal-best marks on the pommel horse (13.150), and high bar (12.900) during a triangular meet with Army West Point and California…also earned runner-up honors on the vault (14.300) at that meet…tallied a career-high 14.050 on the still rings at the All-Academy Championships…earned MPSF Freshman of the Week honors once.

BEFORE USAFA: Graduated from Adlai E. Stevenson High School…competed at the club level for Lakeside Academy (Mount Prospect, Illinois)…coached by Arkadi Andryushchenko…two-time Illinois state champion in the all-around (2021, 2022)…also claimed the Region 5 all-around title in 2022.

PERSONAL: Full name is Tai Isiah Gopaul…son of Jason and Nicole Gopaul…has one younger brother…majoring in civil engineering…future plans include becoming a civil engineer…named to the Athletic Director’s List…hobbies include watching football (specifically the Chicago Bears) and fishing…traveled to Hurlburt Field, Fla., over the summer for Operation Air Force…also completed the Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory (FERL) at the Academy…member of Cadet Squadron 22.